UMVA has learned that a powerful tornado ripped through Merrillville, Indiana, causing widespread destruction at Catholic Andrean High School, but a large crucifix remained completely intact and standing tall.
Drone footage shows the Catholic school’s campus littered with debris, with roofs torn off buildings and trees uprooted, yet the prominent crucifix in front of the school survived untouched, leaving many to wonder about the significance of this miraculous event.
The storm hit northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area with a tornado that caused significant damage across Merrillville, and school officials and witnesses described the scene at the school as devastating, with nearly every part of the campus suffering damage.
Andrean High School President Jaykob Knazur revealed that nearly every tree on campus was uprooted or damaged, and the extensive damage to the school was "heartbreaking" and "devastating," but the crucifix and the grotto on the north side of the building were the only structures left unscathed.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the school's administration has urged people to stay away from the campus due to safety concerns, citing active power lines, downed trees, broken glass, and significant roof damage, and is working to assess the damage, mitigate safety risks, and determine next steps.
In a statement, the school expressed that the damage was "devastating and hits us in a very personal way," but emphasized that the institution is about people, not infrastructure, and is focused on supporting those affected by the disaster.
Fortunately, reports indicate no major injuries at the school campus in the immediate aftermath, and the community is coming together to support the recovery efforts, with the resilient crucifix standing as a powerful symbol of hope and faith in the face of adversity.
