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East Texas residents brace for severe weather storms

Experts predict thunderstorms, strong winds and hail to move in on Thursday.

TYLER, Texas — As East Texans catch their breath from the last round of severe weather, another set of storms is right around the corner. 

Michael Gaynor has been living in a hotel the past three weeks after strong winds ripped a tree from the backyard. It tore his home in two pieces.

"So now here we are,” Gaynor said standing over the sawed down wood that littered his driveway.

The tree also totaled both cars that were parked in his driveway.

With little to no help, he's trying to save the things that are exposed in his garage from the storms to come.

“It's just gonna be a mess, it's gonna be a wet mess, and probably stinky once they get the tree out with all the mold and bacterial growth in there," Gaynor said. 

He also tries to protect his home from others who could take advantage of his family’s situation.

“There's always fear of like, you know, looters," Gaynor said. "Even though it looks like a mess, you never know what somebody's gonna think is worth going in and trying to salvage.”

Tyler Police Department spokesperson Andy Erbaugh said his department will support them however they can.

“It's a scary situation to be in when you when you have a home that you normally would have secured, and now because of this, these damages, that it suddenly is not," Erbaugh said.

He suggested residents call dispatch to request an extra patrol. They’ll drive by the property and check in on it.

Gaynor said he doesn’t know what Thursday's storms will bring, but like the other storms, this too shall pass.

"I'm a survivor," he said. 

RELATED: Rising temperatures this weekend could put strain on Texas power grid

RELATED: CBS19 WEATHER: Severe weather likely Thursday

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