TEMPLE, Texas — Last week's tornadoes that ripped through Temple left devastation in their aftermath, including at the VFW Bell Post 1820 and auxiliary, which was left with a torn down front awning that landed on a member's truck.
Post 1820 Commander Jimmy Douglas said they were hosting their typical bingo night that evening, which drew around 100 members to the building as the storm came through.
"I had to make sure everyone was in a secure location," Douglas said. "The thing that I didn't want to happen was for anyone to get injured."
With the threat of hail, Douglas said one member pulled their truck under the awning to avoid any hail damage before huddling with his fellow veterans in the bathroom to wait out the impending weather.
"When the roof collapsed it was stuck underneath," Douglas said.
The winds ripped down the front awning of the building, covering the truck from the front windshield to the bed.
"There was a sense of apprehension and fear but we were monitoring on our phones and radar and it was supposed to be north of us but of course, no one told the tornado," Douglas said.
Douglas said they've contracted the Roof Co. to assist in repairing the damage.
"They're going to have to do a lot because there are two large beams that it's going to take a crane to lift up and of course release the truck that's underneath," Douglas said.
Clete Vanderburg, who works sales with Roof Co., was out to survey the damage on Thursday, May 30, but a timeline for full repair remains uncertain.
"We're going to make sure that we can get it built back the way it was and even better," Vanderburg said.
Douglas said it's a setback that will not impact their ability to serve their members and the community.
"We can't control what happens to us or around us," Douglas said. "What we do control is how we react to it."
Douglas said the post has been in contact with their district commander about getting more funds for their own VFW relief fund, which he said is empty right now. Douglas added they plan to host a few fundraisers in the future to help speed up repairs.
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