Jon Byler Dan, survived the devastating tornado that struck Washington, Ill., by hunkering down in the basement clutching his four children – ages 8, 5, 2½ and 1½. But an important member of the family was still in harm's way.

Before the storm, as debris started to hit his house, he tried to coax the family dog, Maggie, downstairs but the skittish animal refused to leave her kennel. After the storm passed, Byler Dann emerged from the basement to find that his home had been destroyed above him. Maggie was missing and the family assumed their beloved pet was dead.

(READ the story, w/ more photos in Weather.com)