After the Storm, We Rebuild
In the wake of deadly tornadoes, neighbors become the first responders to hope.
From May 15 through 17, 2025, a series of violent tornadoes tore across the Midwest and Southeast, striking hardest in Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee. Over 30 confirmed tornadoes killed at least 28 people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and left entire neighborhoods gutted in minutes.
For the people who survived, the question came quickly: What now?
This is the moment that gave rise to our newest piece:
“After the Storm, We Rebuild.”
The image shows what news footage doesn’t always capture. Not just the wreckage, but the resolve. A father, a mother, a teenager clearing debris with their hands, their eyes, their will. Behind them, neighbors and volunteers begin to arrive. The sky hasn’t cleared entirely, but the sun is trying, and that counts.
This isn’t just about disaster. It’s about the thin line between despair and determination. In towns across the region, people didn’t wait for federal agencies or photo ops. They pulled neighbors from rubble, ran extension cords from surviving homes, cooked meals on propane stoves. In every corner, resilience flickered like a porch light left on for someone.
Natural disasters are merciless. They don’t ask who you voted for or whether you can afford insurance. They remind us that we’re all more fragile, and more connected, than we want to admit.
What we do in the aftermath is what defines us.
This poster is for the families who didn’t give in to shock. It’s for the utility crews who worked through the night, and the kids who flew hand-drawn kites where roofs used to be. It’s for anyone who has ever stood ankle-deep in mud and decided to start sweeping anyway.