Before Emily Fodness was located in the rubble of the collapsed Copper Lounge building in downtown Sioux Falls, Fire Rescue was working diligently to find her. With cell phone in hand, she kept in touch with emergency crews, tapped when they requested, and kept close to one of the three dogs that were in her upstairs apartment.

Back home, the wife of one of the firemen, Amanda Mulholland Leubke hoped for the safe rescue of Emily, and for all who there to help, including her husband Dustin.

The brick structure tumbled down Friday December 2nd at 10:30 AM and Emily was trapped until approximately 1:30 PM that day.

Every emergency worker has an equally important role to play, but here is one story among many stories that could be told of a rescue, from Amanda’s perspective:

Pictures that have surfaced of Dustin holding Emily's hand. After hearing Dustin's side of the story, I want to make sure everyone knows how much God was a part of this rescue. Dustin spoke so highly of Emily. How strong and controlled she was. How she knew exactly how to communicate where she was in the building. How she didn't panic. How she was calm enough to follow all directions. There is the picture of the mattress that "Somehow" wrapped around her and protected her during the time of the collapse. How she never lost her phone. How her dog was with her and ok! How she was calm as you see Dustin and the other fire fighters laying her down on the stretcher. I am SO thankful for an amazing God. I am SO proud of my husband, but I am SO proud and impressed with Emily. What an amazing testimony of how she was protected.

All three dogs were rescued from the Fodness collapsed apartment above the Copper Lounge: one with Emily on Friday December 2 at 1:30 PM, another later that day at approximately 6:00 PM, and the third on Sunday December 3rd at 3:00 PM.


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