KOKOMO, Ind. (WOWO): Its not the sort of anniversary you celebrate but residents in Kokomo are taking pause today to remember the devastating tornadoes that hit the city a year ago.

Hundreds of homes were damaged by the tornadoes, some so severely that families have yet to return. Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight remembers the devastation as the sort of thing you never really think will hit your town.

A year later he says that an especially rough winter after the tornadoes made it difficult to rebuild but the community has pulled together and made big strides to pick up where they left off.

He says seeing people help people is the silver lining of that terrible day and thinks the city is a better place because of it.