Laughlin family returns from tornados' wake Published May 29, 2013 By Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- After a massive, nearly two-mile wide tornado with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour struck central Oklahoma May 20, 2103; a Laughlin family drove their truck, a borrowed trailer and 5,880 pounds of donations to the devastated areas. Tech. Sgt. Shane Buss, 47th Flying Training Wing Equal Opportunity NCO in charge, and his family made the trip up to Oklahoma to drop off the relief supplies, such as water, food and clothes, which were collected from Laughlin and Del Rio communities. "Texas and Oklahoma have always been rivals, but to see a small town like Del Rio and Laughlin come together to help a town that is so far away is awe-inspiring," said Buss. "It was a very humbling experience." Most of the supplies brought to Oklahoma went to the small town of Little Axe, Okla. The town was hit by a massive tornado May 19, and had received little help until May 24. "We were one of the first outside groups able to help that community," said Buss. "People were shocked when we arrived, and some teared-up, because they knew they hadn't been forgotten." Tech. Sgt. Chris Robertson, 72nd Security Forces Squadron patrolman assigned to Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, was Buss' point of contact for the incoming supplies. Being the POC for supplies was the least of his contribution during the disaster. While the tornado hit his neighborhood, he and a retired Navy service member, Pat, helped save the lives of four individuals by leading them to Pat's storm shelter, where other community members were, just moments before the tornado hit the area. "As I dove in, I saw the front end of my mobile home lift up and slam down from the tornado," said Robertson. "Pat's shelter saved 12 lives that day, and I am eternally grateful for that." Though Buss' load of supplies helped the area of Little Axe, much is still to be done. "My entire block isn't leveled, it's gone," said Robertson. "We're all doing what we can to move on."