Alto couple say they are ‘blessed’ after escaping tornadoes unharmed

April 16-- Apr. 16--ALTO -- While the two tornadoes that struck the Alto area Sunday have left families like Kenneth and Sharrine Clater trying to get things back in order, she said one thing is for certain: She and her husband are blessed.

"We're blessed that we made it through, and we're thankful for all the community support," she said. "I think this is a very supportive community -- everybody has been coming together, trying to help one another. We've had people just driving by, saying, 'Hey, y'all need any help? Do y'all need any water? Do you need any ice?' They brought ice, water -- "

"Food," added her husband Kenneth.

"And food," she agreed. "There has been a lot of support."

The couple lives across the street from Alto ISD, which saw damage to buildings at the elementary and high school campuses, as well as a playing field near the Claters' home.

A National Weather Service damage survey issued Monday revealed that two tornados touched down in the area, approximately within two hours of each other, injuring 20 people. Five were severely injured and an unidentified woman initially among those injured had later died.

"We're praying for those who did lose everything," Sharrine said

On Monday, Alto resident Danny Casel was helping clear debris from his grandmother's property on U.S. Highway 69 North. Berdie Harrison, who lived in the wood-frame house for nearly half a century, wasn't hurt but because her home sustained damage, she was staying with Casel until insurance claims adjusters could determine whether the house was liveable.

"She was in the living room when it all happened, but she's okay -- she's not shaken. She's coping with it very well," Casel said. "I came and got her after the first tornado."

Like Harrison, Sharrine was at home, with one of her sons, when the tornadoes struck.

"It just hit it hard," she recalled, adding that the storm damaged the siding of their mobile home and ripped off a steel roof, as well as caused a tree to topple onto her car.

"You couldn't even get through back there," Kenneth said, pointing behind his mother's house to where the couple lived. "The roof was all the way back behind the house."

"We tried to move it, and it was so heavy," she said. "So you can imagine how strong the winds were to move it."

The Claters spent the day Sunday cleaning up the aftermath, assisted by friends and fellow church members.

"When people are in need, everyone comes together and helps each other," she said, describing how former coworkers volunteered to pitch in. "I don't even work with them anymore but we all stay in touch, and as soon as they heard, they were here," she said. "I count that as a blessing. We have nothing to complain about."

She moved here from Manhattan, New York, and has lived in Alto for 30 years. This is her first experience with tornadoes.

"It kinda made me think about maybe going back," she laughed. "I'm not used to tornadoes!"

Casel said the previous weekend, because severe weather was expected, his family prepared for the worst. The area received hail, high winds and rain, but no tornadoes.

On Saturday, things were different.

"You never think it'll happen, until it does," he said.

___

(c)2019 the Jacksonville Daily Progress (Jacksonville, Texas)

Visit the Jacksonville Daily Progress (Jacksonville, Texas) at www.jacksonvilleprogress.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.