An aerial image taken Sunday, December 27, 2015 shows the path of a tornado tornado through Garland, Texas. Violent storms ripped through the North Texas area late Saturday, spawning tornados that killed 11 people. (G.J. McCarthy/The Dallas Morning News)
Garland (Texas), Dec 27 (AP) Tornadoes that swept through the Dallas area caused substantial damage and at least 11 people died either from the storm or related traffic accidents and dozens of people were injured.
It's the latest in a succession of freakish winter-weather events across the country that could include heavy snow and massive flooding today from north Texas through eastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, western Arkansas and parts of Missouri.
Days of tumultuous weather in the Southeast have led to 29 deaths overall - those in Texas plus a total of 18 in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas.
The full extent of damage in Texas isn't yet known along a nearly 40-mile (64-kilometer) stretch from 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Dallas to northeast of the city, though there were reports of strong winds blowing the roofs off homes, mangling vehicles, damaging churches, downing power lines and toppling trees.
National Weather Service survey teams headed out today to determine the number and strength of the tornadoes.
Meteorologist Matt Bishop says the tornado outbreak at this time of the year for North Texas occurs "from time to time ... but it's certainly not something that happens regularly."
Garland Police Lt. Pedro Barineau said today morning that eight people have died and 15 were injured in Garland, which is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Dallas.
"This is a huge impact on our community and we're all suffering," he said.
Barineau said the single tornado hit about 6:45 PM and damage stretches across an area of 2 square miles (5.2 square kilometers).
At least three people who died were found in vehicles, said Barineau.
About 600 structures were damaged, the majority of which were single-family homes.
"Driving around the area, you can see that it's total devastation," Barineau said.
Three more people died in Collin County, about 45 miles (72.42 kilometers) northeast of Dallas, according to sheriff's deputy Chris Havey, although the circumstances were not immediately clear.
In the town of Rowlett near Garland, City Manager Brian Funderburk said today morning that 23 people were injured, though the extent of their injuries weren't known, but that there were no deaths.
In some instances, it looked like homes had been picked up and set back down in a big pile. On one side of a street, windows were blown out, on the other side of the street, the homes were destroyed.
