By Jan White
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HOUSTON COUNTY – On March 24, 2022, the Courier headlined what everyone in Houston County was talking about – the devastating F2 tornado that swept a path from Austonio to west/northwest/north of Crockett. The tornado, which hit on March 21, took out a strip mall on Highway 287, decimated several homes on Norman Lane, destroyed portions of the Mt. Moriah Cemetery on Highway 21, mowed down a swath of trees in its path, and took the life of a long-time resident of the McKnight community.
Houston County Electric Co-op spent countless hours working to restore power to the 6,200 homes (30% of the system) that were affected. The destruction elicited a proclamation from Gov. Greg Abbott, declaring sixteen Texas counties as disaster areas. Abbott held a press conference at the Crockett Civic Center to reassure residents that he was committed to assisting in recovery efforts.
Residents across the county pitched in to assist those whose homes and lives were affected by the tornado. Businesses donated time, money, crews and equipment to help remove trees and debris and assist those who lost their homes or possessions during the storm.
On April 23, the Courier, in association with Standing With Crockett and Sam and Ginger Gregg, held an event at Davy Crockett Park to try and raise funds for tornado victims. Neighbors helping neighbors – just as you would expect from a group of East Texas communities.
It’s been a year now since the devasting tornado ravaged the area. So what is it like in the aftermath of the storm?
The strip mall on 287, which once was the home of a gas station, a resale shop, a rustic boutique, a vending machine storage space, and an insurance company now stands empty. Only the concrete slab foundations remain. Norman Lane, one of the hardest-hit areas, is a hodgepodge of restored homes, new construction, and vacant lots where unsalvageable homes have been torn down, giving the land up to Mother Nature to heal the scars from the tornado’s wake.
Volunteers at the Mt. Moriah Cemetery helped reset headstones knocked over by the high winds or damaged by the fallen trees. Those familiar with the cemetery will notice how many trees that had shaded it for decades are now missing. But the only apparent evidence of the tornado is the stack of trees piled up on the backside of the graveyard.
While the aftermath meant closing their doors permanently for some businesses, others found an opportunity for a new beginning. Rustic Market, a mainstay in the strip mall for years, opened the doors to its new location only months after the old building had been ripped apart.
As we reflect on this past year, it is a remembrance of life and loss, of making peace with the past and opening the door to new opportunities. But mostly, it is a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit to keep moving forward
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