Runaway Bay tornado relief efforts led by ‘neighbors helping neighbors’
Piles of downed limbs and cut up tree trunks lined the neighborhoods of Runaway Bay days after an EF-2 tornado hit the town Saturday evening.
The majority of the damage lies southwest, outside Runaway Bay where streets were still blocked Monday by the Wise County Sheriff’s Office. A Red Cross Disaster Relief van was seen entering the neighborhood beyond the law enforcement vehicles.
On the north side of Texas 114, trucks hauled trailers filled with debris or were empty waiting to be loaded. People in yards cut up tree trunks and piled tree branches.
Michelle Bowen of Runaway Bay Drive said she didn’t know the helpers.
Bowen and her husband were home Saturday night to ride out the storm. Around 7 p.m. Bowen walked her usually-energetic pup, Sister, around the neighborhood. Sister typically bounds around on their walks, but Bowen said the tiny dog kept sitting still on the road. The odd behavior tipped off Bowen of the storm to come.
Later that evening, three rounds of hail inundated the house, followed by two bouts of whipping winds. Because they lost power, Bowen said they couldn’t know for sure what the storm was doing, but she could feel the sudden pressure drop from the tornado.
Within 20 minutes of the storm passing, help became available, said Austin Nickman. One Stop of Texas, a restaurant and general store at 601 US 380 West, opened its doors to anyone needing power, food or shelter.
On Monday, Nickman and another local were clearing debris and mowing the city’s only cemetery, Eternal Oaks.
“There’s one older guy that’s supposed to take care of it all, and we don’t want him doing it all,” Nickman said. “So we came out here this morning and just started picking up.”
Nickman’s parents used to run a chainsaw clean up ministry out of a church that he helped out with growing up. The response in Runaway Bay has been unique for him because of the “all hands on deck” attitude he’s seen.
“Just neighbors helping neighbors,” Nickman said.
On the north side of town, camping resort Camp QYB at 540 Shady Oaks Drive opened its doors to anyone who needed a place to stay.
Gracie Oates, Camp QYB general manager, said they have five families staying on the property with space for more.
“We have a couple housing with us that can’t be any older than I am, and I’m 24, and they lost everything,” Oates said. “When one of our staff members asked what they needed, she just said, water. Like, not clothes, nothing like, she just wanted water. It’s just absolutely heartbreaking to hear what people are asking for, even though they obviously need more.”
Oates said she doesn’t expect the aid to slow down anytime soon.
Johnny West of Alvord took the day off from his cabinetry business to help clear yards in Runaway Bay after taking care of his mother-in-law, who had damage from the tornado in Springtown.
There’s “plenty to do,” he said.
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 4:44 PM.