Twister's path narrowly misses couple's home

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When the tornados that caused 26 deaths, more than 300 injuries and $150 million in damages ravaged Edmonton, the Calahasen home was virtually untouched.

"We believe that God protected our home," said Roland Calahasen, in an interview at his Millwoods home located directly in the path of violent tornado funnels.

Sweeping through the city July 31, the tornado caused extensive damage to neighbors on both sides of Calahasen's house.

Calahasen, his wife Jeanette, and their son Junior, were in Wabasca at the time of the destructive storm. Only the family dog, Tiffany, remained at the house and did not receive any injuries.

After taking detours through Sherwood Park, the family arrived at the house by 9:30 that night.

"The first thing noticed was that the houses on each side of us were ripped up. Their roofs and fences were torn apart."

"The strange thing is one of our neighbor's fences broke off right where ours begins . . . it's as if the tornado jumped over our home and hit all the other houses."

Watching a helicopter fly dead cattle from a nearby field, Jeanette Calahasen said, "Everytime we go somewhere we pray that God will protect our home."