In the first of a three part arch about the 1998 Nashville tornadoes, we meet Tom Colletta and Kevin Longinotti — men who were pinned by two of the 20,000 trees stripped, uprooted or blown over on April 16, 1998. We also talk about the time I — a 15-year-old juvenile delinquent from Maine — got Kevin Smith to donate to the recovery efforts.

If you have stories to share about the tornado, or any TN natural disaster for that matter, please leave a voicemail with your story at (615) 348-8165. What are you seeing? What gives you hope? Let us know your experience.