OKC family happy to be alive after not having enough time to get to a shelter

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – When you look at the devastation, it's hard to believe the optimism surrounding a south Oklahoma City neighborhood that was hit by a devastating tornado overnight on Nov. 3.

KJRH

The neighborhood is located at SE 85th Street and Woodbend Drive in Oklahoma City. Almost every home was destroyed or suffered significant damage. At least 100 homes in the OKC metro area were affected by storms over the weekend, according to the Oklahoma City Fire Department.

On November 3rd, neighbors walked up and down the street, checking on one another, offering encouraging words, helping to clean up, or looking for salvageable items.

KJRH

Vagner Lima and his wife had just gone to bed after seeing a concert. He tells 2 News he had barely turned off the lights when their phones started hearing a tornado warning and the house started shaking.

Lima said they started running toward the storm shelter they had just installed on the floor of their garage but never made it. Instead, they sought shelter under an overturned dishwasher as their house fell apart around them.
“You always think you're going to make it to your shelter,” Lima said, “now we know sometimes you don't make it, and that's scary.”

Almost everything they own is gone, but they are grateful that they are alive and that their children stayed with their grandparents that night. The tornado completely destroyed the room where her children would normally sleep.

KJRH

Lima and his wife searched through the rubble on November 4 but didn't find much to salvage other than their passport.

“Every time we see it now, it’s a little more nerve-wracking,” he said.

As he spoke to 2 News, his overturned truck's emergency horn beeped and its lights flashed. He couldn't turn it off because the storm caused the truck to tip dangerously onto its side.

KJRH

One thing he and his wife could do was protect their neighbors. After crawling out of the rubble of their home, the neighbors broke their own window to get the Limas to safety inside their home.

Neighborhood residents tell 2 News they know they still have a long road to recovery, but that's okay because they can support each other along the way.

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere –