JARRELL, Texas — Friday, May 27, marks the 25th anniversary of the F-5 tornado that destroyed a small community in Jarrell, Texas.
Twenty-seven people in the town's Double Creek Estates were killed by the sheer strength of the storm. Men, women and children lost their lives and the entire town mourned the loss.
Support poured in from across Texas and beyond. And then-Gov. George W. Bush made a visit.
The future president spoke to, prayed with and comforted Jarrell residents. He also surveyed the damage and destruction that the tornado caused in the community.
"The devastation was mind-boggling. It's hard to believe that you're looking at a patch of earth where literally the life was sucked out of it," Bush said at the time.
As Bush flew over Jarrell, he saw muddy fields, dead livestock and nothing but foundations where homes once stood.
For all of KVUE's coverage honoring the anniversary of the 1997 Jarrell tornado, visit KVUE.com/Jarrell. Watch our full "Remembering Jarrell: 25 Years Later" special report below:
MORE JARRELL TORNADO COVERAGE:
- 1997 Jarrell tornado: Volunteers arrived in droves to clear debris, donate blood
- In 1997, Cedar Park was hit by a tornado from the same system that produced Jarrell's deadly storm
- 1997 Jarrell valedictorian reflects on life lessons from devastating tornado
- Three families killed in the 1997 Jarrell tornado are buried together in Georgetown
- First responders reflect on recovery efforts during 1997 Jarrell tornado