Team Eglin member's generous acts go viral

  • Published
  • By Dan Neely
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
A local federal employee and Air Force reservist's simple helping-hand efforts after a tornado were recognized recently on a viral level through social and local media.

Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Thoner remembers vividly the kindness of strangers.

Two years ago, while he was out of state, dozens of strangers helped his family recover after a thunderstorm severely flooded their Pensacola, Florida home and neighborhood.

On February 24, a powerful tornado demolished hundreds of homes close to his neighborhood and Thoner saw the opportunity to pay those acts of kindness back -- literally by the ton.

Thoner, a project manager for the 53rd Communications Systems Squadron here, recalled the anxious moments of his family hunkered down inside their closets as the twister approached.

"After I heard a report the tornado had crossed I-10, I got a call from a friend ... about an apartment building that completely collapsed and I knew exactly where he was talking about," Thoner said. "So another friend of mine and I jumped in my truck and drove over to see if we could help."

Thoner spotted a city transit bus shuttling dozens of people to a shelter with an adjacent American Red Cross center. Realizing it was his best opportunity to assist nearest the disaster scene, he joined the volunteers until 3 a.m. the next morning.

"I found about 25 people from that destroyed apartment complex sheltering inside, so I just basically set up military field cots and distributed food and water for the victims there," said Thoner, who also works for the 919th Special Operations Communications Squadron as the cyber systems superintendent.

After just three hours of sleep, Thoner felt even more determined to help his disaster-stricken neighbors.

When he arrived at the site of the tornado-blasted remnants of the apartment complex, the Airman was awestruck.

"I could not believe it. I was completely amazed when I heard the reports no one was killed there," Thoner said. "There were so many homes with roofs blown off and walls gone, and I'd heard many of the survivors were found (by first responders) literally laying down, holding onto bathroom and other plumbing fixtures."

Thoner spent a short time driving through the neighborhood to assess the overall situation.

"I was really trying to look around in hopes of finding the greatest areas of need," he said.

After checking on numerous displaced homeowners, he began to help residents Mike and Patricia clean up their decimated home.

Thoner helped them gain access to their remaining belongings, clearing thousands of pounds of storm debris - large tree limbs, blown-away roof remnants, privacy fence sections and much more.  He also used his own funds to buy plumbing parts to replace the family's broken water lines that had left a tall geyser of leaking water.

John Ransom, a nephew of Mike and Patricia, posted a photo on Facebook of Thoner as he labored in their front yard.

"This man is a saint," the post read. "I truly believe Tim's deeds have brought hope and happiness to thousands, highlighting the strength of community and the resounding good nature of humanity in times of tragedy."

That post, went viral notching more than 15,000 likes and 6,600 shares.  It gained the attention of military bloggers, local governments and the media.

Before Thoner knew it, he was telling his story on a news broadcast throughout the Emerald Coast region.

Thoner downplayed the attention and his motivations for responding as he did in the wake of the disaster.

"I may have been one of the first to respond there, but I definitely wasn't the only one," he said. "I feel like (the coverage) was a little out of proportion, because a lot of people were doing much more.  Having been through this myself, it definitely puts it all in a different perspective."