x
Breaking News
More () »

Jasper residents are still working to recover after EF-2 tornado tore through city in July

12News spoke with families who say, its going to be a long time before they can get back to some sense of normalcy.

JASPER, Texas — Hurricane Beryl continues to take a toll on Southeast Texas families nearly three months after it swept through Texas. 

An EF-2 tornado tore through Jasper leaving families with a heap of damage and devastation. 

Families who were hit the hardest are still rebuilding to this day.

12News spoke with families who say, its going to be a long time before they can get back to some sense of normalcy. 

While many Jasper families have made significant progress in their recovery since July, others have been forced to start from scratch. 

"You know...it's devastating," Cartrell Thompson said just hours after the tornado tore a hole in the roof of his family's home, nearly killing him.

Now, the home has a blue tarp over the roof and appears to be occupied by no one.

Throughout the rest of the Rosewood Drive neighborhood, you can see piles of rubble and damaged homes. 

Resident Don Barnett moved into his new home last Wednesday after the tornado completely destroyed his home and shed on FM 252 in July.

"The other one was torn up so bad that they had to haul it out," Barnett said.

Barnett says the tornado's destruction came shortly after the death of his wife and youngest son, in 2023. He admits the recent events have taken a toll on his spirit.

Regardless, he remains resilient. 

"It's just been one thing after another. It's a lot to clean up. You just have to be patient, I guess," said Barnett.

Neighbors living along County Road 297 say the tornado touched down right in their backyards.

Gary Shaw says he'll never forget the sound he heard as the tornado touched down just feet away from his home

"It started right behind my house. I was laying on the floor of my trailer, shook it, rattled it, tore the roof off my building, tore my trees up," said Shaw.

Shaw says, the twister tore through his daughter's home a few doors down, reducing it to rubble. 

He spent Tuesday, helping get her new home up and running. 

"It's been tough on me and her," Shaw said.

But like many affected by Beryl, working to get to the the light, at the end of the tunnel.

"It get's to you after a while, because you feel like you aren't getting anywhere,"

Jasper residents impacted by Hurricane Beryl can still apply for FEMA assistance online or in person at the Jasper County Courthouse Annex, which is open Monday through Saturday.

Before You Leave, Check This Out