Shelby County homeowners discuss surviving the storm, dealing with extensive property damage

SHELBY COUNTY, Texas (KTRE) - Crews are assessing and repairing damage in Shelby County after Wednesday night’s storms.

Several houses in the area surrounding Timpson have been damaged by fallen trees and roofs that have blown off.

Ralph Simmons has lived on the same piece of property right outside of Timpson in Shelby County for the last 35 years. He said he hasn’t experienced a storm or damage across the county like this one in all those years.

“It was very loud and luckily it didn’t hit my house. It took all my white fences down. I was out late last night trying to fix fences so my cattle couldn’t get out. I haven’t been able to ascertain what has really happened yet,” Simmons said.

James Edison said he was outside when the storm hit.

“I was polishing my bike and I saw it, heard it and I ran over there and got under my pickup, squatted under it and just held the bumper,” Edison said.

A tree fell on Edison’s house as the storms rolled through.

“Just sheets of rain, and the terrible wind sound. You’re just, terrified,” Edison said.

Josh Tipton, Shelby County Constable for Precinct 5, said Timpson and the surrounding areas were hit hard.

“Its pretty clustered, lots of trees down on the county roads,” Tipton said.

Tipton said their first priority is clearing debris from roadways, and crews have been doing just that all day.

“The fire station and commissioners have gotten a white board step up where were keeping track of what roads are still closed down, what roads still have trees on them, what’s impassible and what we’ve cleared.”

The city is also facing power outages and there is no timeline of when power would be restored. Simmons said everyone in the town is doing their part and helping others.

“So, it’s a good community effort, I appreciate everyone who is out here today,” Simmons said.

As of 9:30 a.m., high water on County Road 4323 is impassable.

High water has also washed out a bridge on County Road 4333.

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