Pilger, Nebraska, Residents React to Twin Tornado Devastation: 'It Was Like God Dragged Two Fingernails Across the Land'

On its website, the village of Pilger, Nebraska, about 380 residents strong, touts itself as "The little town too tough to die."But after twin tornadoes struck Monday afternoon, wiping out most of this town 85 miles northwest of Omaha, residents could be faced with their biggest challenges yet.Here's what residents told the Omaha World Herald and Norfolk Daily News after two people lost their lives and several were injured when a tornado destroyed most of this town.“Our ears started popping ... and we heard a swishing sound. About the time we figured it was over, the roof caved in.”– Ryan Kruger, of Norfolk, who works at the Farmers Co-operative, which was destroyed“It was like God dragged two fingernails across the land.”– Gregg Moeller of Wisner, who works for the Wisner-Pilger school system

"Houses are plumb gone.  It's the worst thing I've ever seen."

“The co-op is all gone. The office buildings, the convenience store, all the bins. It’s all gone. It’s just all gone. The big Lutheran church on the east side of town is all gone. It’s terrible. It’s really terrible.”– Stanton County Commissioner Jerry Weatherholt“It’s total devastation."– Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger"Those of you who remember that (the devastating tornado that struck nearby Wayne in October 2013), it's 10 times works. Ten times."– Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger“I went to the southwest corner of the basement, and I heard just a big roar. It was really noisy. There was a lot of cracking and breaking, and then my ears started to pop. I knew it was a tornado when my ears started popping.”– John Sandahl, who lost his home and farm"We were in the basement, praying. All six of us. A tree fell down on the house, all the windows on all of the vehicles were busted, the shop is gone, the porch is gone, and there’s a trampoline in a tree."– Danika Dorcey, 16“Our ears just kind of felt like we were taking off in an airplane. Then we heard a loud crack. It didn’t take very long before it was over."– Jean Dorcey