Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado

#1 | Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado datum

Thu Apr 14, 2022 9:52 am

Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado

By Bridget Spencer | Published April 13, 2022 8:49PM | Salado | FOX 7 Austin

https://www.fox7austin.com/weather/bell-county-church-homeowners-cleanup-debris-tornado

SALADO, Texas - All that is left of Victory Baptist Church in Salado is the foundation and flooring.

"We didn�t have a clue about any of it until someone called us. We were in the process of moving at home, and so they called and said our church is gone," said Billy Borho, pastor.

Billy Borho has been with the church for 43 years. For him and his members, the church building is rich with history and cherished memories.

The pastor visited church Wednesday morning, after a quarter-mile wide tornado ripped through Bell County.

"I�m crushed, it hurts, I mean it hurts, but I have to go back," said Borho.

The tornado started on the Williamson and Bell County line and traveled eight miles northeast hitting Salado, and Borho's church.

"Our community�s generosity has already been expressed and greatly appreciated as we work to recover from this tornado event," said David Blackburn, Bell County Judge.

This Easter Sunday will be looking a lot different for parishioners.

"We will have our Sunday service here on the platform where the auditorium used to be. There has been a gracious group of people that said don�t worry about a sound system and don�t worry about chairs, we will do all of that," said Borho.

-- excerpt (including videos), rest at link above --

�We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent people.� ― George Orwell

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#2 | RE: Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado datum

Thu Apr 14, 2022 2:31 pm

Those were some wicked storms!

"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

- J. R. R. Tolkien

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#3 | RE: Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado datum

Thu Apr 14, 2022 5:05 pm

�We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent people.� ― George Orwell

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#4 | RE: Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado datum

Fri Apr 15, 2022 8:48 am

EF-3 tornado that injured 23 in Texas rated as second-strongest in US this year

By Scott Sistek | Published April 14, 2022 10:45AM | Salado | FOX Weather

https://www.fox7austin.com/weather/texas-tornado-injured-23-ef-3

The tornado touched down in Williamson County just after 5:30 p.m. and lasted over a half hour, stretching at least 13 miles into Bell County,
according to the National Weather Service. (FOX Weather)

SALADO, Texas - A strong tornado that tore through Bell County, Texas and injured nearly two dozen people Tuesday has been rated as an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

The tornado touched down in Williamson County just after 5:30 p.m. and lasted over a half-hour, stretching at least 13 miles into Bell County, according to storm survey teams with the National Weather Service.

The storm caused extensive damage along about an 8-mile path, especially in the town of Salado. Bell County Judge David Blackburn said 63 homes and churches suffered damage of varying degrees in his county.

Meteorologists estimated the damage was consistent with 165 mph winds, rating the tornado a strong EF-3 and only 1 mph short of garnering an EF-4 rating. It ranks so far as the second-strongest tornado in 2022, only behind the EF-4 tornado that struck Winterset, Iowa on March 5.

No one was killed in the twister, but 23 people were injured, according to emergency managers. Judge Blackburn said out of the nearly two dozen injured, 12 required treatment at area hospitals and at least one person was in critical condition.

-- excerpt, rest at link above --

�We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent people.� ― George Orwell

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#5 | RE: Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado datum

Fri Apr 15, 2022 8:52 am (Last edited: Fri Apr 15, 2022 8:52 am)

Historic size? National Weather Service to study large hail found in Texas

By Rudy Koski | Published April 14, 2022 2:46PM | Salado | FOX 7 Austin

https://www.fox7austin.com/weather/historic-size-hail-salado-texas-tornadoes

Historic size? National Weather Service to study large hail found in Texas

After posting about the 5.5-inch hailstone on social media, the National Weather Service contacted her and asked Brown to preserve it, so they can study it.

SALADO, Texas - Gina Brown�s freezer is capable of making ice, but the frozen chunk she is keeping in this zip lock bag wasn�t made there. It fell from the sky.

After posting about it on social media, the National Weather Service contacted her and asked Brown to preserve it, so they can study it. "They are coming to 3D scan it is what I�m told," said Brown.

Brown lives just north of Salado. When the storm rolled in on Tuesday she grabbed her dog and hid in a closet.

"It just sounded like the roof was being pummeled, and I�ll tell you the thing that was more concerning to me, it was; bam, bam. Bam, bam, like consecutive banging on the roof and all of a sudden absolutely nothing," said Brown.

When she went outside she found her yard full of large hailstones. One caught her attention. A clump so big Brown initially assumed it was trash from a construction site next door.

"My first thought was, a piece of Styrofoam has come into the yard again," said Brown.

-- excerpt, rest at link above --

�We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent people.� ― George Orwell

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#6 | RE: Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado datum

Fri Apr 15, 2022 8:56 am

Salado church damaged by tornado still planning on holding Easter Sunday service

By Angela Shen | Published April 14, 2022 8:47PM | Salado | FOX 7 Austin

https://www.fox7austin.com/news/salado-church-damage-tornado-easter-sunday-service

SALADO, Texas - The Salado community is still cleaning up after a tornado ripped through the town on Tuesday. That's not stopping some churches from holding Easter Sunday service.

At First Cedar Valley Baptist Church, many community members have been stopping by to help out and offer donations. They plan to have their Sunday service in the parking lot.

Pastor Donnie Jackson points to the one thing still standing strong in the structure.

"This building was basically demolished except for that cross, and it goes untouched," he said. "The reason for that I believe with all my heart is God protected that cross. It will be the symbol of what we're going to celebrate Sunday."

The Easter Sunday service will be put on with the space they have and with help from others.

-- excerpt, rest at link above --

�We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent people.� ― George Orwell

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#7 | RE: Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado datum

Fri Apr 15, 2022 2:04 pm

That is crazy! 6" hail?

"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

- J. R. R. Tolkien

reply

#8 | RE: Bell County church members, homeowners begin cleaning up debris after tornado datum

Fri Apr 15, 2022 2:58 pm

Insanity!

�We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent people.� ― George Orwell

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The Unfrozen Cave