For many families in west Logan, Christmas Day 2024 began like any other – hot, happy, and filled with celebration.
But by evening, a sudden, violent stormed turned their picture-perfect day into a scene of chaos.
For Cedar Grove resident Josie Haken and her family, the storm was just the beginning, with the damage to their property described as being like ‘a bomb going off’.”
“We noticed the weather change early in the afternoon and the clouds rolling in, so we quickly cleaned up and put the cars undercover,” Josie said.
“As the storm approached, I started to get worried and told the kids to go downstairs where it was safer.”
Residents of this region have seen these types of storms before – that build out over the Scenic Rim – but this storm was unlike anything Josie had experienced before.
“The wind was so intense along with the howling and lightning, it felt like the house was shaking,” she said.
The moment the tree fell, Josie was inside the house, just meters from the impact.
Her husband, Jon, was trapped in a shed on the property when another tree came down.
“We were stuck on opposite sides of the yard,” Josie said.
“Jon was trying to get to us, but the storm was so intense he had to bunker down before making his way to the house.”
With her husband separated from the rest of the family, Josie focused on staying calm to keep her children from panicking.
“Each time there was a flash of lightening the kids could see their new swingset they got for Christmas crushed outside, and water was coming in through the ceiling upstairs,” she said.
“I was in survival mode, so we set up a bunker downstairs, and I focused on getting them settled.”
When the storm cleared, Jon attempted to leave the property for tarps and sandbags but every exit out of Cedar Grove was blocked by fallen trees.
“He began clearing what he could so people could get into the area to help,” Josie said.
“Other neighbours were out on our street with chainsaws and lept to action as well.”
When daylight came, Josie couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“It felt like a bomb had gone off—our gate, house, and shed all had trees on them,” she said.
“There was debris everywhere.”
Repairs to their home have been slow, with their insurance claim only settling last month.
Reflecting on the experience, Josie expressed gratitude for the support of loved ones who helped them navigate the ordeal.
“We had an amazing bunch of friends and family that came to our aid as soon as they could with some even trying to get through during the night,” she said.
“After a couple of days neighbours were able to help each other and we used our skid steer to help clean up some yards.”
