During the heavy storms across North Texas last Friday, a confirmed tornado touched ground in Lamar County, just northwest of Dallas.
The tornado injured 10 people and damaged or destroyed roughly 50 homes, with significant damage spotted in parts of small towns Paris, Midcity, and Powderly, according to reports. Officials said two of the 10 injured were in critical but stable condition.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado was an EF-3 with wind speeds up to 160 mph. The track was around 21 miles and stretched into Oklahoma.
On November 4th, the storm traveled through North and Northeast Texas, uprooting several communities, ripping up plants that mixed with debris, and damaging fences. There was even a report of a washing machine tossed high into a tree.
State and local partners are helping with storm response in Lamar County, and Red Cross set up at a local church to help those in need. Judge Brandon Bell declared a disaster for that area, according to a press release from county officials.
“As of this morning, we had assisted a family of five with food and comfort kits at the shelter,” Red Cross official Brian Murnahan told The Paris News.
“We are out delivering meal service in areas of need this afternoon and evening,” he explained. “We are also out talking to people, to make sure they have what they need and to assist whenever possible.”
The tornado was a part of a severe weather storm that spawned at least four more confirmed tornados in North Texas. The final details will not be known for at least several days, but an EF-1 tornado was confirmed along the border of Rains and Hopkins Counties, while EF-2 rated twisters were seen in both Hopkins and Henderson counties as well.
The tornado in Lamar County, however, was by far the strongest of the tornadoes that touched down in the region.