Racine family loses home to storm

(ABC 6 NEWS) – People are still surveying the damage this weekend after an intense storm system hit on Wednesday. The National Weather Service has been in Southeastern Minnesota and in Northern Iowa determining there were at least 16 tornados that night. There’s still no official confirmation of a tornado in Racine, but the community is seeing significant damage.

On Wednesday around 7:30 p.m., a storm swept through and tore the roof off of the Wolfgram family’s house. Isaac and Alissa Wolfgram lived in the house since 2008. They renovated over the years as their family grew with their three children. Alissa, while recalling the night, said she was able to get her children and her dog to safety in the basement. Isaac joined them moments before they heard the extremely strong wind and shattering glass.

"That whole day I had a feeling of dread. The whole day. We heard tremendous wind and glass breaking up here. And we looked at each other and we just thought something terrible…terrible is going on up here," Alissa said.

Isaac noted that the community is used to downed trees and small damage. However, they couldn’t expect this level of destruction.

"Couple limbs off trees but nothing like this," he said.

The family plans to rebuild and believes the community and the land itself are special — despite the recent hardship.

"There is friends of friends of friends, or coworkers. It’s just never in a million years…the support is just amazing," Alissa said.

The pair is trying their best now to give their kids a special Christmas.

"We just want our kids to be happy. Their bedrooms were destroyed," Alissa said.

The Wolfgram family has a Gofundme page for donations.