Update 4:45 p.m. Governor Greg Abbott today declared a state of disaster in Bosque, Clay, Denton, Eastland, Gaines, Montague and Van Zandt counties, authorizing further mobilization of state resources to assist affected communities. Additional counties may be added to the declaration as the situation develops.
Current state forecasts indicate the continuation of possible severe thunderstorms, large hail, damaging winds, flash flooding, river flooding and tornadoes across the state throughout the week.
The Texas Department of Public Safety offers these safety tips for tornadoes and thunderstorms.
Original post: Storms wreaked havoc across North Texas last night.
One person died in Corsicana as a result of the flooding. More than seven inches of rain was recorded in two hours last night.
Two are dead and eight are still unaccounted for after a tornado passed through the northeast Texas town of Van, according to Van Zandt County officials.
CNN reports that Van was badly damaged after the storm system appeared to spawn violent tornadoes. More than 20 people were also injured in that storm. The network reports:
"Warning sirens sounded before the storm hit. Fire Marshall Chuck Allen said early Monday that everyone had been accounted for and that there were no deaths in the town. "The destruction in Van followed the death of one person a day earlier in Eastland County, Texas. "Those injured in Van were taken to area hospitals, Allen said. About a third of the town was damaged, he estimated. "'Damages range from completely destroyed homes, damaged homes, to trees and power lines down,' he said. 'The initial response of emergency responders was to locate and identify any injured individuals.'"
Across the border, 50 miles into Arkansas, a couple was killed as a tornado tore through their home. Their toddler daughter managed to survive.
Elsewhere in Texas, two groups of people had to be rescued by helicopter from rising floodwaters in the town of Krum. And officials say lightning may have been the cause of a house fire in Frisco.
More than 100 flights were canceled yesterday at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas’ Love Field.
This comes a day after tornados touched down in Denton and Cisco Saturday, killing one.
More rain and storms are expected, and a flash flood watch is in effect until 4 p.m. Tuesday for Austin and Hill Country.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
