Texas: Storm caused at least 3 deaths wrecked mobile homes and main street

At least four people in Perryton, a town of about 8,100 people in the Panhandle, died when a tornado hit the city Thursday afternoon in a storm that wounded more than 100 other people, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard told local media Friday morning as officials sifted through debris left by the tornado that caught the community by surprise. more than 50 million people across a large swath of the United States are under a severe weather threat Friday, one day after storms cut a deadly path across Texas, Florida and Mississippi.

Three people who had previously been reported missing were found.

The extent of damage was not immediately clear as officials from various agencies said they were beginning to survey the area, but images posted on social media by local reporters showed cars with shattered windows, leveled buildings and downed trees. A lot of businesses and trailers were destroyed, Bouchard said. A fire station was struck by the tornado, and ambulances were damaged enough to likely not be able to get on highways, he added, noting public safety agencies and first responders from other cities and towns were helping.

Perrtyon, a small town near Texas' state line with Oklahoma, was particularly hard hit, with the most significant damage on the north and east sides, according to Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher.

Debbie Beck, chief financial officer of Ochiltree General Hospital, 50 to 100 patients were treated for tornado-related injuries.

No victims died at the hospital and some patients were transferred to Northwest Texas Hospital, according to Beck.

Weather alerts, including tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm watches, were issued across the South for Thursday. Georgia and Alabama were both slammed with heavy rain and flooding.

More storms are expected Friday from Colorado to the Gulf Coast, with damaging winds and hail the main threat. Severe storms are also possible Friday afternoon and evening from Virginia to New Jersey.

Additional resources from Dallas are headed to the area Friday, and more will be sent over the weekend. 

Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for the city. 

The Texas Department of Emergency Management has been in Perryton since Thursday providing additional resources.

Officials there believe all of those missing have been located.

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 Sarah H

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