Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration for 106 counties in the state after severe weather and strong storms swept through most areas over the weekend, destroying hundreds of homes.
These counties include Denton, Montague, Cooke, and Collin. Abbott stated on Sunday that the severe storms in the northern part of Texas resulted in at least 7 deaths and over 100 injuries.
The extreme weather destroyed over 200 homes and structures in Texas and damaged more than 220 buildings. Abbott mentioned that as further assessments are conducted, the casualty numbers could rise.
“I saw harrowing video of people being trapped inside the Valley View gas station seeking shelter as the tornado passed,” Abbott said during a press conference. The governor added, “It’s truly a miracle that everyone survived this disaster that devastated the gas station.”
The Denton Fire Department stated they are dispatching rescue teams and medical personnel to Marina Circle at Ray Roberts Lake where there are “multiple victims.” Reports indicate that some individuals were stranded after facing severe weather overnight in the area.
Lake Ray Roberts Marina posted on social media that they are assessing the losses from the “terrible storm.” A spokesperson posted on the Marina Circle Facebook page, mentioning that many boathouses, boats, fuel docks, and offices were severely damaged by a “large tornado.”
“The losses are so extensive, we don’t even know where to begin. Most mobile homes were overturned, and several people were trapped inside. However, everyone was rescued without serious injuries.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) rated the tornado that hit Forestburg in Montague County as an EF-2 with winds reaching up to 125 mph; the tornado that hit Valley View in Cooke County was rated as an EF-2 with maximum winds of 135 mph.
“We know there was a long-track supercell that produced multiple tornadoes. We will be conducting investigations over the next few days to detail how many tornadoes struck,” NWS stated on X.
The Storm Prediction Center warned that “significant tornadoes” accompanied by large hail and destructive winds exceeding 75 mph may impact several areas in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, and Kentucky.
A “Particularly Dangerous Situation” tornado warning has been issued for these areas, cautioning that “multiple tornadoes and a few intense tornadoes” could occur. The agency announced on social media that this watch was in effect on Sunday.
As of Sunday evening, tens of thousands of residents in the region were without power, including over 80,000 users in Arkansas and more than 90,000 users in neighboring Missouri. Texas reported 27,000 power outages, while Oklahoma reported 3,000 power outages, according to poweroutage.us.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced on Sunday that eight people had died across the state. An emergency official stated that two of the deaths were storm-related but not directly caused by the weather. One person suffered a heart attack, while another died from lack of oxygen due to power outages.
Sanders declared a state of emergency on May 26 to aid communities affected by severe weather and tornadoes.
The storm also resulted in two deaths in Mayes County, east of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and destroyed homes, including guests attending an outdoor wedding who were injured.
Authorities reported that a man in Louisville, Kentucky, was killed on Sunday by a fallen tree. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenburg confirmed on social media that this was a storm-related fatality.