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Subscribe to RSSMassive tornadoes ripped through the Dallas-Fort Worth area Tuesday, sending 18-wheelers into the air and damaging about 650 homes. NBC's Lester Holt reports.
As experts assessed reports that up to 18 tornadoes hit the Dallas area on Tuesday, the cleanup and rebuilding began Wednesday for -thousands of residents from the more than 800 homes destroyed or damaged.
Among the hardest cities hit were the Dallas suburbs of Arlington, where more than 400 homes were damaged, and Lancaster, where some 300 structures were damaged and 10 people were injured, two seriously, according to NBCDFW.com.
The National Weather Service was investigating reports that up to 18 tornadoes touched down during a relatively short time frame.
"We're at just the beginning of a very unusual" tornado season, NBC weather anchor Al Roker said on TODAY. April 2011 saw a record 758 tornadoes, he added, "hopefully we're not on track for that this year."
Weather.com meteorologist Greg Forbes told TODAY that the season is already "running about 50 percent above average for the number of tornadoes."
"We've had record heat," he added, and "that warmth is a big ingredient that provides the instability for the storms."
On Tuesday, one twister was seen on video tossing semi-trailers from an operations yard into the air with ease. Schneider National, the trucking company that owns the yard, said Wednesday that no one was hurt but that dozens of trailers were destroyed or damaged.
Mom recounts saving daughters from 'terrifying' tornado
Videos show flying semi-trailers, golf ball-sized hail
Flights still disrupted at DFW airport
Despite the intensity of the slow-moving storms, no fatalities were reported.
In Arlington, a twister tore through part of a nursing home, injuring two residents.
"The windows were flying out, and my sister is paralyzed, so I had to get someone to help me get her in a wheelchair to get her out of the room," NBCDFW.com quoted Joy Johnston as saying. "It was terribly loud."
Johnston said her 79-year-old sister, whom she was visiting, was taken to the hospital because of her delicate health.
"The hallways were all jammed," Johnston said. "Everyone was trying to help each other to make a path for others. I'd say everybody was out of their rooms within 20 minutes."
Lisa Rebstock, who hid in her bathroom with her two young daughters when a tornado ripped through their Texas home Tuesday, tell TODAY's Ann Curry it was the "most terrifying thing" she's ever been through.
The storm system moved into the Southeast on Wednesday and the weather.com published a map showing the danger area for thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes there.
The danger zone stretched from the Texas coast and parts of East Texas to northern Florida, and from Kansas to Virginia.
Larry W. Smith / EPA
The greatest chances of a severe storm Wednesday were in Nashville, Memphis, Jackson, Mobile and Lake Charles.
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My heart and best wishes go out to those who were along the storms path. We are indeed fortunate there have yet been no reports of death in these areas.
To all those in the path of the storms, if you are indeed hit... I've been volunteering with disaster response teams the last 2 years. It is awesome to see the pouring out of love for complete strangers in their hour of need. If you need it, people will take vacations from their work to come help you. People from all over the country. Families giving up their Florida vacations to go to southern Indiana or Alabama, or Joplin... I have truly been blessed to be a part of these groups.
Nearly ANYONE can volunteer to work in these groups. Go online and look for them. These are ways to combine your efforts with others. A single mustard seed is rather insignificant, but when a couple thousand are put together, the results are amazing.
Two groups I would recommend are Samaritan's Purse, and the Three Nails Project. All you have to do is show up. They have the expertise to put you to work where it is needed!
If your neighbor needs help, recognize it and help them. Don't wait for someone else to do it. You are your brother's keeper!
It's unfortunate that only in times of tragedy and mayhem we come together as one. The entire world needs to work on this badly. Wishing all families hit by mother nature a fast recovery in all aspects.
"We've had record heat," he added, and "that warmth is a big ingredient that provides the instability for the storms."
Yes, no global warming here. Nothing to see here. Nothing to see here, just move along folks.
This is what happens when you pray to false idols. I suspect this was the Devil's work, after-all its responsible for all the ills in the world, or is that religion? One in the same!
Hey 420, I dislike Texas politics/religious zealotry as much as the next guy, but this is a time to be an American not a Democrat or a Republican or a Christian or an Atheist (which I am).
Let's do everything we can for our Texan brethren. To those affected, my thoughts are with you.
Man I can't imagine being like the woman in that photo and watching your car on top of your destroyed house. I feel terrible for those who have to go through that.
I hope I never end up in a tornado's path.
TO: JM-1992894 who wrote:
I'm not saying you're wrong, but when it comes to "Americans" being sick, Republicans are in the Supreme Court of the United States, fighting tooth and nail to avoid "helping" ANYBODY in anyway whatsoever!
Just a couple months ago, during the debates, there were Republicans shouting from the audience to let a man die rather than help him.
When it's a Republican State that needs help, they want everybody's mouth shut, and wallets out.
Just saying...
When did this story about tornado damage turn to your politics and the Supreme Court?
Some of you posting on the wrong story?
Can't we just keep threads clean - free of partisan political stuff?
2 deleted, meyou1 wishing Texas off the map. Keep it to yourself. You're suspended for a week for violating #5 of the Code of Honor.
It'd be nice. Not restoring the collapsed off-topic comment.
Concernedone:
I agree with your comment #1.9. Unfortunately there are those that post asinine comments on this thread (for instance posting comments about politics instead of the HORRIBLE WEATHER THAT HIT TEXAS!). These TROLLS seem to lack the basic human quality of showing compassion. I wish the best for those whose lives are affected by these tornadoes. My heart goes out to you all.
Well that's a POS thing to say.
No serious injuries... amazing!
People that don't live in Texas are just jealous that they don't, why else would you make such a hateful remark about hoping it wipes the state off the map...
I can't stand Texas, but I agree with you that this is no time for hateful remarks. My thoughts are with you. Like I said a previous post: "this is a time to be an American not a Democrat or a Republican or a Christian or an Atheist"
I'm with JM.
.
650 homes damaged and no deaths. It was a good day. That much power the loss of life could have been significant.
Exactly navyvet, it was a very good day. It is shaping up to be a hell of a summer weather wise. Here in Northwest Indiana the temp went from 81 degrees mid day to the 40's by 4 PM. I was surprised that didn't trigger something up here.
I don't know how many times over the years I pulled off I-2- at School House Road with a Semi Tractor hauling my company's heavy equipment. To see (even empty0 53' trailers flying through the air , is hard to believe. Still no ewports of deaths. I called 45 minutes before getting my sister on the phone and relief to know she was safe.
i really hope the insurance companies do not give the home-owners a hard time about paying for ins. damage claims. ins, companies are worse than the banks, they take in alot of money, but don't want to let it go! my prayers go out to the people of dallas and surrounding areas
Steve, That must have been a shock, and glad every one of yours are safe. As a child living in Paris,Tenn. during the second WW we had a tornado that came near the house and picked up a railroad steam engine at the roundhouse behind us and blew it over to the side of the freight yard. There were lots of people killed in that storm,but due to war time there were no reports and a news blackout of that event. God bless the technology and cell phones we have today so that we can in a matter of minutes find out how our family is faring in this storm. I guess there is a bright side of cellphones. And for those haters and nasty remarks made about us, All I got to say is "God Bless America and Most of all TEXAS"
Some people really have no heart. When another human being's life is traumatized and in chaos; some people really feel that they will use this and other forum to vent. How can anyone that is human wish entire state will be wiped out. meyou1 should be banned to social media HELL
Someone like that really lives in their own hell of hatefulness. I'm amazed and glad everyone is OK there, and I hope that the property damages get cleaned up quickly.
Uh huh, so how much of our "socialist" money do they want from our "muslim" president or the evil socialist agency FEMA?
Well, that meyou person certainly got what *it* wanted..attention. I mean, obviously nothing is going to "wipe" Texas "off the map." That's just dumb. So anyway, back to the real reason I'm here... to discuss this story. Many people here lost their homes and some, their pets. Thankfully, no human lives were lost yesterday. That's truly a miracle. It bypassed my home and was a near-miss of my parents' home. The clean-up will be difficult, but Texans, like many others in "tornado alley" are resilient and hard-working people who won't give up easily. We will ALL pitch in to help in whatever way that we can, because that's what we do here.
I was watching it live on 4 as it happened (and heading toward me). Folks were out in the neighborhoods immediately cleaning up and helping each other. lol...Damned Texans.
Two of those cells went either side of me...all I got was a little rain but prayers to all those affected.
You know, I don't understand how people can publicly wish others harm. It takes a sick person to wish a state was wiped off the map following a natural disaster.
An now for my TX pride... if we were wiped off, the rest of the nation would be in a world of hurt since we contribute to most oil production as well as the large amount that the state contributes to the US as a whole. We send more money to the federal govt than any other state. That's only to name 2 of the top things that would affect everybody else. And so, if the state requests federal money to help cleanup this mess, then it's only bc we deserve it. (This comes from growing sick of people making remarks on other stories about hoping that we don't request it) However, we are a resilliant bunch. As you can see, within hours of the storm we were already cleaning up... not sitting on our behinds waiting for somebody to bail us out of the mess.
Shame on those of you who think this is a joking moment.
Concerned, I totally agree with you. When the tornadoes hit Indiana, Illinois. etc. We didn't worry about whether they were Democrat or Republican, or if their politicians were idiots. We sent money and clean up crews. I guess that is the difference between us and alot of the other people in the country. You won't hear whining. blaming God, global warming, or "someone was out to get us"; all stupid ideas. We know it is just weather and tornadoes often hit DFW. We will rebuild and move on with our lives.
Hey "concerned"....Where do you get all that stuff from....YOU Texans get $1.35 back for every dollar your state pays in taxes....And guess what?.....Alaska is second.
Really, really wish you redneck states would get out of your pseudo reality and use you brains for a change.
You DESERVE federal money?....What happened to "we don't need the federal govt"..."we want to secede from the the govt"?...What a bunch of hypocrites you are.
Love the way you Texans take a stand against the govt when it doesn't cost you anything, but cry like little girls when something happens to you!...Get a set of stones already.
WRONG, JACK> Texas only gets back .94 cents per dollar "donated" to the Feds. BTW, Rick Perry made that comment trying to get votes of the secessionist group Republic of Texas. Just the same as Obama kissing the A$$es of all the little special interest groups like La Raza; LGBT , etc, promising what EVER they want, though he cannot deliver.
http://visualeconomics.creditloan.com/united-states-federal-tax-dollars/
Hey Deb:...The info I got came from the Federal Govt Accounting Office......You got yours from WHERE?....But I do agree with the Perry and Obama comments....
Oh Jack - there is always one ignorant fool that brings politics into a story that's just not needed. Did you hear MSN has a politics section... just for you :) ..... On a brighter note - my thoughts and prayers are with these families.
Well if it came from the Federal Govt. Accounting Office, it must be right.
Best laugh I've had all week!!!! BTW, Big Tex, I know you....saw you at the state fair...lol
That's the only time of the year they let me out.
Not wipe, wash, but not on his side and merely making a correction is all, thank you. Good day!
Sometimes in reading posts it's like we have 50 different little countries. I know why it was done, but often wonder if it wouldn't have been better not dividing the country into States. It is a blessing no life was lost. I can be as guilty as the next, but just wondering.
Everythings bigger in TEXAS, even our hearts.. May God help you (MEYOU1) with your hatred for our state and may God be with those who were affected by the tornados.
Texas and Rick Parry's gonna mooch some more federal aid
Hypocrites
Texas has always gotten massive mounts of federal aid over the years, and they hate the federal govt......Talk about biting the hand that feeds you...But, then what can you expect coming from a state that doesn't believe in "climate change, or the concept of ""book learnin"".
But no one should really wish the state and its residence bad....It's kinda like kicking a crippled puppy.
To begin, how in the world can a state hate the federal government? Last time I checked, a state did not have the capacity to hate. If you are talking about the residents of a state, you are making a blanket generalization that I guarantee is false. If you are talking about the lawmakers, you are attributing the feelings of few to a state with an extremely large population. Additionally, the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is among the most liberal(democratic) in the state. When George W. Bush was running for president in his second term, he only received half the votes from this area. In his home state, that speaks volumes to the liberal nature of our area. The comment that Texas doesn't believe in climate change or the concept of "book learnin'" is ignorant and obviously false. DFW alone is home to fantastic institutes of higher learning, including SMU, TCU and UTD, which has a top rated MBA program in the country. Additionally, a top rated Medical School is located in Dallas. Finally, the magnet high school (Townview) and Highland Park High School top the list of best high schools in the country, yearly.
Instead of focusing on ignorant stereotypes, perhaps your time would be better spent increasing your amount of "book learnin'". Another idea would be spending your time helping with the relief of this area. Despite your fantastic ignorance, i'm sure the people of DFW would welcome the help.
The people of Texas never see that money you speak of Jack. Yet, we still give out of our own pockets and open home and church doors to help those in need in a time like this. So don't speak for Texans when you dont know us!
Wow. That's wonderfully amazing that no one was seriously injured after the storms hit such populated areas! I am sorry that there was so much damage to people's homes and businesses, but other than that, there couldn't be a better outcome.
msnbc.....
can you please stop covering video clips with you logos across the lower half ? I mean we know who we are watching....if your gonna show a clip..SHOW THE CLIP. you make a point to trying and show us flying tractor trailer...cant see them cause your blocking it with your advertisements and logos
I love the State of Texas!!Just moved here now all i need to do is get a job. In home improvements I hope.
But Global Weather isn't changing, now, is it. Not to worry, the Republicans say no global warming so, don't worry about a little storm. Just keep burning those fossel fuels like the oil companies want and drill baby, drill. You Fuc*#^g, FOOLS!
Bobl-1819708
I hate to be the one to break the news to you, Bobl, but tornado's have been occurring in Texas, as well as lots of other states, for many, many years now.
As to your parting remark....nothing like keeping it classy.
wow there are people that dont like the state of TEXAS ? who would know
You mean Tex ass, the oil state? Home of George Brainless Bush? Prick Perry? Dickless Cheney?
Yeah... all the "ass"es come from Texas. None from any other state. Wow.
I don't mind if Texas uses Federal aid to rebuild after this as I would expect ANY state to have those funds available to them as well. Get off Texas' back. I can't understand how people gripe about Texas possibly asking for ferderal dollars, but were MORE than willing to bail out the banks, GM, Chrysler AND the green energy companies that are now bankrupt.
Bobl-1819708
Wow. What are you, eight? Your little plays on words are so clever and witty, especially the "Dickless Cheney" one. What class!
Correct BigTex... these people are only showing their mental age.
Never react to a comment like that! All that person wants,is attention I mean really!!Why react at all o that statement?
Where's the governor of texas. He should be on tv saying that he will declare the area a disaster area and ask obama for federal funding. We need to work together to solve some of these severe weather problems. Is the governor still in favor of the keystone pipeline.
The governer is the disaster! We made a mistake by winning the war over Tex ass. Better off if Mexico still owned it.
Bobl, if you were involved in the fight for it, i'm sure Mexico would still own it.
marshal, why does he have to be on TV talking about the storm. If the news reporter do it right they can see that the services that are needed are in place and working NOW. Perry does not need a photo op and only people who need to work should be on the ground in place. Nothing get done with a bunch of reporter trailing a government group around looking at a lot of bummed out buildings. IF you don't have work gloves on, get lost, you are in the way.
Odd ... in another thread, Bobl was claiming he resides in Thailand and is an English ex-pat ... hmmm.
I guess the rest of the country gets to pick up the tab for the ingrates that vote so stupid. Am glad everyone is o k but do wish these states would vote their OWN interest and stop the corporate welfare these red states vote for time after time. WAKEUPAMERICA.
That's right Terry, we all get to help whenever one of our states needs help. Natural disasters don't care what color the state is.
And if the governor of texas still supports the keystone pipeline how about birth control. We are still growing by 350% every 80 years. 1930-2B. Today-7B. 2090-25B. Do we need to set a good example for china and india. With prosperity, chinese wants more children.
Seeing a semi whirling through the air is just something our mind can't believe our eyes are seeing. Awful.
I don't get it. What does politics have to do with mother nature? Not only is it obsurd what people are saying, but rdiculous and just plain stupid. I am sick and tired of how politics are brough in to everything and are more important to people than what the difficult times these people are going through. Instead of ranting on stupid stuff you all should just give a helping hand to help clean up. These people don't have a home any longer. They don't know when they will have one again! Their privacy is gone and their belongings are gone. Come on... give it up and at least wish them well. (and just ignore my grammar ans spelin. i done it on purpose)