A twister reportedly touched down in the early morning hours on Saturday. Jim Wilson, a longtime Ballinger native, was sitting on his front porch with his wife when he saw the tornado coming. Wilson said he grabbed his two dogs and crouched down in a corner as winds came towards his home. The Wilson’s roof was torn off, but the family was safe inside.
Another local resident, Brooke Wisenhunt, said her husband thought the high winds was the sound of an air conditioner when the tornado broke their glass windows. Wisenhunt said losing their house isn’t as important as having their family safe and sound.
Despite all the damage, the community of Ballinger came together to help those who seemingly lost everything.