Tornado Damages 150 Homes

One week after an EF2 Tornado rocked Van Zandt County, people are beginning to pick up the pieces and look back at what came through, damaging as many as 150 homes and hospitalizing at least one person.

Weather conditions changed quickly last Wednesday afternoon as the county went from a thunderstorm warning and tornado watch, to a tornado warning with a funnel on the ground sweeping through portions of Canton, Wynne Community, and the Sand Flat Community east of Grand Saline.

"The damage started west of town on county road 2506. There were several trees down and one house was destroyed as a result of it," Van Zandt County Emergency Management Coordinator Chuck Allen reported Monday morning.

Looking back over maps of the destruction, which were plotted by Department of Public Safety helicopter teams last Thursday, Allen said it is believed that one tornado, with wind speeds up to 120 miles an hour is what came through the area just after 4:30 p.m.

Allen said a total of 10 houses were completely destroyed and about 150 homes suffered some sort of damage whether it is shingles blown off or eave damage. Others reported downed trees and fences.

He said when everything is totaled; the damage could be millions of dollars, which prompted Van Zandt County Judge Rhita Koches to declare a state of disaster late Friday morning.

Allen said the fortunate part of the storm is that there was no loss of life.

"We only had one confirmed injury reported and that was the lady who was sucked out of her trailer house on (FM) 1255," Allen said.

"The main thing is I can’t reiterate enough what the National Weather Service said," Allen said. "Severe weather can strike at any time when the elements are just right. The fact is that people need to heed warning and pay attention to the weather. This is living proof here that tornados can and will strike at a moments notice. Luckily the early warning from the National Weather Service being relayed to the broadcast media and to local emergency management, and law enforcement worked."

Allen said it is important to seek proper shelter during a warning situation.

That shelter should be a sturdy residence or interior hallway or bathroom he said.

"Be sure that if you live in a mobile home, move outside and get into a low lying ditch and stay away from tall objects," Allen said.

He went on to say that persons should not seek shelter under an overpass because it can create a centripetal effect and suck you out from under a girder.

Allen said the county will file a declaration of disaster for aid with the state.