Devastating tornado rips through Texas leaving at least three dead, two missing and dozens more injured

A devastating tornado has ripped through Texas leaving at least three dead, two missing and dozens more injured.

The Lone Star State’s Panhandle town of Perryton was pummeled by a severe storms on Thursday, destroying trailer homes and downing communications towers.

As thousands of homes – and a major hospital – were left without power and residents were feared missing in the rubble, Governor Greg Abbott directed state emergency response resources to assist the hard-hit town.

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher told reporters that three people had so far been confirmed dead from the storm.

One of the victims was killed when the mobile home park they lived in took a “direct hit” from a tornado, he said.

As rescue teams search for survivors in the rubble, at least 30 trailers were said to be damaged or destroyed.

Around 100 people are believed to have been injured in the storm, with injuries ranging from minor to severe with many being transferred to trauma centers, the police chief said.

Ochiltree General Hospital, the area hospital in Perryton lost power in the tornado – just as the wounded poured in.

Debbie Beck, CFO of Ochiltree General Hospital, confirmed to ABC News on Thursday evening that the hospital was without power but they had managed to treat 50 to 100 patients for tornado-related injuries.

“We got slammed” by patients, said Kelly Judice, the hospital’s interim CEO.

“We have seen somewhere between 50 and 100 patients,” Judice said, including about 10 in critical condition who were transferred to other hospitals.

Patients had minor to major trauma, ranging from “head injuries to collapsed lungs, lacerations, broken bones,” she said.

The hospital urged people in need of medical care to come to the hospital or clinic in a Facebook post, adding that an American Red Cross shelter had been set up at the Ochiltree County Expo Center for those displaced.

“If you need medical treatment we are here. We are staffed, we have supplies, we have room.”

In a follow-up post at around 4am, the hospital said: “We have Oxygen available if you are in need, come to the hospital and ask for our Respiratory staff.”

The National Weather Service in Amarillo confirmed that a tornado hit the area Thursday afternoon but there was no immediate word on its size or wind speeds.

First responders from surrounding areas and from Oklahoma flocked to help the town, which is home to more than 8,000 people and about 115 miles (185 kilometres) northeast of Amarillo, just south of the Oklahoma line.

Keith Shadden of the Beaver County, Oklahoma, Emergency Manager told CNN that the county had sent fire, law enforcement and EMS units across the state border to Perryton.

He said they plan to send further assistance when the weather improves.

Help has also poured in from the city of Stinnett, Texas, the Hutchinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Borger Police Department, Booker Fire Department and the City of Fritch.

Storm chaser Brian Emfinger told Fox Weather that he watched the twister move through a mobile home park, mangling trailers and uprooting trees.

“I had seen the tornado do some pretty serious destruction to the industrial part of town,” he said.

“Unfortunately, just west of there, there is just mobile home, after mobile home, after mobile home that is completely destroyed. There is significant damage.”

More than 224,000 customers were without power in Texas as of around 3.30am CT local time on Friday morning, according to the poweroutage.us website.

In Ochiltree County – home to Perryton – a staggering 91 percent (8,910 of 9,775) of customers were without power.

Xcel Energy told ABC News late on Thursday night that there was no power at all to Perryton.

“Our crews are arriving on site and are assisting in removing lines from cars and across the roads. We are patrolling the transmission feeds into the city and also assessing possible damage at the main substation in town,” Xcel Energy said in a statement.

“One of the three main transmission feeds into the city was apparently undamaged, but we deenergized it for safety reasons.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Thursday that he had directed the state Division of Emergency Management to send emergency response resources to the town to assist with everything from restoring water to traffic control.

The Texas panhandle town of Perryton was struck by one or more tornadoes, causing fatalities, the mayor said, as images from the ground showed much of the town left in rubble by the twister and emergency crews searched for survivors https://t.co/OJocMHHnsn pic.twitter.com/wtbv3PJVfl

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 16, 2023

“The State of Texas is swiftly deploying critical emergency response resources to provide all necessary support and assistance to protect Texans and help those impacted by tornadoes in Perryton,” the governor anniunced in a statement.

“I encourage all Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials and to take all necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones.

“We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event.”

Other Texas lawmakers also spoke out to send their prayers and assistance to the people of the town.

“Jane & I are praying for the people of Perryton tonight. I am in contact with Mayor Symons and this tragedy is being closely monitored by myself and my whole staff. Please tune into KXDJ for updates,” tweeted Congressman Ronny Jackson.

By evening, the weather front was moving southeast across Oklahoma. The weather service said a second round of storms would continue to move through that state and parts of Texas through the evening while the risk of severe weather, including tornados, remained for the metropolitan Oklahoma City area.

Elsewhere in Texas and other Southern states stretching to Florida, heat advisories were in effect on Thursday and were forecast into the Juneteenth holiday weekend with temperatures reaching toward 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). It was expected to feel as hot as 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).

The storm system also brought hail and possible tornados to northwestern Ohio.

A barn was smashed and trees toppled in Sandusky County, Ohio, and power lines were downed in northern Toledo, leaving thousands without power. The weather service reported “a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado” over Bellevue and storms showing “signs of rotation” in other areas.

It was the second day in a row that powerful storms struck the US On Wednesday, strong winds toppled trees, damaged buildings and blew cars off a highway from the eastern part of Texas to Georgia.

Additional reporting from The Associated Press