After 2015 Tornado Rowlett Preps Citizens for Future Disasters
By Brianna McCain, 9th grader, Uplift Peak Prepartory
Spring in North Texas puts many people are on edge. Not because of the sports, elections, or news but because of the expected weather to come.
As the seasons change nature can get violent. North Texans can expect thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes. Sometimes the worst can happen. A tornado can touch down and destroy entire city blocks. That is what happened the night of December 29, 2015 in Rowlett. Since then, the city is taking new preventative measures.
“We can’t control weather, but we can control how prepared we are for it,” says Rick Mitchell, a meteorologist for NBC 5.
In Rowlett this is exactly what they are doing. Eduardo Balderas the weather coordinator for Rowlett said the city is educating its citizens about weather danger and what they can do to prepare for weather events like that December tornado. Rowlett is not only educating its citizens but also providing for them.
“Within a month of December 29th we had formed a committee for long term aid for those who need it after a severe storm,” Balderas said. Their first meeting was in January of 2016. Rowlett is also providing tornado shelters for those who need it. This is run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Within hours after the tornado of 2015 help was already there assisting those who needed it. There was a big turnout of people who wanted to volunteer. Rowlett organized the helpers as soon as they arrived. That night no one got any sleep.
“Many helpers that night could not sleep,” Balderas said. “I myself was not able to fall asleep. Take care of yourself if you come to help out.”
Mitchell said preparation is key when events like the Rowlett tornado occurs. “Have a place to be enclosed by walls,” Mitchell said.” Stay away from windows, and have a plan.” He said that plans should include having a survival kit, having a place to take cover, and being in the know through a radio or phone. Mitchell suggests getting a weather radio, which sends out special alarm tones in the event of severe weather, just in case your phone does run out of battery or you can’t reach a TV.
After the 2015 tornado in Rowlett, Eduardo wonders if he did enough to help those affected by the tornado. He set the alarm off to warn those in the city and he stayed up all night watching for any additional weather events. He helped those in need and created a committee for long term aid. Rowlett has become the example for other cities that will go through the same severe weather events.
