Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas • Page 27

Morning Journal 11-B SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 1982, Longview Staff photos by Mike Gibson PARIS STORM LEVELED ALMOST EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH FRIDAY AI TKRNOON Splintered homes and tiers were left scattered across northern half of city. ebuilding begins in Paris 'It's just amazing that more people weren't killed' 'iffKmW I ill mm u. ill 31 k.f -W 3 it 4 VICTIMS AND SIGHTSEERS ITH CAMERAS WANDER IN DEBRIS i I I CP 1 vi muruay morning ine cleanup en on continued in rans. ing the Hartys pack their belongings Saturday. They had a place to stay Saturday night, but after that they weren't sure what they were going to do.

Mrs. Harty said she doubted they'd be able to afford to rebuild their 9-year-old house even with their insurance money. But Harty didn't seem concerned. "We've made it before," he said. "We'll make it again." Two blocks from their house, members of the First Christian Church were giving away food and drinks donated by local merchants.

Two women, 75-year-old Mollie Pomeroy and 82-year-old Vera Cross, were killed at the church Friday night when the force of the tornado blew them into a wall. Ricky Pomeroy, grandson of Mrs. Pomeroy, said the women were found lying on a 400-year-old Mexican crucifix. The church pastor, the Rev. Raymond Armstrong, estimated damage to the 8-year-old church at $2 million.

But he wasn't downcast. "We built it once; we'll build it again," he said. "We have a real strong church. This is only the building." U.S. Rep.

Sam Hall, D-Marshall, was at the church Saturday, and he said he would try to get federal disaster aid for the area. He called the scene, "utter devastation. I've never seen anything like it in my entire life. It's just amazing that more people weren't killed." Rescue centers were set up at Aiken Elementary and Travis Middle School, where food, clothing, medical care and shelter were provided. About 25 Red Cross workers some of whom had just come back from the flood in Fort Wayne, Ind.

were among the relief workers assisting. Members of the Salvation Army, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Southern Baptist Convention also were helping. Red Cross workers were making appraisals on damaged homes and giving affected persons vouchers to buy a limited amount of food, clothing, household goods and furniture. Other Red Cross workers were driving around the city dispensing food. Scotti McNutty of the Red Cross said they had enough volunteers this weekend but would need more on Monday when many of the people had to go back to work.

Dan "and Shirley Hill from Long-view and David and Helen Hales from Tyler were among the Red Cross workers at the rescue center. Hales said he expected a small number of Red Cross workers to be in Paris for several months. Only two people stayed at Aiken Elementary Friday night, but workers were preparing for more Saturday night. Many local residents were offering to let displaced persons stay in their houjes. Ham radio operators at the rescue center were broadcasting messages to and from those who suffered damages in the tornado.

And Paris Junior College set up a free watts line for intrastate calls. Les Route, general manager of Foxworth-Galbraith Building Materials Center, said sales of plywood, shingles, sheetrock and other supplies were brisk. He said the store opened at 5 a.m. Saturday and would stay open late Saturday night. By ED HOUSEWRIGHT Staff Writer PARIS Ruby Harty was listening to the radio minutes before the tornado hit, and the announcer told listeners to get in the bathtub for protection.

So Mrs. Harty wrapped a couple of blankets around her shoulders and did as he said. Lucky she did. Minutes later, the tornado struck, leveling two sides of her house, lifting off the roof, overturning furniture in short, rearranging everything. But Mrs.

Harty was not hurt. The roof over the bathroom was left intact the only section of the roof that was and when the tornado passed she stepped out of the tub, brushed off some dust and thanked the Lord. "I asked the Lord to help me," Mrs. Harty, 75, said. "I didn't have time to be scared.

I heard a roar and the thumping of something falling, but it seemed like it didn't last any time at all. "I peeped out and saw a man where the living room was, and 1 asked him if it was over. He said it was." Her husband, Ed, was at the grocery store when the tornado hit. He, too, was unhurt. Store employees had all the customers get in a freezer vault until the tornado left.

When it did, Harty drove home, worrying about his house but worrying more about his wife. He pulled into the driveway and his wife ran out to meet him. They stepped over bricks, lumber and broken glass and embraced. "I was so thankful," Mrs. Harty said.

"I said, 'We have each other, so this doesn't mean Friends and relatives were help Fi It. 44y jaf if. -if 'M Kfh HOUSE WAS PICKED UP OFF CINDER REOCKS AND DROPPED IN RACK YARD Tracy WooJs, right, and family unhurt in deadly storm. H. jWHjiM)iiiiw iniiniii-iiiiiiiii I SATURDAY AS MOV ING DAY AT THIS FORMER APARTMENT COMPLEX FEE BLIEFOCK SITS IN THE REMAINS OF HER LIVING ROOM Her brother, LouisKirayes, washelping her sort through damaged household items.

Carolyn Johnson, top apartment, found shelter in bathroom with two daughters..