Dallas tornado leaves damage, devastation after tearing through Texas

Jorge Fitz-Gibbon

featured

Oct 21, 2019

New images from tornado-ravaged Texas show the wide-spread devastation, with buildings and communities ripped apart, trees torn from their roots and cars thrown around like toys.

Shattered residents look on in disbelief and grief as their homes and businesses lay in shambles from the twister, which struck Sunday night and knocked out power to 95,000 households in the region — 55,000 of them in Dallas, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Terrifying videos show tornado’s wrath as it plows through Dallasnypost.com

There were no known deaths or serious injuries in Texas, but three people were hospitalized, the paper said.

One person was killed by a falling tree in Arkansas.

Photos of the damage show one couple consoling each other in front of their church, Primera Iglesia Dallas, which was left in ruins.

The studio of Dallas-based KNON-FM radio was also among the structures heavily damaged by the twister.

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Henry Ramirez, a member of Primera Iglesia Dallas, is consoled by his mother Maribel Morales as they survey severe damage to the church, where Ramirez plays drums and Morales attends, after a tornado tore through North Dallas. — Henry Ramirez, a member of Primera Iglesia Dallas, is consoled by his mother, Maribel Morales, as they survey severe damage to the church, where Ramirez plays drums and which Morales attends.AP

Women stand outside a house damaged by a tornado in the Preston Hollow section of Dallas.AP

Maribel Morales, a member of Primera Iglesia Dallas, is consoled by fellow church member Ashley Villalobos as she surveys severe damage to the church, which sits near Walnut Hill and Marsh Lane, after a tornado tore through North Dallas. AP

Matt Younger, right, a pastor at Northway Church, embraces facilities associate Robert Lusk in their church's severely damaged sanctuary after a tornado tore through North Dallas. — Matt Younger (right), a pastor at Northway Church, embraces facilities associate Robert Lusk in their church's severely damaged sanctuary after a tornado tore through North Dallas.AP

A passerby stops to look at a mansion damaged by a tornado in the Preston Hollow section of Dallas.AP

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in Dallas on Sunday night, causing structural damage and knocking out electricity to thousands. @AthenaRising via AP

A handout photo made available by the Dallas Fire-Rescue showing extensive damage to their Fire Station #41 after being struck by a tornado in the early morning hours. — A handout photo made available by Dallas Fire-Rescue shows extensive damage to Fire Station 41 after it was struck by a tornado in the early morning hours.DALLAS FIRE-RESCUE

A street is seen in the aftermath of a tornado in Dallas, Texas, October 20, 2019. — A street in the aftermath of the tornado in DallasIVY AWINO via REUTERS

A tornado is seen in North Dallas, Texas. — A tornado in North DallasPHILIP ELLIS via REUTERS

Damage to the Reckless Rock Radio station studio is seen after a tornado touched down. — Damage to the Reckless Rock Radio station studio after a tornado touched downAP

While no major injuries were reported, reports indicate the tornado traveled more than 15 miles on the ground and tens of thousands of customers are without power. EPA

“We then heard the building and could hear the glass windows shattering everywhere along with debris banging around,” said radio host Lew Morris, who sought shelter in a studio bathroom with another DJ.

“We waited until all the noise died down,” he said. “We walked out to see the studio he was just broadcasting from destroyed.”

Dallas resident Tina Devlin told NBC News her home was “a total loss.”

“I heard all the snapping of the trees and the wind blowing, and so I climbed into this bedroom closet, and just as I got in there the roof blew off,” she said.

One Dallas shopping center on Walnut Hill Road was so hard hit that a Planet Fitness there “appeared to be gone,” the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Across the street a truck hauling a trailer was lifted up and dropped on top of a Jeep in the parking lot, the newspaper said.

The storm also grounded 96 flights at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field, and delayed another 263.

The tornado prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to deploy the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

Despite the devastation, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said the city was lucky.

“I think we should consider ourselves very fortunate that we did not lose any lives — no fatalities and no serious injuries,” Johnson said.

With Post wires

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