ARLINGTON, Texas — Dolores Sumbera has lived in the same Arlington home for 49 years. After a Sunday tornado she has no option but to move out.
Sumbera was seated in her house when the fast-moving storm swept through her neighborhood. A few minutes later, it ripped her roof off.
“All of a sudden there’s this explosion. I didn’t even have time to run to the bathroom where I could be in a safe place or whatever,” Sumbera said. “It was very frightful and then I looked up and it started pouring down rain and I just grabbed my purse and I just ran out of the house as fast as I could.”
The National Weather Service determined it was an EF-1 tornado that hit Arlington Sunday, with wind speeds of 95 mph.
Neighbors are disappointed because the storm sirens never went off.
The tornado was only on the ground for one minute. The City of Arlington says the National Weather Service never issued a warning, and because of that, the sirens never went off.
Karina Garcia’s parents live next door to Sumbera. Her parents lost a portion of their roof too.
“I just see a lot of destruction,” Garcia said. “It’s very sad how a lot of people lost their homes.”
Now Sumbera must figure out her next step. After nearly a half century in Arlington, she must figure out what she plans to do after this tornado.
For now, she’s just happy to be alive.
“We’ll get through this, but I thank God that I am OK,” Sumbera said.