National Weather Service teams confirmed that an EF-2 and an EF-1 tornado struck northern Texas on Saturday night.
DALLAS — Severe storms that produced tornadoes in northern Texas on Saturday night caused widespread damage to homes and resulted in at least two deaths.
The National Weather Service surveyed the damage and confirmed that the storm spawned two tornados in communities northwest of Fort Worth.
An EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 135 miles per hour hit the Runaway Bay area, and an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph was confirmed in the Springtown area.
Two people were killed and many others were injured. Multiple families were displaced in the hardest-hit areas, according to local officials.
Thousands of Texans were without power over the weekend, but the local utility company only reported about 500 outages by Monday morning.
‘Huddled up and prayed’
Residents in the area described a terrifying scene as the storm moved through the region, bringing powerful winds and destruction.
“You could hear the wind. You could hear the sound of a freight train,” said Kelly Ince, a Runaway Bay resident who rode out the storm with her family.
Locals scrambled to get to shelter as conditions worsened.
“Huddled up and prayed,” said Amber Thompson, who took cover with her three children.
The storm overturned RVs, damaged homes and downed dozens of utility poles, leaving debris scattered across the region.
Among those impacted are longtime residents Donald and Lisa Self, who said they narrowly avoided being home when the tornado struck.
“Luckily, we weren’t here. We left right before it hit,” Donald Self said.
“And we still have each other,” echoed his wife, Lisa self.
The couple, who have been together for 33 years, said it was their first time experiencing a tornado.
“Yesterday was very scary. We always had that thought it happens to everybody else — it doesn’t happen to us,” Lisa Self said. “Well, it did.”
Already facing personal challenges, Lisa Self is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Despite losing their home, she said they are focused on what matters most.
“All this stuff will be replaced,” she said. “Thank God we’re OK.”
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Runaway Bay Mayor Herman White said the storm also brought unusually large hail and significant infrastructure damage.
“Largest hail I’ve ever seen or heard in Runaway Bay, ever since I’ve been here since ’85,” White said.
He said Oncor reported at least 64 utility poles down, with power lines scattered across roadways. Authorities blocked several roads due to safety concerns.
The mayor also expressed grief over the loss of life in the small community.
“It’s terrible. These are just not citizens — they’re friends,” he said.
Cleanup efforts began early Sunday, with neighbors stepping in to help one another clear debris and begin rebuilding.
Despite the devastation, residents say the community is already coming together to support those affected.