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Tornadoes Tear Through Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas, Killing at Least 6 Tornadoes Tear Through Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas, Killing at Least 7
(32 minutes later)
A series of powerful tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas on Wednesday evening, destroying homes, flipping cars and killing at least six people, according to the authorities. Dozens more were injured. A series of powerful tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas on Wednesday evening, destroying homes, flipping cars and killing at least seven people, according to the authorities. Dozens more were injured.
In Polk County, Texas, a woman and two men were killed and as many as 30 people were injured when a tornado barreled through a subdivision of mobile homes and houses around dinnertime, the authorities said.
The subdivision is in Onalaska, about 90 miles north of Houston, and recovery crews on Thursday searched through the debris there, in Livingston and in other communities that suffered severe damage. At least 291 homes were affected by the tornado, with at least 46 of them destroyed, the Polk County Office of Emergency Management said.
“Last night’s tornado caused significant damage and led to tragic loss of life within these communities, and our hearts continue to be with Texans affected by these devastating storms,” Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas and Judge Sydney Murphy of Polk County said in a joint statement on Thursday.
In Marshall County, Okla., two people were killed and one was critically injured when a violent tornado landed around 5 p.m., said Robert Chaney, the county’s emergency management director.In Marshall County, Okla., two people were killed and one was critically injured when a violent tornado landed around 5 p.m., said Robert Chaney, the county’s emergency management director.
There was at least one storm-related fatality in Louisiana: A woman died in Woodworth, in Rapides Parish, said Barry Herrington, an investigator in the coroner’s office. A tornado watch had been in effect there until just before midnight, said Andy Tingler, a National Weather Service meteorologist. There were at least two storm-related fatalities in Louisiana, where tornadoes and flooding threatened residents. In Rapides Parish, where a tornado landed overnight, a woman died in Woodworth, said Barry Herrington, an investigator in the coroner’s office.
The tornado in Rapides Parish was one of three that swept through central Louisiana overnight, including in the town of Alexandria, he said. The campus of Louisiana State University there was damaged, the school said in a tweet. In the city of Mansfield, to the northwest, Lehera Harris, a 48-year-old resident, was swept away by a strong current as he tried to retrieve his trash can from the flooded street near his home, said Deputy Mark Pierce of the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office.
In Polk County, Texas, at least three people were killed and as many as 30 were injured when at least one tornado barreled through a subdivision of mobile homes and houses around dinnertime, the authorities said. The subdivision is in Onalaska, which is about 90 miles north of Houston and where a search and rescue effort was still underway. The tornado in Rapides Parish was one of three that swept through central Louisiana overnight, including in the town of Alexandria, said Andy Tingler, a National Weather Service meteorologist. The campus of Louisiana State University in Alexandria was damaged, the school said on Twitter.
“We are praying for — and helping — those in East Texas who were ravaged by tornadoes,” Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas wrote on Twitter late Wednesday night. More than 15,000 customers in the state had no power around midday, according to poweroutage.us, a project that tracks data from utilities nationwide.
In Oklahoma, one of the people killed was found on a roadside, the authorities said, not far from J & I Manufacturing, which makes truck beds and bodies and was one of the two factories in the state that were struck and damaged. The other factory was Oklahoma Steel & Wire, which said on Facebook that it had taken a “substantial hit” but was fortunate that “all of our people are safe and accounted for.” As the severe weather system tracked east on Thursday, at least three counties in Mississippi reported damage, and about 35,000 customers lost power, the state’s emergency management agency said.
In Oklahoma, one of the people killed was found on a roadside, the authorities said, not far from J & I Manufacturing, which makes truck beds and truck bodies and was one of the two factories in the state that were struck and damaged. The other factory was Oklahoma Steel & Wire, which said on Facebook that it had taken a “substantial hit” but was fortunate that “all of our people are safe and accounted for.”
The winds were so strong, Mr. Chaney, the emergency management director, said, that a number of cars were “balled up from the force of the tornado,” and one was “up in a tree.”The winds were so strong, Mr. Chaney, the emergency management director, said, that a number of cars were “balled up from the force of the tornado,” and one was “up in a tree.”
At the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Madill, Okla., which was dedicated last year, the pastor was in a safe room built into the new rectory when the tornado hit, said Diane Clay, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The pastor was unharmed, she said, but he reported that only one corner of the rectory was still standing and that the church had sustained damage to its south side and most of its windows.At the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Madill, Okla., which was dedicated last year, the pastor was in a safe room built into the new rectory when the tornado hit, said Diane Clay, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The pastor was unharmed, she said, but he reported that only one corner of the rectory was still standing and that the church had sustained damage to its south side and most of its windows.
“Because of downed power lines and a gas leak, we can’t get close enough to see the damage tonight,” Ms. Clay said.“Because of downed power lines and a gas leak, we can’t get close enough to see the damage tonight,” Ms. Clay said.
Mr. Chaney said he was not sure how many people had been injured in Marshall County. The authorities, he said, had set up a command center in a Walmart parking lot in Madill and had surveyed damage and conducted search-and-rescue operations before dark fell on Wednesday night, he added.Mr. Chaney said he was not sure how many people had been injured in Marshall County. The authorities, he said, had set up a command center in a Walmart parking lot in Madill and had surveyed damage and conducted search-and-rescue operations before dark fell on Wednesday night, he added.
Mr. Chaney said that, despite the coronavirus pandemic that has closed businesses across the country, most businesses and factories in Madill were open on Wednesday when the tornado struck.Mr. Chaney said that, despite the coronavirus pandemic that has closed businesses across the country, most businesses and factories in Madill were open on Wednesday when the tornado struck.
“Everybody is taking the basic precautions that we can,” he said. “But basically everybody is working.”“Everybody is taking the basic precautions that we can,” he said. “But basically everybody is working.”
About 15 minutes before Marshall County was hit, another tornado landed in Garvin County, Okla., about 80 miles to the north, and raked across the ground for about a mile, said David Johnson, the county’s emergency management director. Three houses as well as four or five barns, shops and outbuildings were damaged, he said, but no one was injured or killed.About 15 minutes before Marshall County was hit, another tornado landed in Garvin County, Okla., about 80 miles to the north, and raked across the ground for about a mile, said David Johnson, the county’s emergency management director. Three houses as well as four or five barns, shops and outbuildings were damaged, he said, but no one was injured or killed.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said the tornado had damaged at least 12 homes, businesses and power lines in Marshall County. More than 7,000 people statewide had lost power, the department said.The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said the tornado had damaged at least 12 homes, businesses and power lines in Marshall County. More than 7,000 people statewide had lost power, the department said.
The tornadoes were produced by intense storms that moved through the region on Wednesday, setting off warnings across parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, according to the National Weather Service.The tornadoes were produced by intense storms that moved through the region on Wednesday, setting off warnings across parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, according to the National Weather Service.
“My office, the Texas Division of Emergency Management and other state agencies are working with local officials to provide immediate support to the areas devastated by this tornado,” Mr. Abbott said. “The state has already deployed response teams and medical resources to help Texans in need and to provide assistance to these communities.”“My office, the Texas Division of Emergency Management and other state agencies are working with local officials to provide immediate support to the areas devastated by this tornado,” Mr. Abbott said. “The state has already deployed response teams and medical resources to help Texans in need and to provide assistance to these communities.”
B. Milton Choate, the mayor of Onalaska, Tex., about 90 miles north of Houston, said that a “significant number” of houses in the town had been damaged or destroyed. He said he was not certain how many people had been injured but noted that “lots of people have been transported to the hospital.” B. Milton Choate, the mayor of Onalaska, Texas, about 90 miles north of Houston, said that a “significant number” of houses in the town had been damaged or destroyed. He said he was not certain how many people had been injured but noted that “lots of people have been transported to the hospital.”
Olivia Ayala, 66, said she was standing at the stove in her mobile home frying fish and French fries when the tornado moved through her area of Onalaska, known as Yaupon Cove.Olivia Ayala, 66, said she was standing at the stove in her mobile home frying fish and French fries when the tornado moved through her area of Onalaska, known as Yaupon Cove.
The community, which is home to many retirees, is made up of both trailers and houses, Ms. Ayala said.The community, which is home to many retirees, is made up of both trailers and houses, Ms. Ayala said.
“The noise, just the wind, it was so hard,” she said. “It was the worst five minutes ever.”“The noise, just the wind, it was so hard,” she said. “It was the worst five minutes ever.”
Ms. Ayala said she and her husband considered taking shelter in a garage next to their mobile home, but the door wouldn’t open when the power went out.Ms. Ayala said she and her husband considered taking shelter in a garage next to their mobile home, but the door wouldn’t open when the power went out.
She said there was a large debris field and many snapped trees.She said there was a large debris field and many snapped trees.
“We’ve got stuff from places that I don’t know,” she said of the debris, adding that her patio roof came down on her deck and a tree had fallen on her car.“We’ve got stuff from places that I don’t know,” she said of the debris, adding that her patio roof came down on her deck and a tree had fallen on her car.
Ms. Ayala added that emergency responders had checked on the residents and used a bulldozer to clear the debris. She said that one of her elderly neighbors appeared to be have been seriously injured in the mangled wreckage of the storm. Ms. Ayala added that emergency responders had checked on the residents and used a bulldozer to clear the debris. She said that one of her elderly neighbors appeared to have been seriously injured in the mangled wreckage of the storm.
Polk County officials issued a disaster declaration on Wednesday night. Officials also opened the Onalaska Junior and Senior High Schools to serve as shelters but then urged residents to head to Dunbar Gym in Livingston, Texas, after both of the schools lost power.Polk County officials issued a disaster declaration on Wednesday night. Officials also opened the Onalaska Junior and Senior High Schools to serve as shelters but then urged residents to head to Dunbar Gym in Livingston, Texas, after both of the schools lost power.