An EF1 tornado caused extensive damage to the Irving Family Advocacy Center, forcing it to operate virtually while it remains closed for at least 10 to 12 months.
IRVING, Texas — Storm cleanup can seem like a tedious task, but Joel Stephens called it a miracle.
“Because we were blessed, and they got hit. It just missed us maybe 100 yards at the most,” Stephens, an Irving resident, said.
He lives near Pioneer Drive and O’Connor where an EF1 tornado ripped through the area last Tuesday.
“I started looking out our back window and saw the roof of the apartment complex was gone. Then I looked at the family center and saw that that roof was gone as well,” Stephens said.
Some debris from the Irving Family Advocacy Center’s roof landed in Stephens’ backyard. The center provides resources for victims of crimes. Melissa Harrison is the Clinical Director. She said the roof being destroyed is only half the problem.
“Most of our roof is gone. There is quite a bit of damage to the sprinklers. The sprinklers also went off in the building which flooded our building,” Harrison told WFAA.
The Irving Police Department shared a video from inside the building after staff retrieved confidential files and information. “The furniture has been damaged and will have to be thrown out. A lot of the flooring and the walls… they’re examining all of that,” Harrison said.
The center will be virtual for now. Harrison said the Counseling Department alone typically sees 300 families a week. Harrison told WFAA that about 120 of those families can’t be serviced virtually for various reasons.
“We are hoping that there will be a solution where we can find a building where we can all be together and still provide services in person. Until then, we are kind of all over the city and in any building that will house us right now doing the best we can,” Harrison said.
She said the building is expected to be closed for at least 10 to 12 months. “Our lieutenant sent out an email and said, ‘This building is not the heart of what we do. We are the heart of what we do.’ As long as we have each other, we will make it through this,” Harrison said.
Through the destruction, many residents see the blessing of simply having each other.
“We’re a community. That’s the way it ought to be. You help,” said Stephens.
The Irving Family Advocacy Center is still assisting current families and new families. Those needing support can visit Irvingfac.com.
