North Texas was battered by two confirmed tornadoes Saturday night as severe storms rolled across the region, killing at least one person and injuring six others while toppling trees, shredding roofs, and destroying manufactured homes.
The National Weather Service survey teams verified on Sunday that an EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 135 mph hit the Runaway Bay area in Wise County, about 50 miles northwest of Fort Worth. The twister touched down shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday, remained on the ground for four minutes, and carved a 1.4-mile path that widened to more than a half-mile at its strongest point.
It destroyed manufactured homes, inflicted heavy roof damage on residences, and snapped numerous trees, The Dallas Express reported at the time. Meteorologists noted smaller embedded vortices that intensified damage in spots. The storm moved westward, an unusual direction for tornadoes in the area.
A second team confirmed an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 105 mph in the Springtown area of Parker County. That twister formed west-northwest of town at 9:38 p.m., traveled nearly 10 miles southeast, and lifted around 10:10 p.m. It downed tree limbs, damaged roofs, and caused significant structural harm to two homes, including partial loss of second-story walls. The apparent damage path stretched up to two-thirds of a mile, possibly widened by rear-flank downdraft winds of 80 to 90 mph.
Overnight storms also produced winds up to 90 mph and large hail, causing widespread damage across the region. High winds reaching 130 mph leveled manufactured homes and inflicted heavy structural damage to roofs and trees.
Wise County Judge J.D. Clark confirmed the fatality occurred in Runaway Bay, on the banks of Lake Bridgeport. He said 20 families have been displaced and dozens of homes sustained major damage.
“Our community is feeling the weight of that this morning,” Clark said during a Sunday news conference, per Fox 4 KDFW. “We stand together, and we will get through this together.”
Texas Task Force 2 deployed to assist with search and rescue. Clark said blocked roadways and downed utility lines slowed access to victims. Wise County EMS treated or transported the six injured. Officials withheld the fatality victim’s identity pending family notification.
A reunification center operated briefly until families reconnected. Law enforcement restricted affected roads to authorized personnel only. Clark urged residents offering help to stay away.
“At this time, volunteer assistance is not needed, and unmet needs are still being assessed,” Clark said.
Clark issued a local disaster declaration Sunday and requested state aid from Gov. Greg Abbott. The order activates the county’s emergency plan to unlock recovery programs.
“I am asking Governor Abbott to issue a Disaster Declaration for our county, as well,” Clark said in a statement. “This is so our impacted residents will have access to recovery resources triggered by a disaster declaration.”
Clark said Abbott personally offered support Sunday, calling the state and regional response phenomenal. The aid request covers life safety, debris management, and relief funding.
Survey teams continue assessing impacts and expect to refine these preliminary ratings with more data. Residents with home or business damage should complete the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT), available in English and Spanish at damage.tdem.texas.gov. The surveys help officials gauge damage and connect Texans to resources.
Springtown Independent School District canceled classes on Monday after the storms struck. The district closed all campuses on April 27 because of significant storm damage to homes and infrastructure, along with widespread power outages, officials said.
District leaders postponed the school board meeting scheduled for April 27 to May 4 to give families time to recover.
“Out of an abundance of caution, Springtown ISD will be closed,” Superintendent Shane Strickland said in a message to families, adding that many in the community need time to assess damage and begin recovery efforts.
“We know this weather event has caused significant damage across our community, impacting many of our families’ homes and properties,” Strickland said, per Fox 4. “We want to give everyone time and space needed to take care of their families.”
The district urged residents to prioritize safety and check on neighbors during recovery.
