The force of the winter storm was on full display Tuesday in Whitesboro, where multiple buildings collapsed under the weight of lingering ice and snow.
“We’ve had quite a few structure collapses. Most of them have been metal buildings, barns, arenas, we have a lot of horse country up here,” said Jeff Patterson, Grayson County’s director of public safety.
Patterson said fire crews rescued seven horses, all of which escaped with only minor scratches.
Emergency crews have also responded to a Ford dealership, a gas station, and several collapsed carports across Whitesboro.
“I was thinking at first it was some of their trucks over there,” said Doris Haynie, who lives next to a warehouse at Texas Building Supply that collapsed midmorning.
“It was a low roar, and it just kept going on and on, and I thought, oh, I bet they’re losing their building. And sure enough, I came out here, and that’s what was happening,” she said.
A manager for the company told NBC 5 that one employee was inside the building but made it out just before the collapse. No injuries were reported.
The manager said the inventory was damaged and believes the building is a total loss.
Across town, many roads remain difficult to travel. Patterson said ambulance transport times have nearly doubled because of road conditions.
Whitesboro Independent School District has warned families that schools could remain closed through the end of the week.
“More cold weather’s expected over the weekend, so we’re not done with it yet, unfortunately,” Patterson said.
Grayson County’s Office of Emergency Management is asking residents to report winter storm-related damage online to help officials assess the full extent of the impact.