Strong storms hit Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma
BENTON, Ark. (AP) - April 10, 2008 Hail and high winds moved into Arkansas, a state already
contending with three weeks of flooding and 10 tornadoes that hit
last week. Most of the state was under a flash flood warning and
forecasts said the new round of storms Thursday could include
tornadoes later in the day. Roads were flooded and people were
being told to stay home.
"It's just getting worse," sheriff's dispatcher Nola Massey
said. "We're just trying to get everybody to stay home and not get
out in it."
In far east-central Oklahoma, Muldrow was particularly hard hit,
with state officials reporting damage to more than 200 homes and
businesses from straight-line winds. The city was pounded with
heavy rains, marble-sized hail and sustained winds of more than 60
mph, said Officer Jose Flores.
"We've got flooding like you wouldn't believe," Flores said.
The severe weather began in the region Wednesday. An apparent
tornado with winds of up to 70 mph moved through west Texas,
tearing shingles from roofs, shattering glass and flipping
vehicles.
At least 180,000 homes and businesses lost electricity in the
Dallas-Fort Worth area, and more than 11,000 customers were without
power in Oklahoma Thursday morning. Flooding in Oklahoma forced
about a dozen state highways to close, and some schools called off
classes for the day.
In Oklahoma, where some parts of the state had more than 4
inches of rain, a woman died when her car skidded off the road
during downpours Wednesday. Three people were treated for minor
injuries in Texas.
Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster says no injuries were
reported from the high winds and heavy rain in the Dallas-Fort
Worth areas. Two shelters were set up for residents who may need
them, she said.
One hangar at Addison Airport, in the Dallas area, lost part of
its roof.
The storm pelted the city with quarter-sized hail just after
midnight with winds of up to 70 mph, said Hector Guerrero, a
meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The service
received reports of cars and a tractor trailer flipped over.
In DeSoto, just south of Dallas, about a dozen homes had roof
damage and there was severe roof damage at a senior apartment
complex and at a hotel with about 50 people in it at the time, said
Kathy Jones, a spokeswoman for the city of DeSoto.
Stephens County Sheriff James Reeves said about 20 homes in the
Breckenridge area sustained major damage, including some roofs and
top stories torn away.
Six mobile homes were destroyed and two businesses were damaged,
Reeves said.
In Arkansas' Saline County, residents spent a week picking up
blown-off shingles and cleaning culverts after the 10 tornadoes
roared through central Arkansas the night of April 3. Forecasters
said Thursday's storm could be on scale with last week's tornadoes,
with Saline County to get up to 2 inches of rain Thursday, with
gusts of wind up to 30 mph.
"It's just overwhelming - a flood on top of a tornado," Saline
County Judge Lanny Fite, the county's top administrator, said
Wednesday. "People have been working night and day trying to
prepare, but there's not a whole lot we can do to prepare for rain
in the magnitude they're talking about."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates at least 47
homes were destroyed by last week's tornadoes in Saline County.
More could be affected as rainwater hits already saturated fields
and lawns Thursday.