perryton, texas – It was a sign of rebirth, hope and unity after a deadly tornado left lifelong scars on the town of the Panhandle, Texas.
A powerful storm that hit Perryton around 5 p.m. Thursday remained on the ground for about 13 miles before rising into a dark, ominous sky.
After it passed, the smell of natural gas filled the air as residents hand-dug into the rubble.
Some were looking for loved ones, others were saving everything they could from destruction.
Veteran Andrew Skipper was among those busy helping devastated communities.
Neighborhood Fire Chief Booker briefly recovered the American flag from the debris of the houses.
His department shared 30 second gesture I posted it on their Facebook page because a family member used the post to find a missing loved one.
“When our country has a moment like this, Americans need to see a moment like this,” said FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin after seeing the video for the first time. “When this firefighter raises this flag with pride for his country, it certainly makes me emotional.”
Booker was about 25 miles from Perryton, and Skipper’s division was one of the first to arrive on the scene.
The tornado hit the town, killing three people and injuring about 56, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard told Amarillo Globe News. Two people were missing as of Thursday night.
The destruction inflicted on a town of about 8,200 people was seen above and below Main Street. Vehicles and several buildings, including the town’s fire station, were heavily damaged.
“Keep praying for Perryton,” the ministry said in a Facebook post full of photos showing the destruction. “We have been hit hard!”
Witnesses in the area reported storm victims being dragged out of the rubble, and storm chasers were calling for ambulances from the town to help the wounded.
“It’s like a bomb went off,” Perryton resident Sabrina Devers said of the now unrecognizable city. “The residential areas and mobile homes have just disappeared,” she said.
Amarillo’s National Weather Service said a team will assess the damage Friday to determine the strength of the tornado and its rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
