11 Confirmed Dead Following Storms And Tornadoes In North Texas
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NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) — Eleven people have been confirmed dead after storms and tornadoes ripped through North Texas on Saturday.
Garland authorities said Sunday eight people are confirmed dead in the city, up from five Saturday night.
Three people have been confirmed dead in Collin County, according to Chris Havey with the Collin County Sheriff's Office. An infant died in Blue Ridge, and two people died in Copeville. All three deaths are related to the storms.
More people have died in tonight's tornadoes than the 6 that lost their lives in the May 2013 tornado outbreak here in North Texas. #CBS11Wx
— Jeff Jamison (@JeffJamFTW) December 27, 2015
The National Weather Service preliminarily confirmed Sunday that an EF-3 tornado hit Rowlett, which then hit Garland and left EF-4 damage. Copeville damage was consistent with an EF-2 tornado, and damage in Blue Ridge was consistent with an EF-0 tornado. Gov. Greg Abbott declared Collin, Dallas, Ellis and Rockwall counties disaster areas and instructed various agencies to help in the clean-up and recovery efforts.
The last EF-4 tornado in North Texas hit Granbury in May 2013, killing six people.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said an RV park near Sunnyvale had damage to 63 structures. In Glenn Heights, 116 structures were damaged, 29 of which were major. In Rowlett, as many as 600 homes may have been damaged, Jenkins said. Assessments are ongoing, so these numbers are likely to change.
The NWS said Sunday that at least nine tornadoes hit North Texas.
The Red Cross has set up temporary shelters in the Dallas area to help residents affected by the storms.
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