She survived the last EF5 tornado at the age of 8. 12 years later she studies as a meteorologist.

Twelve years ago, the last EF5 tornado, which met the United States, tore through Moore, Oklahoma. The violent storm cut a path of destruction by districts, killed 24 people and injured dozens more.

Aria Vargyas was only 8 years old when her school, Briarwood Elementary, collapsed. It was saved and survived. But her two sisters, 4-year-old Karrina and the 7-month-old Sydnee, died when the Tornado had flattened her house.

“After I was told that I had lost my sisters, it was only a blurring,” said Aria.

In the following years, Aria was looking for ways to understand what happened – and to ensure that other families are not faced with the same type of loss.

Now 20 she studies meteorology at Texas A & M University. She would like to predict exactly the storms that have changed her family’s life.

“I don’t want a family to go through what I did. I don’t want an 8-year-old sister to lose her siblings. I don’t want parents to lose their children,” said Aria.

Although she cannot bring her back, her memories continue to live. A bank in Briarwood Elementary Bears Karrina’s name. A medallion around Arias Hals contains a photo of the three sisters. She still has the letters she wrote to you after the storm to get the pain ready

“I hate that you never come back,” you read. “And I hate that I have to recognize that.”

Her father Phillip Vargyas is very proud of her. “It would have been easy for her to use this as an excuse for not going forward,” he said. “She didn’t give up right away after she had lost her sisters, which should be easy to do.”

Aria Vargyas is directed from the loss, but is progressing with the purpose – to a future in which more families have time to get out.