Rusk County Family Barely Escapes as Storm Topples Trees and Power Lines

October 20, 2025

RUSK COUNTY, TX (EAST TEXAS NEWS) – Monday night’s tornado devastated homes in Rusk County. Governor Abbott has designated Rusk County as one of the counties included in a disaster declaration for severe weather.

The Clark family, from Brachfield, were inside their home with their children and only had a few seconds to react before the tornado struck. She explains that they have very poor internet and cell service in their area, despite having a cell booster. As a result, their phone showed they were under a thunderstorm warning, which gave them little time to respond to the tornado threat.

After realizing they were under a tornado warning, Mr. Clark rushed upstairs to the kids’ room to hurry them downstairs just seconds before the tornado ripped the roof from their house and embedded shards of glass into the walls. Due to the quick action, everyone was safe.

Another family in the Minden area sustained damage to a nearly finished house under construction. The owner’s son-in-law was sleeping in an RV when a tree fell over and narrowly missed him.

The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is assessing the damage and said there are no known fatalities at this time.

Madelyn Carter

My name is Madelyn Carter, and I’m a Texas-born journalist with a passion for telling stories that connect communities. I’ve spent the past decade covering everything from small-town events to major statewide issues, always striving to give a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. For me, reporting isn’t just about delivering the news — it’s about building trust and shining a light on what matters most to Texans.