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On Saturday May 9, 2015 at 4:30 in the afternoon, an EF-3 tornado touched down a few miles south of Cisco, TX and moved east, destroying several homes, killing one person and injuring others. Video of funnel cloud
The tornado completely destroyed the house, all the vehicles and damaged both tractors.
My mother Phyllis Graham (82) and brother Rex Graham (54) are in the hospital and lucky to be alive.
Rex heard the locomotive sound of the tornado approaching and yelled that they needed to get into the pantry, the only room in the house with no windows. He was pushing her into the pantry when the twister struck the house.
After it was over, Rex had been thrown from the house into the backyard and Phyllis was still in the house under some debris. Rex's glasses were gone and they were both covered with dirt and bleeding from wounds all over their bodies. The tornado was gone but it was still raining hard and hail up to the size of golf balls were falling.
Barefoot, bleeding and accompanied by one of their dogs, they walked a half mile through the storm to shelter in a cow shed that was still standing. Wet and shaking with cold, they huddled together for almost an hour until the storm ended. It was estimated hat 5" - 6" of rain fell.
As they staggered back over the hill back towards the house, they saw the red and blue flashing lights on the emergency vehicles of the firemen searching the rubble for survivors.
The tornado comes 5 years after the house in Marble Falls that we grew up in burned to the ground. Seven years ago, my father Ronald Graham died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack.
Phyllis taught school in Nederland, TX for a number of years before the family moved to Marble Falls in 1969. She taught kindergarden and Ronald taught history and economics for over 20 years. They both retired from teaching in Marble Falls in 1991.
In Cisco, Phyllis is active in the United Methodist Church, playing the piano for Sunday services. She is a past president of the 20th Century Club library and Delta Kappa Gamma retired teachers chapter in Eastland county. All that and keeping up a 220 acre place with cattle and goats.
We're seeking funding because no one ever has enough insurance to cover a complete loss. My mother comes from hardy stock but at 82, she's had more than her share of trouble heaped on her plate these last few years and could use some financial help to make it easier to get through this latest trial.
Thank you.
News video of damage
The tornado completely destroyed the house, all the vehicles and damaged both tractors.
My mother Phyllis Graham (82) and brother Rex Graham (54) are in the hospital and lucky to be alive.
Rex heard the locomotive sound of the tornado approaching and yelled that they needed to get into the pantry, the only room in the house with no windows. He was pushing her into the pantry when the twister struck the house.
After it was over, Rex had been thrown from the house into the backyard and Phyllis was still in the house under some debris. Rex's glasses were gone and they were both covered with dirt and bleeding from wounds all over their bodies. The tornado was gone but it was still raining hard and hail up to the size of golf balls were falling.
Barefoot, bleeding and accompanied by one of their dogs, they walked a half mile through the storm to shelter in a cow shed that was still standing. Wet and shaking with cold, they huddled together for almost an hour until the storm ended. It was estimated hat 5" - 6" of rain fell.
As they staggered back over the hill back towards the house, they saw the red and blue flashing lights on the emergency vehicles of the firemen searching the rubble for survivors.
The tornado comes 5 years after the house in Marble Falls that we grew up in burned to the ground. Seven years ago, my father Ronald Graham died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack.
Phyllis taught school in Nederland, TX for a number of years before the family moved to Marble Falls in 1969. She taught kindergarden and Ronald taught history and economics for over 20 years. They both retired from teaching in Marble Falls in 1991.
In Cisco, Phyllis is active in the United Methodist Church, playing the piano for Sunday services. She is a past president of the 20th Century Club library and Delta Kappa Gamma retired teachers chapter in Eastland county. All that and keeping up a 220 acre place with cattle and goats.
We're seeking funding because no one ever has enough insurance to cover a complete loss. My mother comes from hardy stock but at 82, she's had more than her share of trouble heaped on her plate these last few years and could use some financial help to make it easier to get through this latest trial.
Thank you.
News video of damage
Organizer and beneficiary
Phyllis Graham
Beneficiary