Dallas

North Texas Couple Escapes Hurricane Odile

A couple from Euless escape from Cabo San Lucas Mexico after hurricane hits

A Euless couple arrived home Tuesday night thanks to what they called a "God-sized miracle" after Hurricane Odile interrupted their Mexican vacation.

But other North Texans remain stranded in the ravaged tourist town of Cabo San Lucas.

"I'm just so happy to be home," Sommer Clayman said as she was greeted by other family members at DFW International Airport.

Sommer Clayman and her husband, Jeremy Clayman, were in Mexico on vacation when the hurricane arrived.

"We always say vacation is about making memories, and, you know, it was your typical vacation up until the hurricane," Jeremy Clayman said.

They walked from their hotel to the airport, but the lobby was largely destroyed.

Incredibly, they found a Mexican military cargo plane on the Tarmac.

"It was just a God-sized miracle," Sommer Clayman said.

It was their ticket out.

"We grabbed our stuff, ran over there, and they said, 'We have 40 people going to Tijuana, who wants to go?'" Sommer Clayman recalled. "And we just moved our way to the front of the line. We were the first two people on the plane, first two people off."

From Tijuana, the couple crossed the border to San Diego, Calif., and caught a flight home to North Texas.

Royce Dodd, Sommer Clayman's father, said Jeremy and Sommer were certain they would not make it back home in time for their daughter's first birthday, which is Wednesday.

"Tomorrow is their 1-year-old girl's birthday," said Dodd. "So momma's going to be home for her birthday."

But not everyone was so lucky.

Ryan and Laura Thornton, of Dallas, were still stranded Tuesday night.

They told friends and family members they had huddled in a closet as the hurricane tore into the vacation home where they were staying.

Their last phone call was late Monday night. Now, cell service is no longer working.

"I think if we could just hear their voice right now, we would be at peace," said friend Sarah Smith. "So we're just praying that they're safe for their protection and they get out quickly."

Those lucky enough to make it out said their thoughts are with those left behind.

"It's going to get pretty desperate soon if they don't get them out of there or they get supplies in," Jeremy Clayman said.

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