JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — Sunday marks one year since an EF-3 tornado tore through central Arkansas, and the City of Jacksonville was one of the areas struck by the storm.
"Life-changing, and I know that seems kind of simple to say," Jacksonville Mayor Jeff Elmore said. "For our residents, those who are impacted, and even those who weren't directly impacted, they're still feeling the residual effects that affected them."
Just a few months into office, Elmore faced the biggest challenge of his career: managing a city hit by an EF-3 tornado. Fortunately, he didn't have to do it alone.
"I watched people come together, total strangers, people who didn't know each other," Elmore said. "You may have people on the same street who didn't know each other, but people came together to help."
Now, nearly one year since the tragedy, Elmore said the city has been rebuilt, piece by piece, thanks to the community.
"We're really kind of glad to get to this [one] year mark, [and] to a degree, put it behind us," Elmore said. "Continue to move forward and celebrate the good that's going on here and the changes that are taking place."
One of Jacksonville's most significant changes was Marshall Smith Park, which suffered some of the worst damage that day.
"It's our new inclusive playground, so children of all abilities and walks of life can participate and come out here to play," Elmore said. "Whether they're in a wheelchair or on a walker or have no physical limitations at all, everybody can come to enjoy it."
Despite the damage and loss, Elmore looks back on that day with hope and appreciation for life and the community and is thankful to be here.
"All this stuff could be replaced, and it has been," Elmore said. "It's better now than it was then, so we're thankful, but the fact that nobody died... we're blessed."