Van Works To Rebuild After Deadly Tornado
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VAN (CBSDFW.COM) - Residents in the East Texas city of Van are trying to rebuild after a deadly tornado struck on Sunday night, killing two people and destroying about 30 percent of the Van Zandt County community. Some residents lost their homes and nearly all of their possessions.
The storm's path was 9.9 miles long and 700 yards wide.
The American Red Cross opened a shelter at a church, and it remains open on Tuesday. As many as 50 people stayed at the shelter on Monday night, and nearly another 50 people were hurt and hospitalized during the storm. There are still two people in critical condition.
Gov. Greg Abbott declared Van Zandt County a disaster area, and Van officials asked people to pray for the city.
But many people have done even more. Donations poured into the city including food, water and clothing. Some people were handing out water bottles, pizza and burgers to neighbors and workers. High school students helped cover broken windows and holes in walls.
The effort to restore infrastructure and salvage damage homes began immediately after the storm.
High school student Colton Carpenter said, "A lot of people have holes in roofs, so we are putting tarps, putting boards up broken windows, trying to salvage what we can."
Crews from near and far, both untrained volunteers and professional disaster response teams, worked late into Monday night to help the people of Van. And the selfless acts were not lost on those people who have lost everything. "I've lived here my whole life," said one grateful resident. "I was born here. I was raised here. This is my home. And, hopefully, we can just rebuild. The town's really come together really well."
So many donations have come in that officials are asking people to hold off from delivering anything more to these Van neighborhoods. Instead, donations can be made to the American Red Cross.
"The cooperation of the citizens and the friends and the neighbors and the other cities has just been wonderful, and we appreciate it," said Mayor Dean Stone. "Give us a few weeks and we'll get right back on track."
At a news conference on Tuesday morning, Stone said that electricity had been restored to all but 5 percent of Van, and tree removal companies were coming in to clear out debris.
Stone added, "We are in much better shape today than yesterday."