Recovery, prevention after EF1 tornado touched down in Laguna Heights

LAGUNA HEIGHTS, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An EF-1 tornado ripped through Laguna Heights last year, leaving death and destruction in its path.

"We've had them pop up in a field and do some damage to some trees and some powerlines with straight winds," said Tom Hushen, the Director of Emergency Management in Cameron County. "But never to this kind of destruction that you saw through a neighborhood.

The storm claimed the life of one man in the close-knit community, who was identified by officials as Roberto Flores. Flores was killed after he was crushed by his mobile home.

"It gets you emotional, because you know these people," said Isabel Ochoa, a Laguna Heights resident. "We know everybody. My husband grew up here."

Officials said that 44 residences were severely damaged, including 11 that had major damage.

The tornado touched down just after 4 a.m. Residents woke up panicked, searching for loved ones in the darkness. In all, nearly a dozen people were transported to the hospital.

Cindy Melendez, a Laguna Heights resident, said that her house was shaking and that a tree fell and broke the window. She grabbed her mother in law, worried that falling glass could have injured them.

"I thought the worst," she said. I woke up, I got up and said 'My kids, my kids!' I couldn't find them.

As we enter hurricane season, the Valley Storm Team will keep you updated about any threats, but it's important to note that severe weather can come from anywhere.

"[Hurricane] Beulah, in the 1960s, when that hit, it spawns over a hundred EF-1's," Hushen said. "So that is quite a bit that a hurricane can do."

A year later, Laguna Heights is still rebuilding and residents say it could be years before things return to normal.