|
Recovering from Deadly Tornadoes in North Texas
American Red Cross Helps Grieving Communities Pick up the Pieces
Anita J. Foster with Jennifer Dodd, Special to RedCross.org
Monday, May 15, 2006 — WESTMINSTER, Texas – The dictionary defines a tornado as “an extremely destructive funnel-shaped rotating column of air that passes in a narrow path over land.” But, ask anyone who has experienced Mother Nature’s violent force, and they would likely give a different definition – one that may include an expletive or two.
Nathaniel Owens, 19, is one such person.
It was 10:30 p.m. on May 9, 2006, when the skies over North Texas turned violent. Baseball-sized hail, roaring winds and heavy rain pummeled Collin and Grayson counties, some 40 miles north of Dallas. Listening to ominous weather warnings on his television, Owens became seriously concerned when the storms dropped large tornadoes, racing right toward his parents Westminster, Texas, home.
“I jumped on the phone to warn my family,” said Owens. “I only had time to get a few words out to my Dad, and then the phone went dead.”
He tried to call again and again, but there was no answer so Owens, along with his sister and brother-in-law, drove as fast as they could to the historic home on FM 3133 to make sure everyone was okay. Nothing could have prepared them for what they found.
The front steps of the Owens' family home in Westminster, Texas, are all that remains after a deadly F3 Tornado strike.
(Photo Credit: Anita J. Foster/American Red Cross)
|
Arriving just 15 to 20 minutes of the tornado, Owens was stunned by what he saw.
The house was completely leveled by an F3 tornado that hit without warning. It wasn’t the bricks and mortar of the home or his family’s heirlooms scattered in a half-a-mile radius that caused him despair. It was pulling the lifeless body of his 14 year-old brother, Colson, from beneath the rubble.
“Yesterday felt like the loneliest day,” he said, fighting back tears.
At sunrise the next morning, the Owens family was faced with a myriad of tasks. They would have to sift through the rubble they once called home and try to make funeral arrangements for the youngest member of their immediate family, who many described as wise beyond his years.
“He was a real kind hearted kid,” said Bryan Hatch, Colson’s brother-in-law. “We’re really going to miss him.”
American Red Cross volunteers distribute cleaning supplies for families picking up the pieces after an F3 tornado hit North Texas. (Photo Credit: Anita J. Foster/American Red Cross)
|
United in grief and in their love of Colson, the Owens family began to clear away the debris. With the help of neighbors, friends, community volunteers and the American Red Cross, the Owens family was fully equipped with chain saws, rakes, trash bags, work gloves and more to begin the overwhelming task of clearing away what nature had left behind.
“We’re going to keep the land,” said Owens. “Colson considered this property home. We all decided that moving is not an option.”
In spite of the nightmare that this family has endured, they are still thankful for many things, including all the help from friends and the Red Cross.
“The Red Cross brought us food, drinks and things to help us clean up,” said Hatch. “They’ve been with us through all of this. We’re very thankful.”
Owens is also grateful for the help of the community, but especially for the prayers of a nation.
“I can feel the prayers,” he said.
This 19 year-old, also wise beyond his years, says that he’s thankful he knew his little brother, even if it was only for 14 years.
“He’s my little brother. He looked up to me, but I looked up to him too because he was so pure,” he said. “I can already see that he’s still with us.”
The Red Cross is working around the clock to bring comfort to the 36 families whose homes were leveled by the deadly tornadoes. Three lives were lost and ten people were hospitalized with major injuries. On top of providing food, water, cleaning supplies and financial assistance, Red Cross disaster mental health counselors are also on hand to assist these communities in grief. The American Red Cross will continue to work in North Texas for as long as needed.
Anita J. Foster is the Metroplex Communications Officer in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and Jennifer Dodd is an American Red Cross Volunteer.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
Related Links:
Related Content:
|
