Tornado victim: It's all a bad dream

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - When tornadoes strike, houses on the same strip are salvaged; others are flattened. 

South Carlen Street is divided by destruction and elation. Some homes seem untouched.

Lindsey Stallings wasn’t so lucky.

“The windows were popping out as we were running to the back.  It was like a movie," Stallings said.

Stallings was just about to head to her parents’ house for Christmas when she found herself in a fight for survival. 

She said she and her roommate Stacey didn’t even share a word to each other.  Together they knew a tornado was on top of them, and together they ran to shelter.

“I couldn’t hear myself scream," Stallings said.  "I was just like, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to die.’  I was like, ‘Please, God, I’m not ready to die.’  That’s all I remember saying.  I felt like the walls were about to come in, and then it was over.”

Now, Stallings has to watch as her belongings litter the road.  The roof is gone, the house is gutted, and almost nothing is salvageable. 

Stallings said she is starting over.

“I don’t even want to see it.  They’re just taking stuff out, so I’m glad they’re here so I don’t have to see everything.  But we’re going to be fine.  We’ll get new stuff," Stallings said.  "I just think it’s all a bad dream but I think we’ll be fine.”