At 7:51 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, an EF-3 tornado devastated the town of Matador and was on the ground for 9.4 miles while it carved a winding path of destruction through the town. It dissipated near a rest stop south of town about 20 minutes later.
The outcome was four people killed, 15 injured. The new Dollar General, having only been open since February 2022, was turned into rubble by the storm. Billie Dean’s Restaurant, an institution in Matador for decades and now owned by Matador mayor Pat Smith, is gone. The Hop In convenience store and the Allsup’s experienced significant damage. Another 26 private homes were either destroyed or severely damaged.
After wreaking havoc in Matador, the storm system, no longer a tornado, lurched eastward before heading south and spared Dickens and Spur, but gained destructive wind power of up to 110 mph in Kent County, including Girard, Jayton and Clairemont, before heaving its final demolition in Fisher County and as far southeast as Hawley in Jones County. The storm tore through Rotan, ripping off roofs and uprooting trees, leaving a path of ruination in the city’s business district.
The tornado’s quickness and power were soon matched by the generosity and compassion of those in the counties surrounding each of the affected communities.
At 8:40 p.m. Wednesday night—less than an hour after the culmination of the destruction— the Hotel Turkey posted on Facebook that if anyone from Matador needed a place to stay, they’d provide a bed. They noted that their regular phone line wasn’t working, but gave out their cell number.
At 10:14 p.m. Kurbside Eatz from Floydada posted that they were headed to Matador Thursday morning to help feed victims, volunteers and first responders. Restaurants and food trucks from throughout the region immediately stepped up, closing their own businesses to go volunteer and feed those in Matador, including Gracie’s Grill and Bison Café from Quitaque, Turkey Tracks Coffee and Tea from Turkey, Azteca and Ray Ray’s from Floydada and Beckton’s Chophouse from Dickens.
Around midnight Payne Pharmacy of Floydada posted that they were departing for Matador first thing Thursday morning to take water and food supplies.
Early Thursday morning, 4B Electric from Turkey posted that they would be in Matador to help hook up generators and to help anyone with electrical issues. A welding contractor from Floydada volunteered his services.
Soon after, the Spur Chamber of Commerce posted that they were taking food and water——and fans—to Matador. It was 105 degrees and power was down, and many organizations and individuals donated fans that could be powered by generators. AEP and South Plains Electric Cooperative had crews on the ground not only to restore power, but to bring water and supplies and help with cleanup and handling of donations. Most residents had power back by Friday night.
The Four Sixes ranch of Guthrie posted offerings of help for four-legged members of the Matador community. They offered medical assistance for both large and small animals affected by the storm, and free short-term lodging for horses.
Tucker Oil Company hauled diesel fuel to Matador to help replenish diesel in the equipment that was being used to clean up after the tornado.
Churches across the region prepared food, helped with cleanup, and unloaded donations of food, clothing and supplies. In Matador, the Methodist Church had served as a reunification center immediately after the storm to help families locate one another—especially after may cell phones were drained of battery power with no source to recharge.
These are but a few of the many who stepped forward to lend a hand.
Within 48 hours, DPS and the Texas Department of Emergency Management, who were coordinating relief efforts, were issuing statements that Matador was overwhelmed with water, food, and clothing donations.
What is needed now is money to help those who need to rebuild to get their lives back.
Funds for Matador have been set up, and donations can be made at any Happy State Bank, and can also be made at the First National Bank of Quitaque, which has locations in Quitaque, Tulia and Silverton. Numerous GoFundMe sites have been set up to assist communities or individual families in the long-term job of rebuilding.
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