Saturday, April 18, 1998

Moments of Grace

Many dates are tucked away in my memory, but April 10, 1979, is in it to stay.

On that terrible Tuesday my husband and I would survive one of the deadliest tornadoes in Texas. We had lived in Wichita Falls many years and raised our children there. We felt like we were living miracles in the tornado's aftermath.

North Texas is located in Tornado Alley, and the area lived up to its name that afternoon. Tuesday morning was sultry with a high humidity.

It was what everyone knew was a storm brewer. On the noon newscast a storm alert was issued for the North Texas and Southern Oklahoma region. We didn't know that by 6:30 we would be victims and survivors of Terrible Tuesday.

Black, ominous clouds developed over Vernon, 60 miles to the west of Wichita Falls. At 3 p.m. a warning was issued that an approaching tornado would hit the town.

It hit with a devasting fury, leaving behind 11 dead and mass destruction everywhere. The terrible family of tornadoes was victimie three more cities.

When the worst of the storms seemed to move across Red River into Oklahoma, I felt more relieved -- but not for long, because before another hour had passed, we were in a tornado warning ourselves.

There were a constant roar, dangerous lightning and winds blowing. When the weatherman said a tornado had touched down over Memorial Stadium, we decided to drive to the southeast section of town away from it.

People were in a state of panic. They were driving at high speeds in every direction. By the time we were almost to safety, we thought, three tornadoes had merged into a massive, one-mile wide tornado.

I was praying, asking God to protect us. I can still see that black monster coming over us. When it was over, a large steel sign pole was lodged between us that could have killed us.

A Civil Defense worker took us home because our car was totaled. Our home was not damaged, but our huge trees were lying uprooted in the street.

We survived terrible Tuesday because God in his mercy and grace protected us.

Loree Medley

Abilene