Brazoria County residents recover from tornado, more severe weather looms

BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas - A week after a deadly tornado struck Brazoria County, residents are still recovering from the devastation as they brace for more severe weather in the coming days.

The Mejia family in Alvin is among those working to clear debris and repair damage. Silvia Mejia expressed gratitude for the community and her family's support. "I'm so happy when I see all these people helping me, like my family, my kids, my grandkids. Everybody picks up something, even my sons' friends," she said.

The EF-2 tornado left significant damage, and the family is making progress with the cleanup. "Family's on board," said Noe Mejia, who is assisting his parents. "We've been at it, everyone's been at it. There's been a lot of progress."

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Despite their efforts, challenges remain. The Mejia's have piles of debris on their property, and their roof, now covered with a tarp, still has many holes. "I don't have words to thank God," Silvia Mejia said. "I never prepared for something like this. Nobody prepares for this."

The Red Cross has stepped in and dropped off resources for the Mejia's and other residents impacted by the tornado in Brazoria County.

"That is totally awesome. I feel like you know very, very blessed. Under circumstances like this, we can say ‘Oh, why is it happening to me’, but I feel very blessed that we still have the organizations out there to help us out," Noe said.

The family had hoped to celebrate the New Year together after missing Christmas due to illness. "Our New Year's was about counting our blessings," Noe Mejia said. "We were just blessed."

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With a strong cold front and possible showers expected, the Mejia's are staying vigilant. "I don't have heaters because everything was in a little shed over there," Silvia Mejia said. "I don't know what happened, but it's okay. I can manage."

The Brazoria County Office of Emergency Management is coordinating efforts to assist residents with debris removal. They are asking those affected to place debris by the roadside for collection.

The deadly tornado left one woman dead and four people injured.