TYLER, Texas — Clean up is still going on in many Kilgore neighborhoods following last Thursday's devastating storm.
Straight line winds took down trees and powerlines, scattering them throughout the town, causing a big work load for tree services.
“We’ve been out here since last Friday,” said Ray Strickland with Michael Franklin Tree Service and Logging.
Strickland says the storm was devastating throughout the region. By now, he says he feels he has seen it all.
“The worst case I saw, a tree was right down the middle of a house and it completely demolished it,” Strickland said.
RELATED: Storm destroys Kilgore home
Debbie Moore says she was forced to leave her family home due to the storm’s damage.
“As far as I know the entire roof, the attic, rafters, all that has to rebuilt," Moore said. "And all the floors have to be replaced because of water coming in the house. They tell me the garage has to completely be rebuilt. It’s bad."
Moore says that she was asleep in her home when the sound of hail woke her up in the early morning hours of Thursday.
“It was real scary. I woke up and tree limbs, had about five tree limbs come through the ceiling," Moore recalled. "And I could smell gas leaking in the house so I started trying to find a way to get out. And most of my doors, two of my doors, were jammed, and I couldn’t get out.”
Moore along with her dog and cat were able to make it out safely.
She says she is staying with friends and thankfully has received additional charity from friends and family. While thankful, Moore simply wants to return home most of all.
“Right now I’m staying with a friend and kinda looking," Moore said. "I don’t know what I’m gonna do while they rebuild.”
Despite the tough situation, Moore says she is moving forward with as positive of an attitude as possible.
“My dad built this house and I have a lot of sentimental attachment to it. But it’s just a house. It can be rebuilt," Moore said. "The fact that I’m out okay, you just have to move forward. I tried to sit around and cry about it but I finally just had to get up and start doing something.”
