Neighbors help clean up aftermath of SE Houston EF2 tornado

HOUSTON – What a difference in a day.

Numerous homeowners in a southeast Houston neighborhood on Tuesday had debris and large pieces of roofing material strewn across their street due to a tornado.

On Wednesday, cleanup efforts were drastic.

Ed Serrano, who lives on Kirkhall Drive in southeast Houston, said he knew more than just the wind was blowing in his area on Tuesday.

“I looked out the window and saw someone’s roof coming right up to my truck,” Serrano said.

The National Weather Service said the damage was consistent with an EF2 tornado with winds in excess of 115 mph.

Serrano said he had minor damage to the roof and railings, but was glad he was alive. He said that he also counted on the help of his neighbors.

“I had surgery and I couldn’t lift heavy objects,” he said. “They knew and came.”

One person who didn’t even live next door brought his chainsaw to help an elderly couple cut down and neatly stack large tree branches that had been blown into their yard.

Indi Construction owner Raquel Boujourn said the destruction killed her heart. She decided it was more valuable to spend the day putting people before profit.

“I called my husband and said: “I don’t know what’s on your schedule. We must cancel this. Take one of the guys, take a dump trailer, take our trucks,” said Bujourn. “Let’s go out and start helping people who need help.”

Bujourn and her team went door to door all day long, offering free help to the population, mostly 55 and older.

She said that’s what Houstonians do and she plans to return Thursday to help more families.

She encourages others to donate their time and effort wherever they can.