Ground Zero Of Onalaska, Texas Tornado Hit By 140 mph Winds

Not one home in the Paradise Acres community on Lake Livingston was left unscathed by the tornado that hit Polk County Wednesday evening.

The tornado, preliminarily believed to be an EF-3, which is defined as having sustained winds between 136 and 165 mph, tore through communities near Onalaska around 6:15 p.m.

Charles Koenig was sitting in his living room when he says hail, the size of a football, came crashing through his glass door. As he was running to the back of the house for safety, the wind flung him into the wall.

"I think I was lucky. I think everyone out there walking today is lucky because this thing hit and was gone before you knew it was even here," said the longtime lake resident.

The National Weather Service believes the strongest winds of the tornado hit Paradise Acres. They whipped as fast as 140 mph and tore off his second story.