What to Know
- 7 tornadoes confirmed; 4 EF-0s (65-85mph), 1 EF-2 (111-135mph), 1 EF-3 (136-165mph) and 1 EF-4 (166-200mph).
- Four people were killed and more than 50 reported injured; two people reported missing have been found.
- The American Red Cross of NTX is responding and two shelters have been opened to assist victims.
Four people are dead and scores more are injured after seven tornadoes left a trail of damage in three North Texas counties east of the Dallas-Fort Worth area Saturday evening.
On Monday, all four victims killed in the tornadoes were identified; 57-year-old Kenneth Hughes, of Van Zandt County, 51-year-old Russell "Rusty" Barlow, of Canton, 39-year-old James Clayton Young, of Alba and 49-year-old Lucretia Sykes, of Fort Worth.
The National Weather Service issued their final update on Saturday's storms on Tuesday, confirming seven tornadoes, four EF-0s (65-85 mph), an EF-2 (111-135 mph) and EF-3 (136-165 mph) and an EF-4 (166-200 mph), touched down in Van Zandt, Henderson, Rains and Hopkins counties.
- Tornado 1 - an EF-0 near Grand Saline left a brief track at about 4:15 p.m.
- Tornado 2 - an EF-0 near Canton left a brief track at about 5:10 p.m.
- Tornado 3 - an EF-4 that left a long track from Eustace, in Henderson County, into Van Zandt County west of Canton between 5:29 p.m. and 6:09 p.m.
- Tornado 4 - an EF-2 that left a long track east of Tornado 3 from Eustace, in Henderson County, into Van Zandt County west of Canton between 5:41 p.m. and 6:04 p.m.
- Tornado 5 - an EF-3 that left a 51-mile-long track from Van Zandt County, through Canton and into Rains County from 6:08 p.m. to 7:28 p.m.
- Tornado 6 - an EF-0 near Cumby that touched down from 5:30 p.m. to 5:50 p.m.
- Tornado 7 - an EF-0 southwest of Canton that left a brief track around 7:13 p.m.
During a news conference Monday afternoon, Canton Mayor Lou Ann Everett said response teams are now transitioning from search and rescue mode to recovery mode. There were a handful of areas crews wanted to double check for possible victims and survivors, but that work is expected to wrap up by Monday night.
She added two people reported missing during the storms have been accounted for and there are currently no reports of any other missing people.
At least 4 confirmed tornadoes. Two EF-3 and two EF-0. All ratings are preliminary. Surveys will continue tomorrow. #txwx #etxwx pic.twitter.com/YKN9KHZ8bi
— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) April 30, 2017
Everett said the multiple tornadoes that began late Saturday afternoon left "heartbreaking" and "devastating" destruction about 35 miles long and 15 miles wide.
[NATL-DFW] Tornadoes Leave Trail of Damage Across Three Counties
Texas Task Force 2 has been sent to help the Canton & Van Zandt areas respond to weather. #txlege @TexasTaskForce2 pic.twitter.com/bBYdI1DS5Z
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 30, 2017
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott toured the damaged areas on Sunday. The day before, he activated Texas Task Force 2 to respond to the area and offer assistance.
Power has since been restored in Canton. As a result, the city is no longer in conserve water mode. A triage center that was set up at Canton High School has now been closed.
Rebecca Berkley, spokeswoman for the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, said 56 people have been treated at three area hospitals in Tyler, Athens and Cedar Creek Lake. Six remained hospitalized Monday morning and one person was in critical condition.
Everett told reporters Monday the city is aware of at least two patients who remain in the ICU — a man being treated in Tyler, and a 2-year-old child being treated at Children's Medical Center in Dallas.
At least 4 confirmed tornadoes. Two EF-3 and two EF-0. All ratings are preliminary. Surveys will continue tomorrow. #txwx #etxwx pic.twitter.com/YKN9KHZ8bi
— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) April 30, 2017
Canton officials asked people to stay away from the area because of the danger of downed power lines and debris.
Canton — in Van Zandt County — appeared to be hardest hit. NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist David Finfrock said the Canton tornado was on the ground for 51 miles, long enough to hit Fruitvale and Emory.
Another tornado touched down outside the town of Eustace in Henderson County. Jody Vincik captured the tornado outside Eustace during a Facebook Live video.
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NBC 5 Meteorologist Grant Johnston was in Texas Thunder Truck as the truck's video feed captured at least one tornado on camera in Canton.
Johnston reported dozens of cars overturned east of Canton on Interstate 20.
"We have a lot of injuries," said a dispatcher at the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office. The dispatcher said there was "a lot of damage" before hanging up.
Damage was also reported in Grand Saline and Fruitvale in Van Zandt County, as well as Emory in Rains County.
NBC 5's Meredith Yeomans reported U.S. Highway 80 at Texas 19, west of Fruitvale, was shut down.
The First Baptist Church of Fruitvale reported that while the church building is without electricity, there was a lot of damage in the area and that some houses have been destroyed and others damaged. The school across the street from the church was being used as an emergency command center.
Dallas Fire-Rescue sent 28 people and four canines to Canton to help firefighters there in the wake of the storm. The Rowlett Police Department and Rowlett Fire-Rescue also said crews were also en route to Canton.
City of Canton officials said residents would be under curfew from dusk Sunday until dawn Monday and that the Canton Independent School District would be closed Monday.
The American Red Cross of North Texas will also be responding. Two shelters are now open. One at the First Methodist Church Life Center at 600 S. Buffalo Street in Canton. The second is at the Emory Civic Center at 735 N. Texas Street in Emory.
The Tyler Fire Department reported crews were dispatched to Canton to help with a hazmat situation. According to Tyler Fire Marshal Paul Findley fuel and unknown chemicals were released when the tornado hit a warehouse facility.
Check back and refresh this page for the latest update. As this story is developing, elements may change.
