After the storm blew over, Echols drove into town to survey the damage. He felt confident that his practice had been spared from the brunt of the storm. “When a disaster like this happens, you always think it’s happening to someone else,” Echols said. “I wasn’t even thinking about my own office or the possibility that it could have been damaged.”

The doctor’s confidence quickly turned into fear as he got closer to the office and saw significant property damage and trees down in the streets. When he could not get any closer to the office in his vehicle, he parked and walked the remaining five blocks. He arrived at the spot where his office should have been and was blown away by the devastation: “It was like a scene from a Hollywood movie. Steam is coming off the office and sparks are everywhere. The walls are gone, the roof is gone. It was one of those drop to your knees moments in life,” Echols said.

With the tornado sirens sounding, Echols hurried to save as many pieces of equipment and patient files as he could find before the next storm hit. He hid his CEREC AC in the shower, where he felt it would be safest from any further damage.

Despite the uncertainty of the situation, Echols had faith that he would recover from the tragedy. “It was shocking, but in the back of my mind, at that moment, I knew everything was going to be okay,” he said.

The next day, Patterson Sales Representative Joe Cooper and Equipment Specialist Scott Crane arrived in Cullman to check on Echols and his family, assess the damage, salvage anything worth saving and discuss the doctor’s options for moving forward. In the days following the tornado, Echols, Crane and Cooper forged a strong relationship and friendship. “This tragedy cemented my relationship with Patterson,” said Echols. “Patterson really banded together and took care of my needs.”