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Cleburne Times-Review: Williams, Cain commend Cleburne’s spirit

May 20, 2013

Three days after tornadoes rendered heavy damage throughout several neighborhoods in southwest Cleburne much remains to be done in the areas of cleanup and repairs. But residents in the affected neighborhoods have teamed with fellow residents and volunteers in a determined effort to return to normal.

“The tornadoes may have destroyed our property, but they haven’t destroyed our spirits,” Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain said during a Saturday town hall held at the corner of Longfellow Lane and Hyde Park Boulevard. “And I’m not surprised. That’s how we roll in Cleburne. That’s just how we do it.”

U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, attended the town hall with Cain after having visited the city’s most heavily damaged areas.

“My family, all of us are praying for you,” Williams told the 100 or so residents attending the town hall. “There’s a thing called ‘In God We Trust,’ and it works. We’re going to be here to help as needed, but I want you to know that everyone across the country is praying for you and all the people in Washington told me to tell you that a lot of prayers are out there. But this is Texas. This is can do. This is will do.”

Substantial property damage aside, Wednesday’s tornadoes resulted in several cases of minor injuries to residents, but no serious injuries or fatalities.

“We’re just happy there were no fatalities,” County Judge Roger Harmon said while surveying damaged homes along Lakecrest Drive near Lake Pat Cleburne. “There’ll be some mental scars, but these homes can be replaced. The important thing is no one was hurt or killed.”

Harmon, Williams, Cain, Cleburne ISD Superintendent Tim Miller and County Commissioner Kenny Howell walked the neighborhood Saturday morning, stopping to visit with residents, most of whom were still sorting through damage and debris.

Homeowner John Stiver thanked Williams for stopping by and said he and his family are doing well under the circumstances.

“I just need [Williams] to get Hartford on the phone and get them to come out here,” Stiver said with a laugh.

Seconds later, Williams did just that.

“We need to get an adjuster down here quick,” Williams said on the phone. “These people are struggling and need help now. I know you all are busy, but the Stiver’s house is in horrible shape. They’re not looking for handouts, just want to get some action going.”

Stiver said his home and personal property sustained extensive damage from flying glass requiring removal of all the sheetrock and insulation. Stiver marveled at the American flag attached to his garage, however, which flew through the storm unharmed.

Stiver and his neighbors called the outpouring of help from the community and beyond amazing.

“So many people have showed up to help that I’ve told them there’s just no way to thank them, how can I thank them?” said Jeff Dugger, who lives across the street from the Stivers. “I told them the only way I can thank them is to pay it forward. Yesterday our house looked like a nuclear bomb site and about 9 a.m. people from First United Methodist show up. About 1 p.m. trucks and vans show up and about 26 people wearing red My H-E-B shirts get out with water, trash bags and chain saws did what would’ve taken us a month to do.”

Dugger and others said they initially thought the storm was going to pass without harm, until the tornado came then returned for a second swipe.

"We were in the closet because we know Texas and how things can get,” Marci Skelton told Williams. “It’s one thing to have a tornado, but then to have it come back a minute and a half later. It got pretty hairy. Once we could get out we were running in the dark yelling house to house and helping collect peoples’ pets.”

Dugger said he and his wife, Jamie Dugger, did the same.

“We were in the kitchen on the floor next to the cabinets because that’s the only spot in the house with a low ceiling,” Dugger said. “The first tornado we thought OK, but then here it comes again. I knew it was bad when the insulation started falling. That stuff belongs in the attic, not the kitchen floor. We were covered under two feet of it by the end.”

The tornadoes destroyed the Dugger’s home — they plan to rebuild — but they escaped injury.

“Only injury I can claim is a scratch yesterday while moving a tree limb,”Jeff Dugger said with a laugh.

Dugger says he can laugh a bit now, but described the moments immediately following the tornadoes as gut wrenching.

“We ran out to check on neighbors and my thought was we’re going to be pulling people out, but miraculously everyone in the neighborhood was running around hollering and checking on one another and within 20 minutes everyone was out and accounted for. I think once people see this in the news, how Cleburne works we’re going to have a million people wanting to move here. It’s just been incredibly humbling seeing all the residents, volunteers and organizations, city people coming out of the woodwork.”

Sentiments Cain expressed about an hour later at the town hall.

“Going around and talking I’ve seen people out on their front porches, getting together with neighbors they haven’t seen in a long time,” Cain said. “Let’s not stop that. Let’s carry on with those block parties and togetherness once we get back to normal.”

Resident Jerry Nelson, who attended the town hall, agreed.

“There were people the next morning just passing out coffee and helping,” Nelson said. “I’ve lived here seven years and know my neighbors right around me, but I’ve met neighbors I never knew.”

One of Nelson’s neighbors, Sharon Jones felt much the same.

“You hear about churches and volunteers coming in in situations like this,” Jones said. “But actually seeing it and all the city employees turning out and everyone going around making sure, concerned about each other has just been incredible.”

Sharon’s husband, Roman Jones chimed in.

“I have to say I love Home Depot and will shop there forever,” Jones said referring to dozens of Home Depot workers who have spent the last several days cleaning up the affected neighborhoods. “And the city of Cleburne has done an awesome job through this, just everybody, it’s just unreal.”