Within hours of the devastating tornadoes that ripped through the Garland/Rowlett areas before 7 p.m. December 26 killing 11 the day after Christmas, everyone it seemed came out of the woodwork, so to speak, to help the hundreds in need.
Social media was on fire the day after with fascinating yet frightening images and youtube videos of the wedged mile long monster whose image in the darkness could only be seen by the lightning and blue electrical explosions along interstate 30 as it made its way from the I-90/George Bush turnpike where eight people lost their lives.
That news alone brought to mind what former Fox 4 News meteorologist Ron Jackson, whose weather class I took at Eastfield College years ago, said about how it was going to be a matter of time before a twister hits the interstate during rush hour traffic.
Normally I lose my patience searching for the remote to hit the exit button the minute I see an emergency broadcast that AT&T’s service provides on television that comes with that annoyingly loud siren that causes my dog to go crazy and interferes with the program I’m watching. Then the sirens in Mesquite started blaring and I switched to WFAA channel 8 to hear the latest weather reports.
My sister and her family were in Mesquite at El Fenix when her cellphone erupted with text messages and phone calls about the twister in Rowlett. If they had left the restaurant ten minutes earlier they would have run right into the storm as it formed on I-90.
“We kept getting texts saying it was touching down in Rowlett so we stayed in Mesquite until it passed,” said Marisa Stumpo Perry. “When we drove back to Rowlett, the overpass from 30 to George bush had whole tree trunks. We had to drive around and there was a large dead animal on the overpass. Chad's cousin Ryan lives just across Dalrock about a mile from us, and his house is gone. And the neighborhood where Jake’s school is got leveled. But his school is okay. Our power finally came back on around midnight. But this whole area at Dalrock and 66 is a mess.”
Along with the images of the storm came the many heartbreaking posts and stories. Among them were pictures of missing pets within the tornado-ravaged areas that were posted on social media.
“This is Bear Gus. He is a male Rhodesian ridgeback, about 6-7 months old. They live in Rowlett just over the 66 bridge from Rockwall. They lost him during the tornado. If anyone finds him please let me know,” said one post.
Another post said, “Please help me find her! Her name is Lilah. She is an all brown lab/pit, she's wearing a blue bandana that has snow flakes and snowman. She does not have a collar but is chipped. She was last seen on Woodside Road in Rowlett.”
The pictures showing partial homes still standing or are completely gone off their foundations lying in piles of wood and rubble, amongst smashed vehicles and trees that once sprouted leaves leave the viewer with just a glimpse of how devastating the storm was. You have to see the destruction in person.
Rowlett resident Francicso Reyna who posted pictures of wrecked houses on his block on Facebook said though his home only suffered minor damage to his roof, others on his street will have to completely start over.
“My poor neighborhood is just devastated,” Reyna wrote.
Worrying about one’s own personal possessions no longer mattered as citizens, just like they did helping victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, donated whatever they had lying around the house from old clothes, buying toys, food and water to making monetary donations to the Red Cross. Local restaurants offered free meals to residents affected by the storm. People volunteered their time at various churches to help with donations.
DCCCD Chancellor Joe May, in an email to the Dallas County Community College District on Dec. 28 asking if anyone knows of a fellow employee or student affected by the tornadoes to report it to their college’s leadership with the subject line, “Need help”, wrote “it has been said that the worst of times brings out the best in people.”
How north Texans responded in the hours after the disaster shows that. WFAA news anchor John McCaa wrote on December 29 how the city of Garland showed resilience in the tornado aftermath, but his final comment applies to how the entire Lone Star State responded.
“It says something about the city and its people. Something that, at this year's end, should make us proud to know they're part of the human fabric that makes up North Texas.”
©12/30/15
Social media was on fire the day after with fascinating yet frightening images and youtube videos of the wedged mile long monster whose image in the darkness could only be seen by the lightning and blue electrical explosions along interstate 30 as it made its way from the I-90/George Bush turnpike where eight people lost their lives.
That news alone brought to mind what former Fox 4 News meteorologist Ron Jackson, whose weather class I took at Eastfield College years ago, said about how it was going to be a matter of time before a twister hits the interstate during rush hour traffic.
Normally I lose my patience searching for the remote to hit the exit button the minute I see an emergency broadcast that AT&T’s service provides on television that comes with that annoyingly loud siren that causes my dog to go crazy and interferes with the program I’m watching. Then the sirens in Mesquite started blaring and I switched to WFAA channel 8 to hear the latest weather reports.
“We kept getting texts saying it was touching down in Rowlett so we stayed in Mesquite until it passed,” said Marisa Stumpo Perry. “When we drove back to Rowlett, the overpass from 30 to George bush had whole tree trunks. We had to drive around and there was a large dead animal on the overpass. Chad's cousin Ryan lives just across Dalrock about a mile from us, and his house is gone. And the neighborhood where Jake’s school is got leveled. But his school is okay. Our power finally came back on around midnight. But this whole area at Dalrock and 66 is a mess.”
“This is Bear Gus. He is a male Rhodesian ridgeback, about 6-7 months old. They live in Rowlett just over the 66 bridge from Rockwall. They lost him during the tornado. If anyone finds him please let me know,” said one post.
Another post said, “Please help me find her! Her name is Lilah. She is an all brown lab/pit, she's wearing a blue bandana that has snow flakes and snowman. She does not have a collar but is chipped. She was last seen on Woodside Road in Rowlett.”
Rowlett resident Francicso Reyna who posted pictures of wrecked houses on his block on Facebook said though his home only suffered minor damage to his roof, others on his street will have to completely start over.
“My poor neighborhood is just devastated,” Reyna wrote.
Worrying about one’s own personal possessions no longer mattered as citizens, just like they did helping victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, donated whatever they had lying around the house from old clothes, buying toys, food and water to making monetary donations to the Red Cross. Local restaurants offered free meals to residents affected by the storm. People volunteered their time at various churches to help with donations.
DCCCD Chancellor Joe May, in an email to the Dallas County Community College District on Dec. 28 asking if anyone knows of a fellow employee or student affected by the tornadoes to report it to their college’s leadership with the subject line, “Need help”, wrote “it has been said that the worst of times brings out the best in people.”
How north Texans responded in the hours after the disaster shows that. WFAA news anchor John McCaa wrote on December 29 how the city of Garland showed resilience in the tornado aftermath, but his final comment applies to how the entire Lone Star State responded.
“It says something about the city and its people. Something that, at this year's end, should make us proud to know they're part of the human fabric that makes up North Texas.”
©12/30/15
No comments:
Post a Comment