VALLEY VIEW, Texas (KXII) – At least seven people are dead after a powerful tornado struck southern Cooke County Saturday night.
Sheriff Ray Sappington said the storm plowed through a rural area near a mobile home park, according to The Associated Press.
The dead included two children, ages 2 and 5, and three family members were found dead in one home, the sheriff said.
Storms also destroyed a nearby truck stop where dozens of people had rushed to take shelter.
The dead in Texas included three family members who were found in one home near the small community of Valley View, Sappington said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at a press conference in Valley View that close another 100 people were injured. Approximately 200 homes and businesses were destroyed, Abbott said.
Officials said multiple people were transported to hospitals by ambulance and helicopter in the Texas county of Denton, but they did not immediately know the full extent of the injuries.
A tornado crossed into Denton County, overturning tractor-trailers and halting traffic on Interstate 35, county spokesperson Dawn Cobb said. A shelter was opened in the rural town of Sanger.
Sappington said at least 60 to 80 people were inside a highway truck stop, some of them seeking shelter, when the storm barreled through, but there were no serious injuries.
Daybreak began to reveal the full scope of the devastation. Aerial footage showed dozens of damaged homes, including many without roofs and others reduced to rubble.
Residents woke up to overturned cars and collapsed garages. Some residents could be seen pacing around and sorting through scraps of wood, assessing the damage. Nearby, neighbors sat on the foundation of a wrecked home.
KGAF Radio in Gainesville reported extensive damage at the Lake Ray Roberts marina and multiple homes destroyed in the area of CR 2131 and 2133.
Sappington said a shelter has been opened for those in need of shelter and assistance at the First Baptist Church (ROC), located at 503 North Lee St., Valley View, TX. The American Red Cross is on-site, providing aid and support to those affected by the storm.
Additionally, a feeding station for first responders and those directly impacted by the storm has been set up at the Valley View United Methodist Church, located at 201 Church St., Valley View, TX.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this devastating storm. We are working tirelessly to search for any missing persons and provide assistance to those in need. We urge everyone to stay safe and follow the guidance of emergency services,” the Cooke County Office of Emergency Management said in a statement.
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth said according to their preliminary rating, the tornado reached wind speeds of 135 miles per hour, a high-end EF-2 tornado.
Abbott signed disaster declarations for four additional counties Sunday: Cooke, Collin, Denton, and Montague counties. The governor said Sunday he had spoken to FEMA, and they had pledged their support to help victims.
Abbott encouraged any Texans who received damage from Saturday night’s storms to report it at damage.tdem.texas.gov, and for victims to contact their insurance companies as soon as possible.
Local officials in Valley View said a disaster relief fund had been set up at First National Bank in Gainesville for those who wish to donate.
The Grayson County Office of Emergency Management said Sunday there were no reports of serious damage anywhere in Grayson County.
In southern Oklahoma, there are no reports of any significant damage after a tornado-warned storm went through Love County Saturday evening, where an EF-4 tornado struck the Marietta area just one month ago.
According to Poweroutage.us, more than 4,700 customer were without power Sunday in Collin County, more than 1,400 in Denton County, more than 400 in Cooke County, and more than 300 in Grayson County.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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