The last two weeks in Rowlett TX

[400/6/PAC]

I live in Rowlett Texas.
My wife and I flew in from San Diego on 12/26/15.
Our plane landed at DFW at 4:30 PM, It was a scary landing as the wind was high and lightning all around but We landed safely. 
We made it home around 6:30 pm and the weather seemed very calm for about an hour Then all hell broke lose.
Less than a mile from Our house We could see explosions and fire balls in the sky. The sky looked like a rainbow with all the different colors.
It scared the S%$T out of Me.
The emergency sirens were sounding and We know We were in trouble.
We got in the closet in the center of the house and waited.
The transformer just outside Our house exploded and everything went dark.
I pulled up the weather radar on My phone and the storm was very close.
We waited and prayed and before We knew it the storm had passed and the sirens were off and We were all ok.
I have friends that live just behind Us where the tornado hit and I tried to call Them but no answer.
All of Our friends were on a group text trying to get in touch with Them.
Being the closest I got in My truck and headed that Way.
The devastation was everywhere.
The people were walking around like Zombies, Totally lost and confused.
The streets were impassable so I parked and ran to Their house, They were OK and Their house was still standing.  Three houses down and almost every house 3/4 of a mile east of Them were destroyed.
I have seen many news stories of tornado damage with the pictures but have never seen the devastation in Person , It's heart braking.
Garland is the next City over from Us where 12 were killed, I feel for Their Family's, Thank God no one in Rowlett was killed.
The emergency crews were awesome, The amount of support from surrounding City's and the power and gas Company's was overwhelming.
Rowlett alone has 800 Family's homeless now, Not sure how many in Garland but it's a lot.
The last two weeks have been busy trying to help anyone We can.
Hope none of You ever have to go through this.

 

[charge69]

Anyone that had to go thru that nightmare of a night in the Dallas area when that killer line of storms and tornadoes went thru has my sympathy and respect!  Glad you are safe and I know your life will be forever changed!

Stay safe !

[hemi68charger]

Glad you're ok....... I've seen first hand what a tornado can do as it was about a 1/4 mile from me... It was the most powerful thing in a small area I've ever seen, the Cesena airplanes it shredded didn't have a chance......... God bless all who were affected.....