Ill wind: Man 'dealing with survivor guilt' recuperating in Libby

An Indiana tornado survivor whose story made international headlines in early March is recovering from multiple injuries at his sister’s home in Libby.

Jason Miller, 32, of New Pekin, Ind., is staying with his sister and brother-in-law, Elvie and Rebekah Miller, who are affiliated with Meadowlark Log Homes near Libby.

As he undergoes physical therapy and recuperates from the effects of 14 broken bones and a “smashed” left side, Miller also is dealing with the emotional aftermath of the F-4 tornado that killed the next-door family of five he was sheltering in his home.

“I’m dealing with survivor guilt,” he said.

When Miller saw the tornado bearing down on his neighborhood that fateful Friday afternoon on March 2, he invited the Babcock family into his double-wide mobile home to take shelter.

He thought the young couple and their three small children would be safer in his home than in their much smaller single-wide trailer.

Four members of the Babcock family perished instantly.

The story quickly drew national attention when 14-month-old Angel Babcock was found alive in a field following the storm, but she was taken off life support two days later.

Miller was tossed 400 feet and woke up face-down in a field of mud. The memories of the storm’s aftermath are slowly coming back to him —  the excruciating pain, screaming for help, a police officer coming to his side.

Recollections of the final minutes before the tornado hit are more vivid, and Miller recounted his ordeal on the “Today” show and CNN, among other national news media outlets.

In an interview with CNN’s Susan Candiotti, Miller recalled how he thought he was going to die.

“At that moment, I knew it was over, because I, I remember, I said there [it] was 100 yards away, I, I didn’t really know if it would turn; if it would hit me square,” Miller told CNN. “I didn’t believe it could hit me, but when I opened that door to look out, it, I just, I can’t describe what I saw. It was so big and so loud and roaring and I could see everything was just churning.

“It was like slow motion, like a big machine, and then Angel was sitting there, and I put my arm kind of over Angel and got her to get down, you know. I was like down. I told her: I said, ‘Lay down flat!’ and I just kind of reached my arms and said ‘Get in close! Lay down flat!’ That’s like the only thing I remember saying, and I just started praying.”

Miller still fights back tears.

“Joe Babcock was a good friend of mine,” he said. “I didn’t find out they had died until a couple hours before I saw it on the news.”

He told “Today” he wished he could have done more to save the family.

“I was sitting right there holding their hands seconds before they died. It’s very devastating, and I’m just very thankful to be here,” he said during the “Today” interview with anchor Ann Curry.

Miller said he was astounded by the number of cards and well wishes he received from people throughout the United States and elsewhere as he spent 15 days in hospitals in the Louisville, Ky., area. He broke seven bones throughout his left arm and shoulder, five ribs and two vertebrae.

“My arm was almost cut off,” he said. “My elbow was shattered. I don’t really have an elbow left.”

Miller hopes to regain more motion in his left arm, but knows he has a long recovery ahead of him. He expects to spend a couple of months in Libby.

Hospital bills are at $400,000 and counting. He didn’t have medical insurance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised to pay up to $30,000 for medicine and doctor visits. The Red Cross gave him $200.

A contractor who weatherizes homes, Miller doesn’t know yet how he’ll manage the rest of his bills. The enormity of it all has taken a back seat to dealing with the pain and loss of mobility.

Right now he’s trying to find an old car for a couple of hundred dollars that he can use to drive back and forth to physical therapy appointments in Libby.

Anyone who can offer Miller assistance in getting an inexpensive vehicle can call him at (812) 569-0548, or write to him at 81 Meadowlark Lane, Libby, MT 59923.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.