CANTON, Texas — In a grainy cell phone video, Stacey Buck captured the EF-4 tornado that sent her and her daughter flying, no matter how hard she hung on.
"I did, until it took her right out of my arms," she said.
April 29th, 2017 left both Buck and her daughter injured, and their Canton home was obliterated. Almost two years later, Buck still is amazed it happened.
"I’m in a bad movie," she said. "That’s what it felt like."
Her old life is in bins and boxes, full of everyday things that weren’t blown away, like a measuring cup and Buck's son's belt.
"Whenever everything’s gone, it becomes to where anything that is left is important," she said.
It broke her heart when she heard the people of Lee County, Ala. will learn that hard lesson, too.
"People will say, 'I can’t even begin to imagine,'" said Buck. "I can begin to imagine."
Another EF-4 struck that state Sunday night. More than two dozen were killed, others are still missing, and the horror is fresh. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning.
It’s still too soon for the people in Alabama, but survivors near Canton know reminders of the storm will stay with you. Both in things you can see, and those you cannot.
"I never really understood PTSD, until, you feel like you’re ok with something, and then a little bit of something makes you [gasp]," said Buck.
What calms her nerves is controlling what she can, like buying a brand new storm shelter buried behind her new home. .
"We’re going to get blankets, chairs…this weekend my goal is to have that thing stocked," said Buck.
With severe weather season almost here, Alabama’s reminded her that we have the luxury of getting ready.