There were multiple reported tornadoes in the Dallas area Saturday evening, according to the Dallas Office of Emergency Management. Todd Gottel, the mayor of Rowlett, issued a State of Disaster declaration after the storms impacted his city. The mayor writes, the city’s emergency management plan has been implemented and the state of disaster will continue for the next 7 days. A 24-hour curfew in the affected areas has also been established. Only emergency personnel and residents will be allowed in.
Efforts continue Sunday morning t0 begin the cleaning up and rebuilding process after a destructive tornado tore through the Dallas Forth Worth area last evening leaving 11 dead and numerous wounded. In the Rowlett area the tornado was rated at a EF-3 by the National Weather Service which has winds between 136mph to 165mph. In Garland the tornado was rated at a EF-4 by the National Weather Service. This is only the second EF-4 tornado to hit Dallas County since 1950.
A path of the tornado can be seen below in addition to a map showing the hardest hit areas and some areal photographs.
An area around the water tower pictured above has been evacuated after authorities deem it to have structural issues. Authorities will begin emptying the tower to help minimize the risk of collapse.
Local businesses have been providing assistance to those effected by the tornado in addition to first responders. The Dallas Stars, a NHL hockey team based in Dallas, have tweeted “If you would like to help, text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to @RedCrossDFW Disaster Relief.”
Dallas Fort Worth Red Cross have set up a website to check on loved ones and provided a number for assistance if needed. Go to RedCross.org/SafeandWell or call 1-800-REDCROSS. They have also set up two emergency shelter. The first is at Red Oak Middle School, 154 Louise Ritter Blvd., Red Oak, Texas. The second is at Rowlett at Steadham Elementary School, 6200 Danridge Road, Rowlett, Texas. Rowlett Animal Shelter is also open for any pets found or displaced by the disaster.
Several shelters are also open for residents who need a place to stay. The first is at The First Baptist Church of Farmersville, located at 150 S. Washington. The next is at Cornerstone Church at 8200 Schrade Road.
A temporary flight restriction has also been put into place by the FAA for the area after the storm damage.
A multi casualty incident has been declared in the North East Suburbs of Dallas, primary Rowlett. Emergency response teams could be heard speaking about multiple fatalities and they could be heard requesting all additional resources. Dispatch radio told them “we are out of emergency resources.” Mutual aid is responding from across the region.
11:30 PM: Police are patrolling on foot to prevent looting.
11:15 PM: Texas Task Force 1 has been activated to support the ongoing search and rescue efforts in North Texas. TX-TF1 is a State and FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force based in College Station and is sponsored by the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).
10:36 PM: Fire Marshal reporting 60-65 trailers have been destroyed at the Plantation Place RV Park, on Barnes Bridge Road
10:28 PM: Another Black Tag was found by police.
10:20 PM: Search and Rescue dogs currently searching through rubble.
10:19 PM: Interstate 30 being shutdown at request of first responders.
9:57 PM: Judge Clay Jenkins tweets “I am signing a Local Disaster Declaration due to widespread weather damage. Please help our response by staying home and off roads/scenes.”
9:49 PM: First responders report a trailer park completely destroyed.
9:43 PM: Reports of multiple people still missing.
9:41 PM: Person trapped in car which is entrapped in a house.
9:40 PM: Cedar Hill’s Multi patient ambulance bus”AMBUS” has been deployed to Ellis County to assist with multiple patients.
9:23 PM: Coroner and wreckers requested.
9:21 PM: First responders are requesting replacement tires for emergency vehicles due to debris popping the tires. Swat vehicles responding to assist with heavy rescue.
9:08 PM: Fire personnel reports a large natural gas fed fire.
9:06 PM: Dallas Fire Rescue has sent their Urban Search and Rescue team to the area to assist.
9:05 PM: 911 still receiving multiple calls for trapped persons. Fire personnel reports running out of ambulances to transport the injured.
8:50 PM: Multiple routes into the area are being shut down to evacuate civilians.
8:45 PM: The AmBus multi-patient vehicle from Frisco FD has been requested to the I30 and Broadway scene in Garland.
8:33 PM: Mutual aid for tornado damaged areas include (at least) Dallas Fire Rescue, Richardson, Forney, Plano, Mesquite, Rockwall, Sachse, TX DPS, TX Parks and Wildlife, Railroad Police and any third party ambulances that are available in the region. Requesting more patrol cars for traffic, gridlocked with people in the area.
Texas Task Force 2 has been activated. Texas Task Force 2 is an Urban Search and Rescue team made up of various departments from around the state.
Dallas Fire Department is also sending a large amount of mutual aid. Responding units are as follows: 781 BC05 EN14 EN15 EN23 EN25 EN26 EN40 EN46 EN50 MA05 RE25 RE40 RE46 RE47 RE52 RE54 783 818 896 BC04 EN39 MA03 RE29 RE32 RE34 RE39 RE41 TR39 812 815 BC03 BC06 EN19 EN33 MA02 RE19 RE33 TR19 TR33 US19 US33 EN03 HM03 RE03 TR03. EN=Engine TR=Truck BC= Battalion Chief HM= Hazmat US=USAR MA and RE= Ambulances
Other transmissions were discussing a bingo hall that was hit and also a apartment complex that has been devastated by the impact of the tornado. 6 fatalities have been confirmed by various agencies. That number is expected to rise. Reports say fatalities may reach double digits but that is unconfirmed.
Garland FD reports a very large gas leak due to the storm and they are treating this very seriously. A nearby hospital has closed off receiving patients due to the high volume of people requiring care.
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There was damage in In Ellis County, south of Dallas. Emergency Management Coordinator Stephanie Parker said on Twitter: “We have destroyed and damaged homes, please do not get out on the roads if you do not have to.”
The National Weather Service this afternoon issued a tornado watch today for 49 counties in Texas, including Dallas County, the state’s second most populous after Harris County. The tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m. CST in those counties.
The tornado activity comes days after tornadoes and severe storms swept through parts of Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama, killing at least 18 people.
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