Several Injured, Displaced After Storm Damages Homes

[TexasStooge]

Hood County Declared Disaster Area After Thunderstorms

GRANBURY, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Strong winds from thunderstorms destroyed one home and damaged 25 others in Hood County, just south of Fort Worth, late Thursday afternoon as a strong line of thunderstorms moved through Texas.

Hood County made a disaster declaration Thursday afternoon, clearing the way for some of the affected families to file for insurance. Several homes that had their roofs blown off are uninhabitable.

Broken tree limbs blocked several roads, while fire crews put out small fires all evening and made sure families made it out of their homes.

It appears the storm caught many by surprise.

"It happened very fast. As the storm blew through, we got the first report of the house that was pretty much demolished on the ground. We conducted a search at that time, and by the time that was completed, we had multiple other incidents that were occurring," Hood County Fire Chief Kerry Kistner said.

Although it is unclear how many people were injured and what the severity of their injuries are, at least one child was injured and taken into surgery, officials said.
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Dallas Motorists Stranded By High Waters

DALLAS, Texas (KXAS NBC 5) -- Dallas and Fort Worth did not escape the storms -- high waters left motorists stranded.

A church sign in Mesquite says it all: "Makes you think twice when complaining about dry weather."

The wet weather Thursday afternoon made rush hour tricky along 635, with slick roads and poor visibility.

Water flowed into two stores and shut down an entrance that is under construction at Town East Mall.

"There was, like, two waterfalls. Like, water was just coming in from the ceiling, and there were a lot of guys sweeping it out with squeegees and brooms," shopper Kasey Lane said.

Lightning lit up the sky all over Dallas County.

"That was kind of cool. I didn't mind that -- a little light show," jogger Gregg Higgs said.

Joggers exercising along White Rock Lake said Thursday evening was the calm after the much-needed storm.

"It's a little bit cooler, but it's humid. I think the humidity is up a little bit. It's kind of six to one, half a dozen the other. I like the cooler weather," Higgs said.

Families came out to the White Rock spillway to see how much rainfall soaked into the parched area.

"It was a real bear out there -- people running into each other -- but my yard got water like this. But, it is 100 percent humidity. It's kind of tough running," jogger Jeff Venable said.

The thunderstorms also moved over Tarrant County, drenching parts of Fort Worth.

[TexasStooge]

Storm flattens trailer; family survives

By JIM DOUGLAS / WFAA ABC 8

GRANBURY, Texas — Cleanup was under way Friday morning after straight-line winds destroyed two homes and damaged about 25 others in Hood County, just southwest of Fort Worth.

The worst damage—and perhaps the greatest miracle—appeared to occur near Tolar, a rural community between Granbury and Stephenville.

Steve Cherry, his wife and two grade school age daughters had just moved in to their mobile home two weeks ago. The National Weather Service estimates it was hit by winds up to 80 mph.

A gust picked up the trailer with the family inside, rolled it over, flattened it out and scattered its contents across a field.

Cherry told News 8 he couldn't remember crawling out, finding his wife and children and driving them to a local hospital. His wife and one daughter were treated for severe cuts and released.

Cherry's brother, Wally Cherry, nearly broke down as he reviewed the damage. "It devastated me," he said. "I can't see how they lived through it. It's amazing my brother got them all out and to the hospital. It's really God's blessing, that's for sure."

Steve Cherry and his family were staying with relatives and receiving support from the Baptist church in Tolar where they are members.

Homeowner Michael Spaziani said he has lived through several storms, but this one was frightening.

"I thought it was a tornado," he said. "We have a storage building that's beside the trailer, and it just blew, and it's all in the front yard. The well house ended up in a pool in the backyard."

Hood County Judge Andy Rash declared a disaster so the state could provide assistance. County officials were assessing damaged areas on Friday.

Damage was also reported in Wise and Parker counties. Utility workers were busy restoring power to blacked out areas in the region.

Heavy rains caused a few cars to stall out in Dallas during the late afternoon rush hour on Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


WFAA ABC 8
Wally Cherry stands in the ruins of his brother's trailer home.


WFAA ABC 8
A vacuum cleaner wouldn't help with the mess at Steve Cherry's house.