EAST TEXAS (EAST TEXAS NEWS) – A fierce line of storms battered East Texas Monday night, bringing strong winds and lightning.
In Cass County, a large number of trees were down and some county roads were blocked by trees and debris on the roadway, but all major highways are clear for now. Authorities said there have been no reports yet of a possible tornado, but it is too early to say as crews continue in the community searching and assessing damage, according to a Cass County official.
In Mount Enterprise, the emergency manager reports a flash flood at 6:20 a.m. U.S. Highway 84 between County Roads 3226 and 3227 will be closed for an extended period due to a power transmission line crossing the roadway. Several county roads experienced flash flooding and downed trees.
In Alto, officials report a flash flood at 6:53 a.m. According to Cherokee County officials, water covered FM 343 in Atoy and FM 1911 south of Alto.
In Waskom, police report extensive, leaning tree damage on FM 31 about a mile from Woodley Road, with downed trees causing an 18-wheeler to capsize. Authorities said more tree damage on Woodley Road and north of Floyd Evans Farm-to-Market Road 31; the road is closed. A possible tornado was noted by officials. Police also reported a 5 a.m. flash flood. Flooding was reported on Strickland Springs Road, Candyman Road, Farm-to-Market Route 9 and areas in and around Elysian Fields.
In Ore City, Fire Chief Gaston DeBerry said there was widespread damage in the area.
Damages reported on northeast U.S. Highway 271, north of Ore City. A house with a partially missing roof, structural damage. Officials said several homes were damaged or destroyed in the area. There were multiple reports of injuries, but the number was not known at the time. Areas of damage include FM 2685, Evergreen Rd.; US 271, Bluebird Rd; US 300, US 154.
“We were hit very hard,” DeBerry said.
The storms struck a mobile-home park and toppled campers. DeBerry said a camper was thrown about 100 yards toward Lake of the Pines with people inside. But the people were rescued. DeBerry said there were no major injuries at the mobile-home park.
DeBerry said many homes are damaged with trees on them, and trees cross the streets. Power lines are also down.
“We’re still assessing, but so far there haven’t been major injuries,” DeBerry said.
Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said the county suffered significant storm damage and several people were injured, but to date there have been no deaths reported in the county. They said many homes and structures were damaged and, as of 3 a.m., several roads were still being cleared of trees and power lines. Significant areas also remained without electricity.
The sheriff’s office said initial indications are that tornado winds tracked a path from the southwest corner of Upshur County, west of US 271, to the northeast, north of Ore City.
The sheriff’s office said the damage areas include from FM 2685 and Evergreen Road to US 271 south of Bluebird Road, crossing US 300 to US 154 south of Gilmer. The path continued north of Ore City, where Upshur Landing in the Lake of the Pines area suffered significant damage.
The Lufkin office of the Texas Department of Transportation tweeted that there is debris on the road on US 287 in Houston County. TxDOT also reports downed trees on State Highway 21 West and FM 1280. TxDOT also reported downed trees on FM 204 near Cushing in Nacogdoches County.
“Crews are organized and will begin clearing the roads when it is safe to do so,” the tweet said. “Do not drive.”
In Rusk County, the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management said responders are handling multiple reports of damage in the Mount Enterprise area. They said they received reports of several houses, including a manufactured home, suffering significant damage. They said most of the damage appeared to be west of US 259 and northwest of the town of Mount Enterprise. There were also reports of a large tree blocking part of US 259.
They said initial reports indicate that at least one person may have been trapped in an RV after the storms, but no serious injuries have been reported. Mount Enterprise Fire Department and rescue units responded to the scene along with other agencies helping. Additionally, the Rusk County OEM said there was a report of a gas-well fire in the Tatum area that could have been started by lightning. Tatum fire crews responded to that scene.
The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office said there were significant damages in the Laneville, Minden and Brachfield areas. They said several homes in the area were damaged or destroyed. They said a command post is being set up at Mount Enterprise VFD to begin the cleanup.
Near Crockett, Houston Lake VFD Chief Hans Meinardus confirmed tree and power-line damage about a quarter-mile from Loop 304 and FM 229. According to Heath Murff, chief of Houston County Fire and Emergency Management, damage was reported from Austonio up to the north side of Crockett. Murff confirmed a Valero gas station at the intersection of U.S. 19/287 and Norman Lane was destroyed. Nine homes behind the gas station were damaged or destroyed. A house on CR 1515 was also leveled. Murff said at least five people in the county were transported to area hospitals after the storm.
The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office said there were reports of some damaged homes, as well as trees, power lines and debris on SH 204, CR 874, FM 343, Highway 3 and several other county roads. They said multiple agencies are working to clear the roads and secure residences in the area.
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