Saturday, April 30, 2016

5 Dead in Texas Flooding; High Winds Damage Jet Planes as Severe Weather Continues Across Region

Published: 
Apr 30 2016 12:30 PM EDT
By Ada Carr
weather.com

5 Dead, Including 4 Children, in Texas Flooding

A 64 year old woman and four of her grandchildren have been reportedly killed in overnight flash flooding in Palestine, TX 
Rising flood waters claimed the lives of five, including four children, in Palestine, Texas, early Saturday morning.
At least two people were injured Friday night after tornadoes touched down in parts of Texas and Oklahoma. The twisters were part of a potent storm system punching into a large portion of the South and flash flood warnings continue to be a concern along the Gulf coast region.
Friday a tornado was reported in Sherman, Texas, with no immediate reports of injuries or damages. A second tornado was reported in Lindale, causing injuries and multiple damages to structures in the area.
According to the National Weather Service, a tornado moving at 30 mph was reported in Elgin, Oklahoma, late Friday afternoon. Large hail accompanied the storm, and damages were reported in the area.
(FORECAST: More Severe Thunderstorms, Flooding Rain Target South, Mississippi Valley)
Here are the latest state-by-state impacts.

Texas

In the eastern Texas town of Palestine, a grandmother and her four grandchildren were swept away by flood waters, NBCDFW reports. The bodies of the five victims were discovered by police in the 100 Block of Timber Drive early Saturday morning as officials were responding to reports of rising flood waters. 
 
"We are devastated because of it. I believe we're still missing one person that is just outside the city limits," Palestine Assistant Fire Chief Kyle Betterton told The Weather Channel. "Everybody is working feverishly, using every resource they can to get to the people and help the people."
 
According to KTBS, there were reports that the flood waters had reached as high as the roofs of houses and evacuations were underway. The woman was 64 years old while the children were 9, 8, 7 and 6 years old, but their identities have not yet been released. 
 
Two Boeing 737s were damaged at their terminal gates at Austin Bergstrom International  Airport Saturday morning as the storms moved through the area. Winds of more than 60 mph pushed both planes around, landing one on top of a baggage handling vehicle. 
 
In Cass County, several high water rescues were underway Saturday morning in the town of Hughes Springs, the NWS reports, and families are being evacuated to the civic center in town.
 
The flooding was strong enough to rip railroad ties from the tracks in the middle town and wash them out into the streets. Numerous roads have been flooded in Henderson County as well.
DOC DEASON ‎@docdeason
Cass County: Car submerged on Pecan Circle, in Hughes Springs. Some evacuations from apartments.
 
The NWS also reported that the storm blew out windows in Bastrop County Saturday morning. An emergency manager said there was widespread damage, including numerous torn off roofs and blown out windows. Structural damage was done to homes and businesses, and numerous trees and power lines were downed. 
Friday a tornado was reported in Sherman. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages. A second tornado was reported in Lindale, leaving at least two people injured and causing multiple damages to structures in the area.
In Upshur County, 15 to 20 homes have reportedly been damaged or destroyed, according to the Associated Press. There were no immediate reports of injuries in the area.
A large tree was downed on top of a home and roof debris was scattered in front of a local Dollar Tree in Lindale, KYTX reports. Several power lines were also downed, contributing to the spread of outages.
Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith told AP that several injuries have been reported as a result of the Lindale tornado, but fallen tree limbs and power lines have slowed first-responders from reaching some areas.
As of Friday evening, Oncor reported 6,000 of its customers were experiencing outages, KYTX also reports. Upshur Rural reported 1,400 customers without power and Swepco reported 485.
The Mayfest grounds in Fort Worth's Trinity Park were evacuated due to reports of a thunderstorm packing hail, the Associated Press reports.
NWS reported hail the size of golf balls in Tyler, Texas, Friday. Residents took to social media to share photos of the barrage.
Johnny Kelly ‎@stormchaser4850
Severe storm produces large on west side of just after noon via @docdeason pic.twitter.com/mz3YyfxLG5 https://twitter.com/docdeason/status/726103454746173440 …

Oklahoma 

Friday the Oklahoma Highway Patrol shut down a nearly 20-mile stretch of Interstate 35 between Purcell and Norman. The closure went into effect after tornadoes and heavy hail was reported in the area.
OHP Capt. Paul Timmons told the Associated Press that the main north-south interstate has been shut down from mile marker 98 near Purcell to Tecumseh Road in north Norman. The closure came at the height of the Oklahoma City-area rush hour.
The city of Elgin and nearby areas saw damage after a reported tornado and hail near the size of the grapefruits were reported in the city.
Katie Western ‎@KatieTheWXLady
Nearly GRAPEFRUIT SIZE HAIL north of Lake Lawtonka at 3:35pm. Photo: Kristal Moreland Cooper @NWSNorman

Strong winds flipped a trailer, but its occupants were not injured, Comanche County Emergency Management spokeswoman Ashleigh Hensch told the Associated Press. One of the occupants was sent to the hospital to be treated for anxiety. Roofs of homes and fences in nearby Fletcher also sustained minor damage.
Gusting winds flipped a semi on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike in the area where the tornado was spotted, according to KTUL.
The reported tornado totally destroyed a mobile home on Sooner Road in Ninnekah, spilling debris out into the street,  FOX 25 reports.
Highway 81 in Ninnekah also saw damages caused by winds after four power poles were snapped at their bases.
Heeding warnings of severe weather, school officials with Moore Schools canceled all activities scheduled for Friday night.
Del City High school also canceled events due to the weather, deciding to reschedule a basketball game and senior night for Monday.
Hail more than 3 inches in diameter was also reported north of Manitou on Friday, NWS reports.

Mississippi

Strong winds in Mississippi downed trees across roadways in the Wren area, where a wall cloud was spotted, NWS also reports.

Arkansas

Water rescues were underway in western portions of Lewisville Saturday morning according to the NWS, and several homes in Gin City are underwater as well.
On Friday, strong winds blew through Greenbrier, badly damaging the second story and roof of a bed-and-breakfast, the NWS also reported.
The onslaught of weather continued, with flooding inundated parts of Arkansas, leaving residents along MacArthur Drive in North Little Rock without electricity Friday, according to KATV.
Fort Smith Police told 4029 News that there has been extensive hail damage in the southern part of the city. Sizeable hail was also reported in Sebastian County.
4029news ✔ ‎@4029news
Fort Smith Police report extensive hail damage in south Fort Smith.

Louisiana

Heavy rains and leaking water pipes caused a portion of Canal Street to collapse Friday, WVUE reports. The large sinkhole opened up near Harrah's Hotel and Casino.
"This is nothing short of incredible," said Mayor Mitch Landrieu during a news conference. According to Landrieu, repairs should take three to six months and cost up to $5 million.
Jeff Adelson ✔ ‎@jadelson
Couple shots from the edge of the hole in Canal Street
 
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