Stevie's Eurospa sustained heavy damage when a tornado stormed through the town of Kissimmee, Fla., in February. The front of the salon, including the retail section, was hardest hit.

Stevie's Eurospa sustained heavy damage when a tornado stormed through the town of Kissimmee, Fla., in February. The front of the salon, including the retail section, was hardest hit. 

Late the night of February 22, Stevie Ehmer; co-owner of Stevie’s Eunospa & Salon in Kissimmee, Fla., got a call at home from her security company saying the alarm at the salon had gone off Ehmer thought it was probably just a false alarm. When she arrived at the salon the next morning, the police were there and the area was roped off like a crime scene. During the night, a tornado with winds up to 2-40 miles per hour had devastated the city of Kissimmee, killing 41 people. Ehmer’s salon was a casualty.

“One end of the building had collapsed. Our front window had blown out like there had been an explosion. The whole retail section was gone along with all our signage, and the ceiling was sucked down in places,” says Ehmer.

So they began cleaning up debris, using bottled water since the utilities were out They were back in business a week later the windows boarded with plywood and the word “open” spray painted across it.

Still Ehmer and co-owner Mike Teaser had sustained about $12,000-$13,000 in damages, with no insurance to cover it. (It was just too expensive, they say.) Ehmer turned to the companies she’d supported loyally for many years to help her replace what had been lost. Pro Finish sent product, retail merchandise, and a new UV light. OPI sent large polish racks filled with polish. Gena responded with a paraffin bath and paraffin. Matrix sent their new Vital Nutrients line, Scruples sent retail product, and Orly sent their new polish line. Creative Nail Design sent a catalog and simply asked them to check off what they needed, “I was overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity. I really feel like part of a family;” says Ehmer.

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