WATCH: The Teaching Storm

SAN ANGELO, TX -- In the aftermath of the recent tornadoes that blazed through much of the Concho Valley, many including the leadership team at the West Texas Boys Ranch are still picking up the pieces. But for the many impacted by the tornadoes that hit the area early Saturday morning, May 18, is how they move on and rebound from such a horrific storm. 

A confirmed tornado that touched down in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 18 damaged several structures on the ranch including The Rob and Beverly Junell Gymnasium, built in 1972. But the moment that will forever be remembered is when a young boy almost did not escape the storm. 

WATCH: The Teaching Storm 

"It was a very terrifying moment when we heard that there a boy trapped in his room and debris falling all around him," says West Texas Boys Ranch CEO Jeremy Vincent. "We could easily be talking about a fatality, but God has his hand on us and our boys and he protected us that morning."

The West Texas Boys Ranch has been a pivotal part of the lives of young men since 1947 providing a Christian environment in which to grow and learn. 

For most of these young men who have already experienced affliction in their lives, the tornado was a force that breached the certainty established by The West Texas Boys Ranch. 

"It was certainly disruptive in our boy's life that day and that weekend," says Vincent. "A lot of boys come to us and there's not a lot of structure and this tornado provided a lot of that for all of our boys. Mor uncertainty and the unknown."

According to Vincent, this tornado was one of the most damaging in his 9 years since he's been with the West Texas Boys Ranch and likely one of the worst in the last 30 years. 

In light of the horrific storm The West Texas Boys Ranch is using what happened as a teaching tool.

"Our boys got to witness firsthand the loving arms of our community come out and say we care about you," says Vincent. "There's not always a lot of trust or faith in grownups or adults to do the right thing. They got to witness that that weekend. Hopefully, our boys are using this as a guideline on how to act when they get older and they have their own families that when there is something like this that happens that they will step up and help their neighbor in the time of need."