4-2-04 - On April 2, 1982, Texoma saw one of the worst tornadoes to ever hit the area. A twister classified as an F-4, tore through Paris, Texas, killing 11 people and injuring nearly 200. 3,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the epic tornado.

22 years later, people who survived it say that April day is till fresh in their minds. Kyle McCarly was working at his father’s lumberyard when the tornado came roaring into sight.

It was just after 4pm when Kyle and other workers locked themselves in a vault. What they saw when the came out, was something Kyle will never forget. “When i opened the door, I looked up through the ceiling and could see the tornado going down the street,” says McCarly.

Within 60 seconds, the damage has been done. But since that time, much has changed in how people prepare for tornadoes, and the warning systems that detect them. In Paris, emergency warning sirens were installed all over town. Weather radar is also improved when it comes to spotting storms that can produce tornadoes.