2 years since deadly tornado struck Laguna Heights

LAGUNA HEIGHTS, Texas (ValleyCentral) — May 13, 2023, marks the day a deadly tornado struck the Rio Grande Valley.

Tuesday marks two years since the EF1 tornado devastated the community of Laguna Heights, killing one.

Between 4:01 and 4:06 a.m. May 13, 2023, a once calm and quiet community was destroyed by winds of up to 110 mph with little warning.

In just five minutes, many residents of Laguna Heights were left standing in rubble, and one man lost his life to the devastating weather when he was trapped under his mobile home.

Catherine Valdez who drove to Laguna Heights that morning to pick up her brother who’s home was destroyed by the tornado said the community looked like a war zone.

“My brother’s window blew in and hit him in the face, he is pretty shook up and his dog was so shaken as well," Valdez said. "I cannot believe this happened. He has lost everything, his home, his belongings, but thank God he is alive.”

After the natural disaster, the Laguna Heights community and those surrounding it began to rebuild. The day of the storm, first responders acted fast to get residents of the area to local shelters.

As previously reported by ValleyCentral, this year Cameron County experienced another weather disaster, on March 27, when devastating floods left many homes and vehicles damaged.