NWS: Willis tornado given preliminary rating of EF-2
WILLIS, TX (KTRK) -- A tornado that touched down in Willis in Montgomery County Saturday afternoon has been given a preliminary rating of EF-2.
A business on Shepherd Hill Road at I-45 suffered roof damage. Insulation hung from trees and metal was scattered around the roofing business.
In the midst of destruction caused by a tornado in Montgomery County Saturday, there is a surprising reaction from a 76-year-old veteran who lost his home.
"A little disappointment," said Forrest Harvey, "But I see the Lord's hand in this."
Harvey moved from Michigan two months ago, to be close to his brother. On a whim, a day earlier than he intended, he invited him, and his wife to go to lunch at Cracker Barrel. On their way back to Harvey's mobile home near Willis, they saw the twister.
The tornado turned the travel trailer on its end. Today, it fell in on itself, and the septic tank attached to it sent sewage onto what belongings remained inside.
"I never went through a tornado before," he said. "I did go through a hurricane in the Atlantic when I was on a destroyer."
His brother, John Harvey, is a barber and Bible study teacher in Montgomery.
"I told him he needs to read the Book of Job," he joked. "He lost everything too."
Harvey has no insurance, and he didn't expect strangers to come to his aid. Even so, a gofundme account has been set up for him. About $800 in donations have been made to the account in the past day. A goal of $12,000 has been set.
"It humbles me," said the Navy veteran who once served with the Seabees. "These people don't know me from Adam, and they're willing to help me out."
Welcome to Texas.
To read more about the fundraising, go to "Forrest Harvey Tornado Fund" on gofundme.com
EF-2 is the fourth strongest classification of tornado on the Fujita Tornado Damage Scale
