“I came outside and I saw the hail hitting the metal sheets,” Gilbert Reyes said.
EVERMAN, Texas — Last week, residents in Everman were hit with large hail as storms rolled through North Texas.
As more storms develop Sunday, some say they aren’t taking any chances.
“We haven’t had hail since I’ve been here, and I’ve been 20 years,” said Gilbert Reyes, who isn’t taking any chances. After being startled awake during last week’s hailstorm, he’s keeping a close watch on the forecast.
“I was sleeping around the afternoon, and I heard firecrackers like firecrackers or a gunshot…” Reyes recalled. “I came outside and I saw the hail hitting the metal sheets.”
After hail shattered the window on one of their family vehicles last week, Reyes is now eyeing a nearby car wash for shelter.
“I can hide the car because it’s my work car and I need it in the morning, and I don’t need it all dinged up,” he said.
Other Everman residents are bracing for hail and strong winds. One driver used moving blankets tied down with bungee cords to shield their vehicle. Some of Reyes’ neighbors had glass on their solar panels broken during the last storm.
“I avoided this one, but I am waiting on the next one,” Reyes said. “So, I’ve been really lucky”
To be proactive, the Everman Fire Department brought in additional firefighters to respond overnight in case of weather emergencies.
One of the city’s outdoor warning sirens can alert residents about hail, high winds, tornadoes, hazardous material spills, or other dangerous conditions.
Everman Fire Chief Landon Whatley shared this statement: “Outdoor Warning Sirens are designed to alert people who are outside to seek shelter and check for emergency updates. These sirens may be activated for a variety of hazards—not just tornadoes—including hail, high winds, hazardous material spills, or other serious threats. Depending on your proximity to the siren, you may or may not hear it inside your home.”
“I will wait it out and see how bad it is,” Reyes said, still keeping a close eye on the skies.