‘Thought we were going to die’: Tornado survivor found shelter with seconds to spare

A survivor of the tornado that struck Cooke County over the weekend is recounting his harrowing experience.

Adam Tarr and his wife, Melinda, were traveling from Frisco to WinStar World Casino when they received alerts on their phones instructing them to seek shelter.

They managed to reach a travel stop on I-35 at Lone Oak Road in Valley View with only about thirty seconds to spare.

“It’s unbelievable,” Tarr remarked. “It’s surreal to enter something and not be there when you come out.”

Reflecting on the ordeal, he realizes how narrowly they escaped tragedy.

“I genuinely thought we wouldn’t make it,” Tarr admitted.

His wife’s cell phone captured the chaotic aftermath once the tornado had passed.

“When we emerged, we couldn’t locate the car, and this is where it was,” Tarr recalled.

They eventually found their SUV in a flooded ditch by the street, far from where they had parked it at the gas pump.

Officials estimate that about 300 homes in Cooke County have been damaged. The area is strewn with debris, including cars tossed about like toys.

Just a short distance away, assistance is being provided at Valley View’s community center, where donations have been pouring in all day.

Outside, vehicles have been loaded with food, water, and essential supplies for the victims. Brooke Barthold, a teacher at Valley View Middle School, expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support.

“It’s been tough, especially since my oldest daughter was friends with one of the victims,” Barthold shared. “But it’s incredible to witness how the community has come together to help out.”