Tornadoes
blast Fort Worth, Arlington
By ANGELA K. BROWN
Associated Press
FORT
WORTH, Texas Tornadoes and strong storms slammed into parts
of North Texas Tuesday night, demolishing homes, ripping the roof
from a church and snarling air and ground traffic.
Roofs
were ripped off houses and businesses, debris covered yards, telephone
poles slanted downward, and power was out in some areas.
Ten
children in daycare at Handley United Methodist Church in Fort Worth
got a scare when the storm hit. They crouched in the hallway of
the administrative building, and no one was injured.
But
the tornado left a gaping hole in the high, peaking roof of the
1961 church, leaving the sanctuary visible from the outside. As
word spread of the damage, about 50 members gathered to nail plywood
boards over holes where stained glass windows had been and put plastic
tarp over naked patches on the roof.
Pat
Svacina, spokesman for the city of Fort Worth, said a few people
were transported to the hospital, but no life-threatening injuries
were reported.
He said damage was reported in three areas of the city. Eighteen
to 20 mobile homes were damaged in a mobile home park in south Fort
Worth and at least six houses were damaged in another area.
Svacina
said 25 vehicles were involved in a chain reaction accident on West
Freeway where high water was reported.
Fort
Worth Police Department spokesman Duane Paul said police blocked
several roads due to concerns of gas leaks. He said there were few
injuries because many people in the area werent home during
the storm.
Tornadoes
also flattened some homes in a subdivision in Arlington, as well
as some buildings near a power plant in Arlington.
Arlington
police Sgt. James Hawthorne said police were checking for damage.
He said there were no reports of injuries.
I
know that we had officers say there were tornadoes down, debris
flying, he said.
Hawthorne
said he didnt know how much damage might have occurred.
Two tornadoes touched down briefly in Johnson County, but no damage
was reported, said Sheriff Bob Alford. The storm, marked by intense
hail and rain, was moving toward the town of Cleburne, where officers
were urging residents to take cover, he said.
DFW
airport spokesman Ken Capps said the airport halted incoming and
outgoing flights for about 45 minutes, and people working in two
business towers at the airport were moved downstairs as a precaution.
Passengers in all four terminals were safe, he said.
No
estimates for the cost of the damage were available Tuesday night.
The storms began to develop late in the afternoon south of Fort
Worth and took aim on the metropolitan area during the rush hour.
|