Texas family clings to faith after surviving roof collapse during powerful tornado: 'God kept us safe'

EF-1 tornado tears through Texas family's home

Southern states faced a barrage of severe weather last Tuesday, including hail, dust storms and powerful winds. Texas was particularly hard-hit, with multiple confirmed tornadoes. An EF-1 tornado ripped through Irving, near Dallas, packing estimated wind speeds of 110 mph. The twister tore the roof off a top-floor apartment, leaving a family exposed to the storm. Jocelyin Ramirez, who lost her home in that tornado, joins FOX Weather to share what she experienced.

IRVING, Texas – This wasn't just another storm for one Texas family; it was a brutal brush with death.

The desperate whispers of prayer are vividly fresh in the mind of 20-year-old Jocelyin Ramirez as the world around her and her father dissolved after a brief but powerful EF-1 tornado ripped through Irving early Tuesday morning.

"God kept us safe," Ramirez told FOX Weather, her voice trembling as she recounted the moment estimated peak winds of 110 mph tore through her childhood home.

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EF-1 tornado tears through family's home in Irving, Texas

The Ramirez family is picking up the pieces after a powerful tornado ripped through their Irving, Texas, neighborhood. A GoFundMe page has been established to help them find a new apartment and replace necessities.

Monday night began innocently enough, she said, as a seemingly mild weather forecast lulled her and her father into a false sense of security in their one-bedroom apartment. 

"We went to bed thinking it was just a little rain," she remembered. "Then, the sirens woke me. I looked out the window and saw the power lines down."

With terrifying speed, reality shattered their illusions, eclipsing any nightmare.

"I screamed for my dad," she recalled. "And then, the roof collapsed right on top of him."

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Beneath the rubble of the collapsed roof lay the mattress where Jocelyn Ramirez's father had been sleeping.

(Jocelyin Ramirez)

Her 43-year-old father had been sleeping on a mattress in the living room while she slept in his bedroom. It was a temporary adjustment during her visit after a recent layoff.

"I was frozen," she said as she watched their apartment crumble, hearing the whipping wind and ferocious rain. "It was horrible."

Her father, blood-streaked and shaken, managed to rise as she pulled him into the bathroom. It was the only refuge they could find. As they huddled inside their tub, they started to pray over the sound of crashing debris.

As the storm passed, Ramirez managed to call 911. When the paramedics arrived with a city in disarray, they could not offer immediate assistance.

"They told us they had bigger issues with the live power lines nearby," she explained.

As dawn broke, the devastation was laid bare. Their apartment, a home for over 12 years, was destroyed. 

"This wasn't just an apartment," Ramirez cried.

It was the place where her father raised her, where they celebrated her quinceañera and where the family gathered. Now, only scattered remnants remain. 

TORNADO LEAVES TRAIL OF DAMAGE IN IRVING, TEXAS

"We were able to salvage some pictures, some of my old school projects," she said. "Everything else – the furniture, the beds – it's all gone."

From a cherished home to a borrowed room, they are now nomads with uncertain futures, grappling with the daunting task of rebuilding. 

"My dad is working, and I'm searching for a job," Ramirez said.

A GoFundMe page has also been established to help Jocelyin Ramirez and her father find a new apartment and replace necessities.

(Jocelyin Ramirez)

While the storm caused widespread property damage, no fatalities or injuries were reported. 

Local authorities and aid organizations are supporting those affected by the storm. A GoFundMe page has also been established to help the Ramirez family find a new apartment and replace necessities.