Tornado Devastates North Texas, Claims Lives and Causes Extensive Damage

A late-night tornado and accompanying storms have resulted in the deaths of at least seven people and inflicted significant damage across North Texas and Oklahoma. The events occurred on Memorial Day weekend, with the hardest-hit area being Cooke County, Texas. Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington confirmed that five individuals had died in his jurisdiction, three of whom were in a single household within the FRF Estates manufactured home community in Valley View. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and the death toll is expected to increase.

Emergency services also confirmed two fatalities in Mayes County, Oklahoma. The severe weather disrupted power supplies, leaving nearly 400,000 people without electricity across the central US, and causing large-scale structural damage. In Valley View, the AP Travel Center was destroyed, with 60 to 80 people sheltering onsite during the tornado. Fortunately, no life-threatening injuries were reported among those at the travel center.

The storms also impacted other nearby areas, including Denton County and the city of Celina. Damage includes flipped vehicles, downed trees and power lines, and destroyed homes. Authorities warn that severe weather is continuing to move eastward, affecting regions in the Ohio River Valley and triggering new tornado watches.

Residents in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas have also faced extreme weather events, with widespread power outages affecting more than 400,000 customers. Further severe thunderstorms are forecasted for the Midwest, potentially affecting major urban centers and leading to disrupted Memorial Day holiday plans.

Local officials continue recovery efforts while residents assess the damage and begin rebuilding their lives.