With a big relief effort underway in Van, there is help for folks trying to rebuild both their homes and their lives.
There's also an effort to help the orphans of the storm: the pets.
An East Texas stable serves as the orphanage for the dogs and cats discovered in the deadly twister's aftermath.
Cindy Nash and her son started the shelter Nicholas' Pet Haven a couple of years ago. Hours after the storm hit Van, their mission became clear.
"The morning after we just realized that not only people were in trouble, so were the animals, so we went in," said Nash.
Each pet was either found among the debris or given up by an owner whose home was reduced to rubble.
"I had one call and they were just crying, telling me how much they loved their pets and they don't want to give them up," recalled Nash.
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Other critters lost their home and their family. That's the story of a Great Pyrenees, now named Emma.
The group said she was curled up next to her owner, retired Garland police officer David Tapley and his wife.
Emma weathered the storm, but the Tapleys did not.
"When we got her she didn't want to do anything. She just laid there," said Nash.
The dogs' eyes tell you what she's been through.
"You can see the pain that she feels," explained Nash.
Emma quickly captured the hearts of the veterinarian caring for her and the rest of the volunteers.
"The first 24 hours she was in the hospital, once we got her settled in on her cushioned bed, she slept," explained Dr. Gary Spence. "The next day was the day she realized what was going on around us and started wagging her tail. That was huge."
She's since been adopted, but the Tapleys' other dogs remain at the shelter. They are among nearly 20 who will be placed into long term or permanent homes.
"To have that many animals concentrated in an area for something like that to happen is really unusual,"said Dr. Spence. "East Texas is kind of known for that. We're kind of pet friendly around this part of the country."
