Tornado Events - April 3, 2012 - DFW Area (Dallas, Fort Worth: house, schools)

[10scoachrick]

It's still going on at 4PM but it looks like FW is in the clear and storms are weakening. The 'news' even interrupted their 'election' coverage in order to show live video of some nasty twisters.

Right now, the line of heavy rain runs straight up IH35 from Temple to Plano; but I believe the severe threat is diminishing. Thoughts go out to the folks who were affected by these storms. While we need(and might still get) some rain, we surely don't want the kind of destruction seen in D-FW today!

Tornadoes rip through Dallas-Fort Worth area

[TexasHorseLady]

Just talked a little while ago to my sister and brother-in-law in Mesquite and they say everyone in the family is okay. Living in Jarrell (and having been here in 1997), I get more than a little nervous about family being anywhere near something like this.

[JJG]

Good news is, NO deaths.....

[BigD_JT_14221]

Originally Posted by JJG

Good news is, NO deaths.....

What a crazy afternoon. Very glad the storm didn't cause any fatalities. Hope there is help on the ready for those who lost their homes. Be safe out there DFW

[BstYet2Be]

.
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Update: All storms have now moved out of the area and east of the metroplex.

However, a tornado has hit in Forney east of the metro, including an elementary school - no injuries reported, yay!
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For those that need shelter or assistance, here are the American Red Cross sites and contact numbers for your area:

To Find a Shelter

To Contact Family Members - Post Yourself as Safe or Search for a Family Member


For Collin, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Ellis, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Rains, Rockwall and Van Zandt areas, contact the:

American Red Cross - Dallas Chapter
4800 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, Texas 75235-7717
Phone: 214-678-4800
Toll free: 877-505-4800
Fax: 214-678-4801


For Tarrant, Johnson, Parker, Hood, Wise, The Big Country & Concho Valley areas, contact the:

American Red Cross - Chisholm Trail Chapter
1515 S. Sylvania Ave.
Fort Worth, TX 76111

Johnson County Branch
201 North Main Street
Cleburne, TX 76033
Phone: (817) 558-1012
Fax: (817) 558-2329

Parker County Branch
1740 Bethel Road
Weatherford, TX 76086
Phone: (817) 341-4516
Fax: (817) 599-3740
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[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Just talked a little while ago to my sister and brother-in-law in Mesquite and they say everyone in the family is okay. Living in Jarrell (and having been here in 1997), I get more than a little nervous about family being anywhere near something like this.

I can only imagine what you feel during a storm outbreak like this!
There were reports of 18-wheelers being picked up and spun around like tops! I haven't heard the latest reports, but it sure sounded like some heavily populated areas were being hit. Dang!

[TexasHorseLady]

I saw video of those 18-wheelers - they were, literally, some of them, flying through the air like in the movie Twister.

[txgolfer130]

Originally Posted by elan

DFW is so big, most areas will not be affected. Some people have lived here all there lives and never seen one. Some times a line of thunderstorms will come through and every once in a while a tornado will drop down. Today is a little different because they are going on for so long. It's been years since I've seen it like this.

What? There was a tornado that went through/near Dwntwn Dallas last year!


Dallas tornado downtown 05/24/2011 8:25pm - YouTube

[debzkidz]

Originally Posted by elan

DFW is so big, most areas will not be affected. Some people have lived here all there lives and never seen one. Some times a line of thunderstorms will come through and every once in a while a tornado will drop down. Today is a little different because they are going on for so long. It's been years since I've seen it like this.

Yep, I was born and raised in Dallas and have lived in tornado alley my entire life and I've never seen one. That's not to say I've never been in a structure that was hit, because I have actually been in 2, once as a child in Dallas, and once as an adult in Houston, also an unconfirmed one hit a neighborhood I lived in in Sugar Land, but I've still never seen one.

[Lakewooder]

I think the drama is over...

Yep I grew up in Dallas and have never seen a tornado - my parents did on April 2, 1957 but then again the whole town watched that one...