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During an interview with CBS News, Moore, Oklahoma resident Barbara Garcia, recounted the harrowing moments up to and during the category EF4 tornado that struck her hometown, a suburb of Oklahoma City, yesterday afternoon.
Garcia is one of thousands of residents of Moore, now trying to process what happened in the idyllic town. But, she did have at least two prayers answered yesterday – the first, to keep her safe, the second to keep her little dog safe.
In the interview below with CBS News’ Anna Werner, Garcia describes how she sat on a stool in the bathroom holding her dog on her lap, the moment the electricity went out, the stool lifted off the ground, and suddenly she was lying amongst the rubble, her little dog nowhere to be found.
“I hollered for my little dog and he didn’t answer, or didn’t come, so I know he’s in here somewhere,” Garcia explained, pointing toward the massive pile of debris that was once her home.
Clearly distraught, but hanging in there, Garcia simply accepted that tornadoes such as this are a risk you take living in Moore, the same city that was devastated in 1999 by a category EF5 tornado that followed almost an identical path. “That’s life in the big city,” she said.
Just then, someone off camera shouts, “the dog!” And, laying under the rubble just behind where Garcia is being interviewed, her little dog is trying to crawl out to her.
“Well, I thought God just answered one prayer, to let me be ok, but he answered both of them,” Garcia exclaimed, through tears of joy, while petting her baby. “Because this was my second prayer.”
A little bruised and battered, and certainly shaken up, Garcia and her little dog are doing as well as to be expected.
For those wishing to help, the Oklahoma City Animal Resource Center is requesting that donations be made to New Leash on Life by visiting their website at www.NewLeashInc.org, clicking the “donate” button and specifying that the donation is for tornado relief.
Donations, either monetary or of supplies like food, bowls, leashes, crates, etc. can be made to The Pet Food Pantry of OKC by visiting www.PetFoodPantryOKC.org.
Cheryl Folkner
May 21, 2013 at 4:01 pm
She is so blessed. God surely answered her prayers.
Judi
May 21, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Thank goodness she is o.k. and her dog is o.k. Move up north, no tornadoes here.
Elisa
May 21, 2013 at 12:47 pm
It was the sound of her voice standing in one place during the interview that helped the bowser know where she was and dig his way out. Glad to see that both the lady and the doggie were not injured.
Janet Margrave
May 21, 2013 at 12:45 pm
He heard her voice and struggled to get to her. Terrific story. So happy for both of them.
Babby
May 21, 2013 at 10:01 am
How wonderful!!!!!!
Jeanie
May 21, 2013 at 9:56 am
What a wonderful, heartwarming clip! My heart was singing as I watched this poor woman’s baby emerge from the rubble. Blessings to them both.
Denise Davis
May 21, 2013 at 9:02 am
Why in the world did this poor woman have to ASK for help to uncover her dog? Wow…amazing story though… So glad for her!!
Brandy Arnold
May 21, 2013 at 9:23 am
I know! I couldn’t believe the reporters just stood there! I imagine everyone is in a bit of shock, though, not thinking clearly. So grateful they are both alive.