Family inside as roof ripped off home

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A house on Stanton road was completely destroyed during a tornado that struck the area on Dec. 20.

The family inside was rudely awakened by loud wind and they huddled together inside while their roof tore apart above them.

Victor Walton spent his life working hard and raising a family but, he never planned on a tornado ripping his home apart.

"We have nothing. We have each other,” said Walton. "You see this stuff on TV, and I used to sympathize with people. But now I can empathize."

Nature gave a rude alarm clock while they slept Thursday morning.

Victor Walton said, "I was awakened by a jet engine reversing itself and everything, that's how it sounded.”

His wife Wanda said, "It was the loudest wind I ever heard, then it just went kind of Boom! Boom!"

The Waltons huddled with their three daughters and grandchildren in the hallway.

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"I’ve been in combat zones, and I've never feared like I feared for my life yesterday,” said Victor.

Now their house looks like a combat zone.

Victor said, "My daughter's asking me ‘Why did this happen to us and nobody else's house in this area got hit?’ And I said, ‘It's just one of those things. It's an act of nature that happens.’"

And it’s forcing this proud father to stand tall during a daunting test.

"I’m devastated, but I have to be strong. I have to drive on,” said Walton.

The Red Cross is giving the family some temporary shelter.

At this time, the Waltons are trying to figure out where they're going to live.