A tornado plowed a long path through north Dallas on Sunday night, knocking out power to more than tens of thousands of customers. No serious injuries were immediately confirmed, but at least one building collapsed, and news and social media photos showed heavy damage.
The National Weather Service confirmed at 9: 48 PM that a tornado had touched down in north and northeast Dallas. It said a second severe weather system would move through overnight and that more tornadoes were possible.
NBC Dallas-Fort Worthreported that the tornado touched down near Love Field and that its radar indicated that the twister could have tracked for 17 miles. The station and other news organizations published images and video of downed power lines, debris and scores of emergency personnel on the streets in northwestern parts of the city.
Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, live in the area. A representative told NBC News that the Bushes were safe and that they were praying for their neighbors.
Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings.
Tina Devlin of Dallas said 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,” Devlin told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
Devlin said a fire crew was able to help her and her family get out safely.
“I just thank God we’re alive,” she said. “I haven’t cried any – I’ve just been panicked.”
Download theNBC News appfor breaking news
Dallas fire officials told NBC News that an unspecified structure collapsed near the area where the tornado touched down. They said as many seven people were able to make it out of the structure safely but that a search and rescue team was on the scene to look for other people.
Authorities didn’t identify the structure, but NBC Dallas-Fort Worth showed a flooring company building in the immediate area with its front half crumpled in a heap.
Fire officials said they were also responding to multiple calls for people who had been injured by broken glass.
Several schools sustained “significant damage” and will be closed on Monday, the Dallas Independent School District said.
Oncor Corp., the main electric provider for the Dallas areas, reported that almost 90, 000 customers were without power in Dallas, Collin and Ellis counties at midnight. A tornado watch remained in effect until 2 am
The tornado didn’t affect the Dallas Cowboys’ game on Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arlington, west of Dallas.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings