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After total loss of data and communication from a phone failure, our team member Gabe Cox became stuck in the mud while retreating from the first Canton, TX tornado. Here is Gabe's detailed account: "Yesterday was pure hell. After my phone malfunctioned and I lost all information mid-chase, my car slid into a ditch during an effort to get as far away from an approaching EF-4 rain-wrapped tornado as I could. I nearly got the car back out, when it slid deeper into the ditch and sunk in for good. Going by the last radar image I saw, I knew I was very near the path of the tornado and, I assumed, in it. There were no places to run to, so I prepared for the worst. I composed myself enough to make a goodbye video to my wife and girls, set my camera on my dashboard, curled up in the seat, and prayed to be spared. In the video you can see the leading edge of the tornado passing ahead of me about 1/4 mile down the road before becoming completely wrapped in rain. The tornado was now at its widest point, nearly a mile wide. Debris was falling around me and the wind was picking up fast. After the longest minute of my life, I realized it had missed me. About fifteen minutes later and while a second large tornado was passing to the east of me, I was pulled out by a neighbor, Alberto, who I will forever be grateful for. My chase partner yesterday was driving in a separate vehicle and had driven in the direction of the damage path to blast west of it just before we lost communication. When I drove in the direction I last saw him go, still unable to call anyone, I came across pure destruction. I spent the next hour frantically searching the damage path, thoroughly convinced I was going to find his vehicle mangled on the side of the road. First responders hadn't gotten there yet. I came across houses completely blown apart, bloodied people wondering dazed through the neighborhood and injured cows and horses running wild through the streets. I could hear dying animals crying out from underneath debris. I was able to help a few folks out before determining that the only way to make sure my chase partner was alive was to find internet and use my computer to communicate. I hopped back in my car and after 2 hours of driving, while fearing I was leaving his body behind, and while a third confirmed tornado was near my new location, I finally made contact and found out he was fine. At that point the full emotions of the past 4 hours hit and I nearly lost it in the gas station parking lot. What started as a frustrating inconvenience with having my phone die turned into 4 hours of hell. I am beyond grateful to be alive, to know that my dear friend is ok, and that I get to go back home and see my wife and girls. My heart goes out to Canton and the families who lost loved ones yesterday. Please be praying for that community." - Gabe Cox
Tornado Trackers is made up of storm chasers Jeff Mangum, Jeremy Hamann, and Gabe Cox.