frantic moments. >> it's coming right over us. we're right in its path. >> reporter: just before frank wood scrambled up the stairs to his balcony and saw the tornadic beast for the first time, staring him straight in the eyes. >> that's once-in-a-lifetime. you'll probably never see this again. and it's moving fast. >> holy crap. >> it's huge. >> reporter: wood rushed his children down into the garage and locked themselves into a reinforced safe room. but they couldn't grab the family's dog in time, a boxer named roxie. >> she was standing there staring at me and i'm trying to get her to come in. >> i thought she was going to get sucked up by the tornado. >> so it was heartbreaking to close that door and leave her outside? >> yeah. >> reporter: time had run out.