Irving College took the brunt of nature’s fury this year.
Parts of the rural community resembled a war zone after a tornado ripped through it on April 5. The twister inflicted massive damage in just a few terrifying seconds and left many happy to be alive.
“Preliminary results are that it was an EF-1 tornado,” said E-911 director Chuck Haston, who accompanied Emergency Management agents on their survey of the damage.
An EF-1 (Enhanced Fujita Scale used for rating the strength of tornados) encompasses tornadoes that have winds between 73 and 112 mph. Tornadoes are rated by their intensity and the damage they cause.
With the exception of the small part of Irving College which was hit hard, the rest of the county saw only heavy rain, some straight-line winds and pea-sized hail. It is suspected the tornado was a short-lived one, touching down before almost immediately lifting back up, explaining the isolated damage.
“It was pretty well that one area,” Haston said. “Immediately after it hit, we began getting calls about numerous sightings of a funnel cloud.”
A trailer owned by Jayme Harvey was picked up and disintegrated. Harvey, home at the time, felt the home lift and roll. She suffered cuts, but was largely unhurt.
“It kept rolling and rolling and when it stopped over there I was under some stuff and I pulled myself out,” Harvey said.
Windows in a home owned by Tex and Pam Perry were sucked out and a major portion of their roof blown off. They were not home at the time.
“We knew something was coming, so we went down the road to my mother-in-law’s house to be with her,” said Tex. “I’m sure glad we didn’t stay here because it was bad.”
Near Irving College School on Dry Creek Road, the historic home of Twan Majors was damaged when a large tree slammed through her living room. The storm also left many without power due to downed lines. Power was out for about four hours.
