ELGIN, Texas — In the chaos of a devastating tornado that tore through Elgin earlier this week, Kacy Strickland faced an agonizing choice: flee for safety or risk her life to save her beloved kitten. She chose survival—but against all odds, her 5-month-old feline, James, emerged unharmed from the wreckage of her overturned mobile home.
The EF2 tornado, packing winds between 113–157 mph, struck with little warning Monday, flattening homes and businesses across the Central Texas community. Strickland had just enough time to rush to a neighbor’s house for shelter, leaving James behind as the storm ripped through.
“I had to go—it was terrifying,” Strickland told AccuWeather. “I didn’t know if he’d make it.”
When she returned, her home was destroyed, flipped and crushed by the storm’s fury. For nearly 24 hours, she feared the worst—until James miraculously crawled out from the debris, shaken but unharmed.
“He’s really scared,” Strickland said, cradling the kitten. “This is one of my kids. He’s family.”
Though James showed no visible injuries, Strickland plans to take him to a veterinarian for a full checkup. The reunion brought a glimmer of hope amid the devastation, she said, but her heart ached for others who lost homes—and pets—in the storm.
“I’m praying for them and their families, too,” Strickland said. “Everybody stay strong.”
The tornado left a trail of destruction across Elgin, underscoring the unpredictable brutality of such storms. For Strickland, however, James’ survival was a small but priceless victory.
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