For the rest of her life, Ellen Draper's thoughts will be with three children who lives drastically changed Thursday morning when their parents died in the Cape Charles, Virginia, tornado.

Draper, who lives in Roanoke Rapids and studies at East Carolina University, was with about 11 other family members at the Cherrystone Family Camping Resort for an annual family vacation when the deadly twister struck.

The Drapers were camping next to Lord N. Balatbat and Lolibeth E. Ortega, both 38, from Jersey City, New Jersey, who died when a tree fell on their tents, according to a report in the Washington Post.

(A fund for the three children of the couple who lost their lives during the tornado on Thursday has been set up at PNC Bank. All monies contributed will be distributed to the court-appointed legal guardian of the children. Mail checks to: Balatbat-Ortega Children's Fund, PNC Bank, PO Box 623. Onley, VA 23418)

Cherrystone, which is a family-oriented campground on the Chesapeake Bay, is the place the Drapers have spent vacations since Ellen was a little girl, she said this morning. “They usually have bad storms each year, but never like this.”

Ellen's mother, Cindy, was at the pier and her father and brother were in a tent when they got the alert five minutes before the tornado struck.

Ellen, her brother's fiancee, her little brother and his friend were in the camper. “The people in the camper were awakened by thunder,” Ellen said.

The other family members were at a different site on the grounds.

One of Ellen's photos of the Cherrystone damage.

All the family members in the immediate area went to the camper while Ellen's brother, Rudy, was yelling for Lord and Lolibeth's friend to join them in the camper in the midst of the storm.

It was unclear whether the friend understood what Rudy, a Maryland police officer, was saying as the storm raged. “It was hailing the size of baseballs and we're not sure if he could understand,” Ellen said. “I couldn't imagine he would have much time to do anything. It came through in a matter of minutes.”

Ellen and other family members were certain their camper was going to flip over. It stayed upright, however.

In the aftermath of the tornado, Rudy administered CPR to Lord and Lolibeth's 13-year-old son, while Ellen held their 6-year-old girl. “That little girl is all I can think of. She kept screaming for her mommy. She kept screaming she didn't want this to happen.”

The 6-year-old girl was complaining of stomach pains, most likely from an injury received in the storm. The 13-year-old boy is in critical condition while Lord and Lolibeth's 11-year-old girl sustained broken bones.

The Drapers had struck up a neighborly relationship with the couple, waving to each other, and they could hear Ellen play her guitar.

For Ellen, her thoughts stay with the 6-year-old. “I think during that storm, being in the camper as it was rocking, we were scared for our lives. When I saw the bodies all I could think of was that little girl. It was just chaos.”

Ellen said her brother's truck was struck by a tree to the point of being totaled. Trees knocked out the windows of her mother's SUV. The camper sustained hail damage.

The family used their kayak as a gurney and her father's truck was deployed as a rescue vehicle. Ellen carried the little girl to an ambulance. “I tried to comfort her and tell her we were getting help for her.”

The Drapers had been at the campground since the Friday before the tornado and originally planned to return today. For Ellen and her little brother, they're not sure they want to return to the campground for the next family vacation.

In the aftermath, the staff and visitors at the campground pitched in to find people who were injured. The Washington Post reported more than 20 people were injured. The Newport News Daily Press reported as many as 36 were injured.

At an emergency shelter, people and businesses pitched in, restaurants providing food and Dollar General donating flip-flops.

For Ellen, the disaster comes back to the little girl. “I know during the whole thing, all I can think about is that little girl. I know I will pray for them every day. My family was blessed to be there for them.”