The pet turtle, who was kicked out of a human family home during a fatal tornado outbreak in Mississippi in March, recently reunited with the people.
The reunion occurred after a new Mississippi Turtle rescue group asked social media followers on April 6 to ask social media followers to find social media followers to find turtle owners after the animal was treated for injuries.
Turtle Rescue in central Mississippi posted a day later that a family of turtles was found lost near Tylertown, and the animals apparently “were blown away by the wind or leaving after the storm removed their fence.”
“He has suffered some injuries to overcome, but at least he’s sitting on the arms of his family. They missed him so much and are very relieved and grateful to get him back,” the group’s post was first reported by local news outlet Wapt.
On Sunday, the Associated Press released an interview identifying the turtle in question as the owner who is grateful for as Myrtle and Tiffany Emmanuel.
Emmanuel spoke about how she and her family escaped the country home in Kokomo on March 15th as a tornado hit. They later returned and found two pine trees lying down on Myrtle’s backyard house. There were no signs of myrtle until it was discovered by a neighbor of Emmanuels who found the turtle and brought it to the rescue of Mississippi Central Turtle for treatment on April 4, the AP reported.
Christie Milborn, the group’s founder and co-director, told the Associated Press: “The woman who found the turtle called me and said she had met the owner. So I was excited and then the owner called and said, ‘Yeah, that’s my turtle.’ ”
Turtle Rescue in central Mississippi said that people trying to recover myrtle should identify “very unique details” of the animal. The group did not elaborate.
Either way, after reuniting with Myrtle, Emmanuel told the Associated Press that the turtle is back in health.
“He’s gone through a lot,” Emmanuel said. “I know I know it’s every step of the way I’m there, so that I can help him, take care of him, and ensure the help he needs.”
Myrtle’s story attracted attention in Mississippi. Then, after state officials reported 18 tornadoes on March 14th and 15th. Seven people were killed and dozens more were injured amid that particular twister outbreak, officials said. Mississippi officials also said more than 1,000 homes, businesses and farms have been damaged or destroyed.
Three tornadoes were given an EF-3 strength classification. This is considered severe and is given to the twister at wind speeds between 136-165 mph. One is the EF-4, a classification given to tornadoes with winds between 166-200 mph.
Mississippi’s Twister was still part of a major tornado outbreak that affected other parts of the southern United States at the time.
Referring to recovering Myrtle, Emmanuel told the AP: [thing] so [sadness] And sadness and loss. ”
