Ferocious hail, winds pound the South as more bad weather looms
WYLIE, Texas--Millions of Americans across the South could be facing a new round of dangerous weather on Tuesday.
A violent hail storm pounded parts of North Texas on Monday, causing serious damage to homes and businesses, and now the same storm system is sweeping through the Gulf states.
In hard-hit Wylie, Texas, CBS News correspondent Omar Villafranca says the ferocious storm punished everything in its path with torrential hail and winds blowing at almost 70 miles per hour.
The spring blast prompted tornado warnings and pummelled homes and businesses, knocking out power to more than 10,000 people.
"I've never been through anything like this before," said shell-shocked Wylie resident Jim Burton.
He and others could hear the glass shattering as massive hail stones -- some the size of baseballs -- shot through the windows of homes.
Emergency services were so overwhelmed that people were told to call 911 only if they faced a life threatening situation.
"I'm just looking at the damage, just going 'where do I begin?'" Tim Tailor told CBS News.
Parts of his home were ripped to shreds. Even as he spoke to CBS News, glass could still be heard falling from the broken window frames.
In Texarkana, Arkansas, strong winds sent trees crashing into homes.
"When I heard the boom, I ducked, and then I looked up, and there was a tree in my house," one woman said.
"I heard hail and I said, 'oh Lord, just protect us from those trees," Bill Storey told CBS News. "I didn't start praying soon enough," he quipped, managing to find humor even in the toughest of times.
Schools in Wylie were to be closed Tuesday amid a massive cleanup effort, and with the threat of more thunderstorms later in the day still looming.