HGTV personalities Jenny and Dave Marrs experienced a harrowing turn during their family retreat as they sought refuge with their five children and four cherished pets in a cramped closet while violent storms battered Northwest Arkansas overnight on May 26, 2024.
The stars of “Fixer to Fabulous” had chosen a cabin in Rogers for their getaway, an area particularly hard-hit by the storm according to FOX Weather. The aftermath, as described by The Weather Channel, rendered the landscape “unrecognizable.”
Despite the terror of the night, which left their nearly five-year-old son Luke sick with fear, Jenny took to Instagram the next morning to express gratitude for their survival. She also shared that their Bentonville farmhouse, just 10 miles away, had weathered the storm relatively well.
“Waking up groggy and disoriented, we found solace in the safety of ourselves, our animals, and our loved ones,” Jenny wrote after catching a bit of rest. “That’s all that truly matters at this moment.”
While the cabin emerged with minor damage, Jenny’s morning videos revealed trees perilously close to the structure and even on top of Dave’s car. Stranded due to road blockages caused by fallen trees and power lines, they faced a daunting journey home.
Even Rogers Mayor Greg Hines conveyed the severity of the situation, trapped in his powerless home with roads obstructed by tangled trees and power lines.
Eventually, Jenny shared via Instagram that the Marrs family had been rescued by boat and reunited with their safe vehicle, allowing them to return home. Though their property sustained significant damage, their residence and businesses—a berry farm and an inn—miraculously escaped major structural harm.
Jenny Marrs Says the ‘Widespread Damage is Devastating For Our Town’
Hours before the tornadoes hit, Jenny had shared videos on her Instagram Stories of their family water skiing and enjoying the sunshine during their cabin getaway. But by the middle of the night, she was sharing harrowing details and photos of how their family huddled together, praying for safety.
“At 2 a.m., we sat in a tiny closet with seven people, two dogs, a bearded dragon, and a lamb, praying aloud while the storm passed through,” Jenny wrote. “Poor Lukey was terrified and vomited twice out of fear. Sylvie soothed Tommy the lamb in her arms, Charlotte shivered and nestled into the crook of my arm, and the big boys kept reassuring their siblings it would be okay. They were all so brave.”
An hour later, after the storms had passed, Jenny said they sat as a family around a table, illuminated by candlelight, and “counted our blessings.
“So many neighbors have damage to their homes and businesses,” Jenny continued. “We’ve been getting updates all morning, and the widespread damage is devastating for our town.”
When a fan inquired in the comments about the safety of the Marrs’ farm animals, Jenny replied, “They are! Our neighbor has been at the house since early morning, checking on them along with our farm and house sitter. They’re all safe 🙌🙏”
In response to a suggestion from another follower, “It’s time to build a storm shelter, Dave,” Jenny explained, “We have one at home, but we were staying at a cabin by the lake for Memorial Day weekend 😓”
As they drove home from Rogers, Jenny shared photos of downed trees, the “terrifying” sight of flipped-over RVs, and demolished buildings downtown, describing it all as “unbelievable.”
Dave & Jenny Marrs Have Huge Amount of Cleanup Ahead of Them After Arkansas Tornadoes
Upon returning home, the Marrs breathed a sigh of relief to find their farmhouse intact, though the surrounding trees bore the brunt of the damage.
Jenny shared on Instagram a photo of their family standing before a fallen tree, its towering root ball serving as a stark reminder of the storm’s force. In another post, she captured their children’s dismay as they realized that their cherished peach trees had been destroyed, punctuating the moment with a broken-heart emoji.
Assessing their Welcome Inn in Rogers, the Marrs found that while the structure remained unscathed, the grounds were strewn with fallen trees, shattered windows, and a damaged door. Jenny expressed gratitude for the inn’s survival, despite the chaos depicted in a photo of its battered front door.
Turning their attention to their berry farm, the Marrs were relieved to discover that a portion of their crop had weathered the storm. Jenny shared a video of their children inspecting the remaining berries, highlighting the resilience of their farm amidst the devastation.
As they braced themselves for the daunting task of cleanup, Jenny shared a screenshot of a weather warning on her phone—an ominous tornado watch issued by the U.S. National Weather Service, eliciting a simple yet poignant response: “Nooooo!!!!!!!!!!!”
