Severe storms wreaked havoc across Texas and Oklahoma, destroying homes and hitting a highway rest stop where many sought refuge, leaving thousands without electricity and causing extensive damage on Sunday.
In Texas, a sheriff reported at least five fatalities in a rural community, with numerous others injured. The storms started Saturday night and included a tornado that overturned large RVs and closed an interstate near Dallas.
Emergency officials transported multiple injured individuals to hospitals in Denton County, though the full extent of injuries was not immediately known.
Overturned trailer (Via Jenny Derulo/Shutterstock)
In Cooke County, Sheriff Ray Sappington confirmed the deaths of three family members in a home near Valley View, noting the possibility of more casualties as the scene was “just a trail of debris.”
Across both states, forecasters issued tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings, coinciding with record-breaking heat in South Texas and triple-digit temperatures over the holiday weekend. Arkansas also reported extensive damage, with tens of thousands losing power and one confirmed fatality in Benton County.
The severe weather adds to a distressing month of deadly storms across the United States.
