Texas Tornadoes Disaster Resources April 15, 2019

Texas Tornadoes Disaster Resources
                                  April 15, 2019
Office of the Texas Governor – Greg Abbott
1100 San Jacinto Blvd
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-2000
https://gov.texas.gov
https://www.facebook.com/TexasGovernor
https://twitter.com/GovAbbott
The Governor has not yet declared a state of emergency.

Texas Department of Transportation
125 East 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(800) 452-9292
https://www.txdot.gov
The website provides information on road conditions and closures that may result from an
emergency or disaster. To access this information, visit the website and click on “Highway Road
Conditions.”

Texas Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management
5805 North Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 424-2208
https://www.dps.texas.gov/dem
The website provides information on current disaster declarations, severe weather alerts, disaster
recovery, emergency preparedness, current weather and road conditions, and links to related state
and federal websites. There is no current information about the tornadoes in Robertson and
Cherokee Counties.
Robertson County Emergency Management (979) 828-5911
Cherokee County Emergency Management (903) 683-5947

News Report Provided by The Eagle:
https://www.theeagle.com/news/local/tornado-in-franklin-destroys-homes-officials-
say/article_3aefdefc-5f3c-11e9-b4dc-d3cd07fec248.html

Tornado in Franklin destroys 55 homes, officials say
Area schools closed as cleanup begins; crews work to restore power

“Saturday’s tornado in Franklin is estimated to have caused at least $3.8 million in damage and
destroyed 55 homes, emergency officials said Sunday.

According to Robertson County’s Emergency Operations Center Coordinator Billy Huggins, the
estimate was reached by going off appraised values in Franklin, and is expected to rise.

Huggins also confirmed 55 homes were destroyed, as were four businesses and two churches in
the tornado, which had winds that reached up to 140 miles per hour, according to the National
Weather Service.

The NWS said Sunday afternoon that damage was received from the Milam-Robertson County
line northeast to Buffalo in Leon County, though it was not immediately clear the number of
tornadoes believed to have touched down. Late Saturday, the weather service said the storm that
hit Franklin appears to have been an EF-3 tornado.

Robertson County Sheriff Gerald Yezak said in a Sunday afternoon press conference that the
McClennan County Sheriff’s Office allowed the use of their helicopter, which allowed him to fly
the path of the storm.

Yezak said the storm picked up a path just west of an area known as Red Hill, where it touched
down and stayed on the ground.

“Tracked it all the way down [Texas] 79 — twice. Once was just the other side of Mud Creek,
and that brought it on to the south side of Franklin,” he said. “And then after it went through
Franklin, it crossed again. ... We followed it all the way to the Navasota River.”

Yezak said the group saw where the tornado went into Leon County for a short distance before
they lost track of it.

“That tornado ran virtually the entire width of our county,” he said. “We saw a lot buildings that
were damaged — and destroyed — mostly barns, some chicken houses sustained some very
serious damage, as well as the south side of [Franklin].”

No serious injuries were reported. Huggins said about 12 people were treated by emergency
responders, and some had driven themselves to hospitals, so it was not possible to get a full
count of those with injuries.

Utility crews continue to work to restore power to the area, where about 4,000 customers
remained with electricity in Robertson County on Sunday afternoon.

Stuart Barrett, an official with Entergy Texas, said while the company is making progress, the
restoration is a two-tier process. A transmission line was expected to be repaired late Sunday,
which would restore electricity for most customers. A distribution center had the most damage,
and Barrett said full restoration is expected late Monday.

Because of the uncertainty of when electricity would be restored, Franklin schools will be closed
Monday, as will Calvert and Bremond schools, officials said.

A curfew of the affected area would be in effect again Sunday night beginning at 9 p.m. and
would end at 7 a.m. today. Officials urged those who do not need to be in the affected area to
stay away, and said law enforcement will soon be checking to ensure those in the area have a
purpose.

Huggins also stressed those seeking to volunteer to not just show up, but rather contact the
Emergency Operations Center first, where names and numbers of those seeking to help are
collected and then contacted on an as-needed basis.

A notice to boil water before consumption has been extended to the entire city, officials said, and
is not expected to be lifted for about three days while water is tested. Beginning at 8 a.m. today,
water and ice for residents of Franklin and Robertson County will be distributed at the Pridgeon
Community Center at 351 Cooks Lane, Huggins said.

The American Red Cross has set up a shelter at First Baptist Church, and Huggins said once
power is restored, the Red Cross expects all but one family being assisted to be able to return to
their homes. The Red Cross will be doing damage assessment following Federal Emergency
Management Administration guidelines and will be distributing disaster relief kits that contain
items such as shovels, gloves and trash bags in the affected areas.

Officials urged those cleaning up to not burn any items, but rather lay the debris on the curb
separated into six categories: household trash, brush debris, construction and demolition debris,
appliances, electronics, and household hazardous waste.

An animal shelter had been set up north of Franklin at the AgriLife Extension 4-H Center, but
Huggins said there had not been a need for the center. Those seeking help finding animals are
asked to contact the Emergency Operations Center, as are those who live outside the city limits
who have had home damage. The EOC can be reached at 828-6680.

Huggins said though residents were grateful, donations of physical needs, such as clothing, had
been met, and the city was becoming overwhelmed with the amount of items.

Several fundraisers had been announced, including T-shirt sales by the Franklin High School
Student Council. The group will be selling green T-shirts with the message “Franklin Strong”
over an outline of the state of Texas for $10. Proceeds will be kept local and used to support
families affected by Saturday’s tornado. The shirts are expected to be available Tuesday night,
and the council will be setting up in the high school parking lot to sell the shirts. No pre-
orders will be taken, adult and youth sizes will be available. Contact Shannon Groves at
sgroves@franklinisd.net with questions.

On Monday, the Rockdale High School baseball and softball teams will host the Franklin teams,
and will “pass the hat” during the games to help with relief efforts in Franklin.”

News Report Provided by KTRE: Updated April 15 at 6:18 AM
http://www.ktre.com/2019/04/13/storms-cause-downed-trees-outages-severe-weather-alerts-
continue-etx-counties
Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis signed a disaster declaration Saturday night in the city of
Alto.
“EAST TEXAS (KLTV/KTRE) - Two children were killed in Angelina County and dozens
injured in the Alto area after storms rolled through East Texas on Saturday.

Strong storms brought heavy rain, hail, and possible tornadoes to the area. The National Weather
Service says meteorologists are heading to the cities of Alto and Cushing on Sunday to survey
the damage in the area. Two separate cells tracked through the area and NWS crews will confirm
the damages wrought by each storm.

Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis says the county is in the process of declaring a state of
emergency. Crews are still searching through rubble and Davis says their top priority is making
sure residents are safe.

Saturday night Davis signed a disaster declaration.

Injuries reported

The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old were killed
in Pollok after a tree fell on the vehicle they were in, along with their parents, during a severe
storm.

Officials released the following statement:

On 4-13-2019 at 2:13pm the Angelina County Sheriff’s Department received a call about a tree
that had fallen on a car in the 1800 block of Dewitt Henson Rd. Upon arrival of Sheriff’s
Department personnel, it was determined that two children age 8 and age 3 were trapped in the
back seat of the car under the tree. Rescue staff from Lufkin Fire Department and Central
Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene to assist. Both children were removed from the
vehicle. Sadly, both children were pronounced deceased at the scene. Justice of the Peace Pct. 1
Billy Ball conducted the inquest at the scene. Angelina County Sheriff’s Department investigated
the scene.

One child was identified Saturday evening.

Eight-year-old Dilynn Creel died in the crash, according to a social media post from Central
Elementary Principal Anita Byrd.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Dilynn Creel, 2nd grade student at Central
Elementary. We will have extra counselors available for Central Elementary on Monday. Central
ISD will be accepting donations for the family. Please keep the Creel family in your thoughts
and prayers," she wrote.

The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the identity of the child.

According to Alto Police Chief Jeremy Jackson, about 25 people were transported from the
Caddo Mounds State Historic Site and the nearby area.

Jackson said there are a lot of homes flattened and said he’d seen at least one home that was
pushed across county roads by the storm.

A fire department representative later estimated the number of those injured was closer to
between 30 and 40. According to Cherokee County Sheriff James Campbell, at least 8 people
were critically injured.

Five helicopters landed at the scene to transport people to hospitals and multiple ambulances
were spotted at the scene.

Campbell reported there was an event happening at Caddo Mounds when the storm struck.

“I have seen tornadoes but nothing like this, it’s just unbelievable," Campbell said. "You just see
over that hill behind you the swath that the tornado took ... It was very wide and it stayed on the
ground just about all the way through Alto.”

Campbell believes there were two tornadoes that touched down in the area, adding that about 11
people trapped in their homes throughout the area. Law enforcement officers were working to
check each home Saturday afternoon.

There was a press conference with officials in Alto at 3:30 p.m. at the triage center set up at The
River Church in Alto.

Three people were injured when a tornado badly damaged a home in Ratcliff, according to a
preliminary storm report from the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center.

Damages

Alto Independent School District has canceled classes until their buildings are deemed safe.
Superintendent Kelly West released a statement Saturday evening via Facebook.

 “Alto ISD has suffered major damage from the storms. We will have a crew here Monday to
inspect the structural integrity of all buildings. School will be cancelled until everything is
deemed safe for our students and staff. We are asking for all staff and community to keep a safe
distance from all our facilities at this time. Please pray for our children, their families, and our
community.”

Caddo Mounds State Historic Site has reported it will be closed until further notice. The
organization released a statement saying they would be closed until further notice.

“The Caddo Mounds State Historic Site has been impacted by severe weather. The site is closed
until further notice. Please monitor local news media for the latest information. We will provide
an update as soon as we have more information. Please keep the community of Alto in your
thoughts, along with all others affected by this disaster.”

Damage was also reported at Lufkin High School along with downed trees.

The Crockett Fire Department reported the dome at the Crockett High School is open for anyone
seeking shelter at this time.

In Longview, multiple trees were downed on FM 968. At least two reportedly fell on homes. No
one was injured, officials say.

Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative Cooperation posted video of a mobile home in Hallsville
where a tree crashed through while a 4-month-old was asleep.

They reported the 4-month-old was asleep in a back room of the home when the tree came
crashing through the roof. The child’s father, who had been asleep on the couch, managed to
crawl underneath the tree to get his child to safety.

Upshur Rural Electric reported no one was injured during the incident.

Damages have been reported in Houston County, where the National Weather Service has
confirmed a tornado touched down near the Austionio area. According to Game Warden Zach
Benge, a home on Tadmor in the Ratcliff area was significantly damaged. Downed trees and
power lines have been reported near Lovelady.

Road closures

According to TxDOT, trees are reported down on Douglas Road and Press Road in Nacogdoches
County and Main Street in the city of Nacogdoches. Motorists should avoid these areas. Take
alternate routes as emergency crews respond.

Also in Nacogdoches County, trees were reported down on FM 2713 with power lines tangled in
them. FM 95 near Martinsville was also blocked by downed trees. Motorists should choose
alternate routes. Crews are working to clear the roadway.

TxDOT also said US 287 South and North, SH 7 East and West, SH 21 West, FM 1280, FM
3151, FM 232, FM 1280, FM 228, FM 227, FM 2022, FM 2423 all are being affected by downed
trees.

TxDOT is reporting road closures on US 69, SH 21, and SH 294. They are assessing roadways
after possible tornadic activity in the city of Alto.

The Texas Department of Public Safety also said there are downed power lines on SH-21,
between Caddo Mounds State Park and the city of Alto.

DPS asks that people please do not approach any fallen power line as they may still be live.

They also asks that people make a plan for a long-term power outage as they cannot guarantee
when power would be restored.

Highway 69 is closed north of Alto according to Smith County Emergency Services District No.
2. Law enforcement officers are also in place to prevent people who are not authorized from
entering the area while recovery efforts are underway.

Recovery efforts

The State of Texas Department of Emergency Management has deployed a strike team from
Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2 to Alto to assist with search and recovery
efforts.

The team was activated about 2:15 p.m. and deployed about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, according to
SCESD2.

The task force is made up of teams from: Arp Volunteer Fire Department, Bullard Volunteer Fire
Department, Dixie Volunteer Fire Department, Flint-Gresham Volunteer Fire Department,
Jackson-Heights Volunteer Fire Department, Noonday Volunteer Fire Department, Red Springs
Volunteer Fire Department, Troup Volunteer Fire Department, Whitehouse Volunteer Fire
Department, Winona Volunteer Fire Department, Smith County ESD#2.

Anyone in the Alto area impacted by the storms is encouraged to visit the Red Cross assistance
center at The River church, 595 S. Marcus St./Highway 69 South.

The American Red Cross says snacks and bottled water are available and emergency medical
crews are on site.

If residents feel it is not safe to leave their homes, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or 1-800-733-2767.

Saturday evening the Marine Corps League packed supplies donated from Walmart to spend to
Alto.”

American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/find-your-local-chapter.html
https://www.redcross.org/local/texas/central-and-south-texas.html

Heart of Texas – Serves Robertson County
https://www.redcross.org/local/texas/central-and-south-texas/about-us/locations/heart-of-
texas.html
9205 Oak Creek
Woodway, TX 76712
(254) 523-4985
(800) 733-2767

East Texas – Serves Cherokee County
https://www.redcross.org/local/texas/north-texas/about-us/locations/east-texas.html
320 E. Rieck Rd.
Tyler, TX 75711
(903) 581-7981
(800) 733-2767

Individuals can also call or visit the website and enter a zip code to locate the local Red Cross
chapter in your area. Red Cross chapters provide disaster assistance including shelter, financial
and food assistance, counseling, and other services.

United Way/211 Information and Referrals Line
These information and referral lines may know of additional resources currently providing
assistance, such as food pantries, clothing closets, emergency shelters, and agencies offering
financial assistance. Please call and provide your zip code and demographic information in order
to receive referrals.
2-1-1 Texas
Dial 2-1-1 from service area
Toll-Free Alternative Number: (877) 541-7905
https://www.211texas.org

Optum Help Line
Free Help Line: Optum, a leading health and behavioral health services company, is offering a
free emotional-support help line.
The toll-free number, 866-342-6892, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for as long
as necessary. The service is free of charge and open to anyone. Specially trained Optum mental
health specialists help people manage their stress and anxiety so they can continue to address
their everyday needs. Callers may also receive referrals to community resources to help them
with specific concerns, including financial and legal matters.
Along with the toll-free help line, emotional-support resources and information are available
online at https://www.liveandworkwell.com

National Resources

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
Disaster Distress Helpline
(800) 985-5990

National mental health helpline that is available to those who have experienced a natural or
human caused disaster. The helpline is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The
counselors are able to provide support and referrals to local resources.

National Weather Service
Weather alerts by state are available at https://www.weather.gov/alerts

The Weather Channel
Provides local forecasts and severe weather alerts, available at https://weather.com
Select “Weather News” and then click on “Severe Weather Alerts” to search for alerts by state.

American Red Cross Safe and Well List
https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php
Residents affected can notify their friends and family that they are safe by visiting the website
and selecting “List Myself as Safe and Well”. Individuals can also search for loved ones by
selecting “Search Registrants”.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
500 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20472
(800) 621-FEMA
http://www.fema.gov