TRINITY COUNTY, Texas — The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado ripped through Trinity County on Sunday, April 28, destroying a home and injuring two of its occupants.
The tornado traveled approximately 0.29 miles and primarily struck the Rock Creek subdivision, which sits between the Trinity River and FM356. The tornado had stretched 200 yards and had maximum estimated winds of 100 mph. It was on the ground for 1 to 2 minutes, according to NWS.
Conroe Police Department Lt. James "Jimmy" Waller and his wife were the two injured during the tornado. A neighbor said he found Lt. Waller under debris and his wife lying on her back in a nearby pasture.
“I heard him moan and I just kind of started digging around, found him up in the trailer home, underneath the frame," said Brant Pee. “I found his wife about halfway out to the pond in the pasture."
Pee said he quickly called 911 as winds continued to whip through the area.
“One thing you’ve got to thank about, if I didn’t go there, he could’ve, he could’ve bled out," Pee said.
Waller was hospitalized and had to undergo multiple surgeries. Authorities said he's looking at a lengthy recovery.
Waller is a 22-year veteran with the Conroe Police Department.
Sunday's storm wasn't just a problem from Trinity County. Some Walker County residents were flooded out of their homes as rain pounded their area.
KHOU 11 was the only news crew that captured rescues along Harmon Creek in Riverside, which is northeast of Huntsville. Officials said dozens of people were saved from flooded properties by boat because FM 980 was impassible. Several dozen people were brought out from the back of that community.
The rescues were organized by Texas Task Force One, which consists of several agencies.
One resident told KHOU 11's Jason Miles that he was trapped in his RV.
“It started by around midnight, the bad weather, and by daylight, we had four feet of water in the area, five to six inches inside my RV,” said evacuee Jerry Jones. “No way to get out. My porch raised up. I had to get my son to pry the door open.”
Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries.