A new line of storms was barreling through Texas on Sunday as officials worked to assess damage from a series of tornadoes and severe weather which left at least 11 people dead overnight.
Authorities said the full extent of the damage from Saturday’s spate of storms was not yet known — but warned the region should get ready for another hit. Forecasters warned of more “severe” weather and heavy rain.
Next line of storms racing east toward DFW. Major winter storm also raging in TX Panhandle & South Plains. #txwx pic.twitter.com/mITgJYFcmH
— Meteorologist Brian James (@BrianJamesWx) December 27, 2015
The same storm system that spawned the deadly twisters in the Dallas area was expected to leave up to 16 inches of snow in west Texas through Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
“It’s going to be quite dangerous,” NWS meteorologist Brendon Rubin-Oster told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
The National Weather Service also said there was a “severe threat” in place for the Dallas Fort Worth area into Sunday morning, adding that behind the threat would be more heavy rain.
With those warnings in place, the areas hardest-hit overnight were waking up to assess the damage. The storms leveled homes and downed power lines. Heavy rainfall also triggered flash flooding across much of Dallas County, according to the Weather Channel.
Reports of homes having been leveled keep trickling in. Will know more in the morning.
— Maj. Max Geron (@MaxDPD) December 27, 2015
Officials in Collin County confirmed three fatalities from the storms — including two at a Copeville gas station destroyed in the storms, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. Copeville is northeast of Garland.
Eight people were killed in Garland, according to police.
The police department said early Sunday that 15 people had been taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries and that around 600 structures had been damaged in city, about 20 miles northeast of Dallas, across an approximately 2-square-mile area.
Five of Garland’s fatalities occurred at an intersection in the city, and Randy Gore drove up to the scene shortly after the tornado hit.
“It was terrifying,” Gore told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. “It was heartbreaking, especially being the day after Christmas.”
Lamont Shrimp told the station he stopped to help peopled pinned and trappedin damaged vehicles.
“That was our main focus, helping getting them out,” Shrimp said. “Getting IV’s in them, just keeping them warm, talking to them, making sure there’s some support.”
Not far from Garland in nearby Rowlett, officials there said the city had sustained a “direct hit” and implemented a curfew for the affected area.
“Damage is widespread,” city manager Brian Funderburk told an early Sunday news conference. He said there were 23 reported injuries from the storm, but did not have further information.
“There’s some areas where it’s not even safe for homeowners to get into,” added police chief Mike Brodnax.
Rowlett’s Fire Chief Neil Howard said search teams were fanned out to help with damage assessment, adding that the city was still counting how many homes had been hit.
“we’re still waiting for daylight so we can really see what happened,” he said.
https://twitter.com/AmandaNBC5/status/680967919275126784
Dallas police said they were assisting with patrols in Rowlett to ward against looting.
.@DallasPD officers are providing assistance to Garland and Rowlett areas hit by tornados. pic.twitter.com/vMzQHv4JjR
— Maj. Max Geron (@MaxDPD) December 27, 2015
South of Dallas, officials in Ellis County said around 40 homes were partially or completely destroyed by a twister which hit at around 6:01 p.m. local time.
“We have destroyed and damaged homes, please do not get out on the roads if you do not have to,” Emergency Management Coordinator Stephanie Parker said on Twitter.
Footage emerged of what appeared to be a tornado near the Dallas suburb of DeSoto and there were reports of debris falling from the sky, the National Weather Service said.
The city of DeSoto said in a statement that several homes and other structures were damaged by the “tornadic activity.”
Meanwhile, weather sirens sounded and flooding was reported in Dallas itself.
The twisters — accompanied by torrential rain, wind and some hail — were part of a weather system that could produce major flooding from north Texas through eastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, western Arkansas and parts of Missouri, according to The Associated Press.
Recent severe weather in the southeast left at least 18 people dead.
Very sad. We are one of three counties under a tornado watch until 4:00 pm.
We have and will continue to pray about the situation.
Keep praying Katie…the huge blizzard happening right now in far west Texas (from El Paso to Fort Stockton and beyond) is headed your way… God bless you Katie and your family and neighbors.
Thanks DL, 4:00 pm has come and gone with no incident in our county that I’m aware of, praise God!
Around 9:25 am the North winds came in and dropped the temps. from the mid 70’s to the mid 40’s.
Had rain and wind all day, other than that, it’s actually nice not to be sweating in December.