A tornado ripped through a North Texas neighborhood on March 21, causing massive destruction to homes and properties — including two schools and an animal shelter — and leaving one person dead.
According to CBS 11 News, the tornado struck at about 3 p.m., throwing bricks, glass, and insulation around Jacksboro Elementary School. The tornado severely damaged the school, and its roof was blown off.
The tornado also left as many as eighty homes destroyed in the North Texas neighborhood, which is just 65 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
David Kinder, a resident, said that he and his wife hid inside a closet when the tornado passed through their home.
Kinder’s son, Seth, was just returning home when the tornado struck.
“I hadn’t even put my truck in park yet, and our whole shop that was there just rolled over,” Seth told CBS in an interview. “I mean, there it is out there. You can see it out there. It totally just rolled over my truck.”
After the tornado passed through Jacksboro High School, leaving terrible damage in its wake, the school district canceled all classes and activities for the remainder of the week.
The district administrators released a statement saying the cancellations were for safety reasons.
“For the safety of our students and the community, Jacksboro ISD facilities will be closed,” the statement read. “No organized practices or games of any kind will take place on JISD property while school is closed. This will include all extracurricular buildings; gyms, Tiger Stadium, baseball/softball fields, weight rooms, ag shops, and the indoor facility.”
The tornado also damaged the large section of the roof over the fourth and fifth-grade wing at Hardeman Elementary in the Birdville ISD.
According to district leaders, water got into at least six classrooms. Classes were canceled at Hardeman on March 22 so authorities could assess the damage and determine when it would be safe to return to classes.
A 73-year-old woman was killed as a result of the tornado. A number of other people were also injured in the wake of the deadly storm.