A short-lived but deadly tornado struck the town of Cisco, Texas, Saturday afternoon. The tornado killed at least one person and sent another to the hospital with critical injuries.
The small town of Cisco is located in Eastland County and is located on Interstate 20 between Fort Worth and Abilene. Eastland County Fire Chief Phillip Arthur told CNN meteorologist Sean Morris that in addition to the death and injury there were damaged homes, downed power lines and roads that were blocked.
The tornado was one of three that touched down in Texas on Saturday.
The National Weather Service had predicted this line of storms would be a major weather event. Texas Governor Greg Abbott took action based upon this warning on Friday and activated the State’s Operation Center, as Breitbart Texas previously reported.
“We urge Texans to closely monitor the changing weather conditions in their area and heed warnings from local officials, as these storms have the potential to bring dangerous flash flooding, damaging winds and hail, and the possibility for tornadoes.” Governor Abbott said Friday in a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas. “Ensuring the safety of Texans is paramount, and the state stands ready to provide support to our local leaders as this weather system moves through our state.”
A series of Twitter videos were posted by @BrianKhoury. Following are some of those videos:
Cisco tornado #txwx pic.twitter.com/or0KP7yq9I
— Brian (@BrianKhoury) May 9, 2015
Wow #txwx pic.twitter.com/vRoVhNAAdR
— Brian (@BrianKhoury) May 9, 2015
More video from Cisco tornado pic.twitter.com/sLBGvPaqhP
— Brian (@BrianKhoury) May 9, 2015
From The Weather Channel website:
- One storm-related fatality confirmed in Eastland County, Texas, after tornado touched down near Cisco. Another person was critically injured.
- A tornado was spotted in Marshall County, Oklahoma, by a trained spotter at 6:24 p.m. CDT.
- A tornado was spotted in Cotton County, Oklahoma, by a trained spotter at 6:09 p.m. CDT.
- A tornado was spotted in Cooke County, Texas, by a trained spotter at 4:55 p.m. CDT.
- A tornado was spotted in Eastland County, Texas, by a trained spotter at 4:33 p.m. CDT.
- Heavy damage reported in Eastland County due to tornado. Some residents unaccounted for.
- Flooding inundated roadways and stalled cars in Norman, Oklahoma.
- Homes were damaged south of Cisco by an earlier tornado, according to local storm reports.
- Hail greater than 1.5 inches in diameter was observed in Texas Saturday.
- Roadways in cities north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have been closed due to flooding.
- Portions of roadways in Erie, Colorado, have been closed due to flooding. Residents are advised to avoid flooded footpaths.
- Water rescues were ongoing in Bonham, Texas, due to flash flooding Saturday afternoon.
- A tornado watch is in effect for parts of central/southern Oklahoma and north Texas until 9 p.m. CDT. This watch area includes Oklahoma City and Dallas-Fort Worth.
- A tornado watch is in effect for parts of eastern Colorado, western Kansas and far southwest Nebraska until 9 p.m. MDT.
This article has been updated.
Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and on Facebook.