Marci Moody and her husband were just a mile or so away from their home in Alvin, Texas when the tornado tore through their community in December. They scrambled to get home to asses the damage with Ms Moody particularly concerned that her dogs might have been trapped inside the house when it hit. The impact that stared at them upon reaching home still makes her very emotional.

The roof of another house within their property had been shredded. Marci’s dogs were trapped inside the house with the front door jammed shut. Marci used all her force to open it . Their floor had received quite an impact and appeared to cave in with every step. Everything had flown into different spaces. The ran into a room whose door to had been shut by the flying debris, sparing their lives in the process.

The Moody’s mobile home had flown to the neighbors property together with part of their fence. Most of their windows were shattered. There was no telling if the big trees on either side of the house prevented something way worse from happening, given that their nephew was at home at the time.

She says Red Cross has been amazing to them, with the timely response being particularly appreciated by the community that is just recovering from such a devastating loss.

“It’s unfortunate that it took a tornado to hit our community for me to appreciate the work Red Cross does in supporting the vulnerable communities,” Ms. Moody says, adding that the support shown to her has made her to seriously think of donating to their cause and volunteer. They have been friends indeed.”

It is a sentiment shared by her community.

For Ms. Moody and the rest, there was the added grief of losing a neighbor who was caught on tornado’s path. Across from her street is a display of the devastation, with a truck hanging upside down on the neighbor’s garage roof. Another car is trapped inside with shattered windows.

The neighborhood has come together in a touching show of solidarity to help each other through the trying time. Their house is inhabitable, including the kitchen where everything is scattered all over. The family has to buy food – breakfast, lunch and dinner – to get by. Some times a neighbor brings them something.

Ms. Moody says it’s the simple things that matter, like gloves, tarps and voucher/coupons for food. Red Cross has been on hand and she’s beyond grateful.

Story by Richard Arina