FAIRFAX, Iowa — On August 10, 2020, a man watched as his business’s roof was blown off by the powerful winds of a derecho while he sheltered in a restroom. Nearly five years later, he recounted his experience, including the lessons he learned in his story of survival.
Brendan McCormick owns McCormick Painting Services. In August 2020, his business was based in Marion, and he stopped by the shop to grab supplies while his crew took a lunch break.
“I knew about a storm coming in but didn’t realize how extensive it would be. The closer I got to the shop, the more intense it got. I realized I should probably just stay here and wait for this thing to pass,” McCormick said. “Then time kept passing, and it kept getting more serious. “…