RICHARDSON – Almost six months after severe weather damaged and destroyed homes and business in several Richardson neighborhoods, the City continues to focus its efforts on long term recovery.
During the 2020 State of the City Address a video was presented that told the stories of the people who experienced the weather events firsthand and part of the response that happened afterwards.
Although these neighborhoods are on the mend, the damage left behind may be visible in the months and maybe years to come.
“It was just very surreal, when you looked in one direction it was one scene and when you looked across the street it was very different. The tornado of Oct. 20, 2019 kind of picked and chose a real narrow area and it did a lot of destruction,” said one resident.
Richardson has experienced severe weather events before, in April 1924, a tornado hit neighborhoods in the northwest side of the community killing one person and destroying homes and businesses. In August 1944, a tornado struck a part of downtown near US-75 south of Beltline damaging buildings and in April of 1961, another tornado injured people and destroyed property around Plano Rd. and Greenville Ave.
“While the damage is still visible, we will rebuilt and be stronger,” said Mayor Paul Voelker during the 2020 State of the Address.
To view the entire 2020 State of the City Address on demand visit www.cor.net/stateofthecity.
