Texas Tornadoes Injure At Least 4, Destroy Homes, Businesses

People look at an overturned truck in a parking lot after a tornado in a widespread storm system touched down in Round Rock, Texas, on March 21, 2022. Tamir Kalifa/Reuters

At least four people have been injured after severe tornadoes ripped through north and central Texas on Monday, damaging homes and businesses, and leaving thousands without power, officials said.

In Round Rock, Texas, a city of around 120,000 people located about 20 miles from Austin, multiple homes were destroyed after a tornado tore through the area, local officials said.

“We could see a funnel on the south side of Round Rock. That funnel continued through the south side of the city,” Police Chief Allen Banks told reporters during a press briefing on Monday evening.

Minor injuries were reported and buildings throughout the city suffered “extreme structural damage” after the tornado struck, Banks said.

“There may be some homes damaged,” Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan said at around 6:30 p.m. on Monday. “We are assessing the damage.”

At least one tornado hit Elgin, east of Austin, causing major damage and some injuries, officials said.

In the town of Bowie, roughly 90 miles northwest of Dallas, a family of three people was rescued after a tornado reduced their home to rubble. One woman was hospitalized, the local NBC affiliate reported.

A gas plant off Highway 59 south of Bowie was damaged. There were no immediate reports of fires or leaks from the plant.

In Jacksboro, some 35 miles southeast of Bowie, the roof of a high school gym collapsed. No students were reported injured.

The Texas Department of Transportation Fort Worth District said on Twitter that multiple highways in Jack County were closed due to downed trees and debris.

The Storm Prediction Center said several tornadoes, including the potential for a few strong tornadoes, along with “very large hail and damaging winds” are expected Monday evening through the night, particularly across parts of central and east Texas into western Louisiana.

The National Weather Service warned that the storm system that spawned the twisters could bring strong winds, hail, and the potential for more tornadoes in Texas and Oklahoma on Tuesday.

The system also carried the danger of flooding in southern states, including Lousiana and Mississippi, the weather service said.

According to poweroutage.us, a project created to track, record, and aggregate power outages across the United States, more than 60,000 are without power in Texas, while more than 11,449 in Oklahoma are suffering power outages.

“Praying for all Texans this evening. Tornados are popping up in the Dallas area. Pray for safety this evening,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote on Twitter on Monday.

Reuters contributed to this report.