Cleburne (Sand Flat), Texas Tracy Family Farm Tornado Dec. 2006

The December 29th storm that hit the surrounding areas of Rio Vista and Cleburne, Texas has now been confirmed as an F2 tornado. It travelled for 23 miles in a northeastwardly direction. The tornado damage was the worst in Rio Vista, completely levelling several homes, damaging many others, as well as a dairy. The estimated damage to the area is 1-1/2 million dollars. Many people were also injured but no one died during this particular tornado, although one man in Groesbeck, Texas perished in another tornado earlier in the day. The area where the F2 tornado hit outside of Cleburne was less populated. Along the pathway of this tornado was our family farm in Sand Flat. About 52 acres of our farm lies across FM 4, a highway between Cleburne and Grandview. According to one neighbor, a funnel came across that part of our property, crossed the highway, and cut across the corner of our front pasture, and then travelled in between our house and our two closest neighbors' homes. These three homes are at least 1/2 mile from each other and the houses themselves did not sustain any damage...mostly fencing and trees. When the funnel hit the next intersection of county roads, it did damage houses, barns, trees, a travel trailer, a car, and more fences. A woman caught unaware in her truck had to stop in our closest neighbors' driveway when the storm hit. She said her ears popped and her truck rocked (tires lifting off the ground) during the worst of it. She was facing our front horse pasture and said all she could see was black. A huge oak tree in the pasture fell across our fence and the road near her, as well as another further down the road, trapping her on CR 415 until the Game Warden handsawed branches from our tree. We have two horses that live in that particular 25+ acre pasture and luckily they were close to our house. If the tornado had crossed that pasture just 1/4 mile closer to our home, I'm sure my horses would have been killed or severely injured. The front porch of our house took high winds while the back porch was untouched. However, one majestic oak tree by the pond just behind our house was uprooted, with debris such as pink insulation draping another tree.

After receiving phone calls from friends about the impending tornado, Brian and I turned on the TV and then gathered Bridget, the dogs and cat into our center bathroom to ride out the storm. We did not hear much noise during the passing of the tornado, possibly because our log cabin is quite soundproof. In retrospect, I did not feel we were in alot of danger nor that a tornado was so near. Ignorance is bliss I guess! Thankfully, we were all unharmed including our horses and our neighbors.

Our 52 acres across FM 4 did not fair as well. Not only was a transformer knocked down and a power pole snapped in two directly across from our mailbox, several double-pole utility lines were also knocked down further into the pasture, as well as approximately 17 large oak trees severely damaged. Due to the many trucks and downed power lines, we could not look at the tree damage until two days later. When I finally did, I was very overwhelmed. Many of these trees are 65 or more years old and were shredded, literally cut in two, or completely uprooted.