05/05/2026
On April 28, 2026, an EF-3 tornado tore through Mineral Wells, leaving behind destroyed homes, damaged businesses, scattered debris, and a community facing one of the hardest moments it has seen in years.
But this film is not just about the damage.
It is about what happened after.
I spent the day speaking with people across Mineral Wells who stepped into the recovery in different ways. Fire Chief Ryan Dunn, Brittany Brown with the City of Mineral Wells, Amy Orr with Center of Life, Megan Hudson helping coordinate community and nonprofit efforts, Pastor Caleb Shipman with Gospel Light Baptist Church, Christy Dorr, JD Shull with New Haven Ministries, and Lisa Valencia with Valencia’s Tacos all shared their part of the story.
Some were helping coordinate emergency response. Some were sorting donations. Some were feeding people. Some were checking on families. Some were simply doing whatever needed to be done next.
Together, their stories show how Mineral Wells came together locally, statewide, nationally, and even beyond.
There is grief in this story. There is loss. There are families and businesses still facing a long road ahead. But there is also something incredibly powerful here: neighbors helping neighbors, churches opening their doors, nonprofits working together, city leaders coordinating resources, and people showing up without needing recognition.
Recovery is still ongoing.
If you want to help, please follow the City of Mineral Wells and local nonprofit updates for the most current needs. Donation needs can change quickly, but monetary donations, gift cards, new bedding, new clothing, shelf-stable food, and organized volunteer help are some of the ways communities like this continue rebuilding after the first wave of attention fades.
This is a film about compassion after disaster.
This is Mineral Wells after the storm.
Special Thanks to The City Of Mineral Wells, Center Of Life, Gospel Light Baptist Church, New Haven Ministries, and RD Aerial Imaging for providing photos & footage. With out their help, I could not have made this film..