Hawley folks

[Cottontop]

Heard on news that Hawley area was hit by tornado. How is it Hawley fans?

[Comanchealumni06]

Yeah I just heard that too. Heard there was some damage and a few injuries up there. Prayers from Shiner!

[HawleyRocks]

Hey Guys... Just wanted to let you know that my family and all are all alright. My sons, the wife and I all live in Abilene. My wife and son work at Hawley ISD. My wife's worked there for 37 years.

My Brother and his family, my mom, my aunt, another 2 aunts and 2 uncles, and 2 cousins' families were all really close to the tornado and most have unbelievable video of the tornado on the ground. The national news is saying about 60 houses were damaged and that might be so, but only about 10 or 12 were totally destroyed. The one family that was on the national news telling how they rushed to an interior closet only to have their little boy jerked out of her hands through the top of their house. That story is so heart wrenching, she tells how they were praying one instance and then he and they were all gone the next. She tells how she just knew he was dead, oh, it is gut wrenching to hear her tell it. Then there is a video from the storm chaser's vehicle where he is chasing the tornado and looks up and sees this same family running down the gravel road towards him. The kids are bloodied, and the dad is limping badly, and all you hear is. "Get In, Get in. Gey in." Anyways, he rushes them to the hospital and then the next time we see them is on the Hawley Facebook page, all banged up, with broken limbs and scared up bodies and faces, but were at least alive and able to smile. Their two-story brick home is completely gone.... This family has had our farm leased for over 20 plus years. One of the other families that has lost everything is a teacher at Hawley ISD as well and works with my wife.

The thing that has rocked the community as well as all my family I mentioned before is the fact that they had baseball size hail and it hailed for 45 minutes sustained. My brother and uncles stated that it never let up. My brother has a tornado safe room built into the middle of his house and is supposed to be rated to take 400 to 500 plus miles-per-hour winds. He said they had rushed in there and that he didn't even have time to get the cars under the carport. He's got a brand new loaded out suburban that is just trashed. It is just beat all to pieces. But the family is all safe and a live and as far as I am told there was no fatalities in the Hawley area, so we are very blessed...

I am amazed at how the community has come together. Everyone is helping to gather belongings, trash cleanup, tarping roofs, feeding meals, gathering livestock, building makeshift fences, burring livestock and pets, handing out water and snacks, loaning trailers and equipment, all free of charge. Walmart, Lowe's, United, and many, many, more have donated all kinds of stuff. It has just been so overwhelming at the generosity of these businesses as well as local eateries in Hawley, giving away free food. It has truly been amazing. Thanks for all the calls and text messages as well as the prayers... Best wishes, Hawley Strong !!!!

[HawleyRocks]

FYI:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/famil ... 469c&ei=27

[beaver gal]

Sorry that happened in Hawley. It will take a while to get back to a new normal.