As she emerged from the basement, Tracey Dickerson felt certain her home had been destroyed.
It was May 16, 2025, and an EF3 tornado had, in minutes, torn a nearly 23-mile path through St. Louis, causing the most damage in north St. Louis’ predominantly Black neighborhoods.
Dickerson and her husband, Harvey, had spent years renovating the long-vacant building next door to her in-laws’ family home on Cabanne Avenue in the Academy neighborhood…