Tornadoes and blizzards leave 43 dead in a week – and there’s more to come

As residents of North Texas surveyed the destruction from deadly weekend tornadoes, the storm system that spawned the twisters was bringing winter storm woes to the Midwest and worsening flooding already being blamed for more than a dozen deaths. At least 11 people died and dozens were injured in the tornadoes that swept through the Dallas area and caused substantial damage. The storms and flooding in Missouri and Illinois were the latest in a succession of severe weather events across the country that have led to at least 43 deaths in less than a week.

This is a huge impact on our community and we’re all suffering.

Garland Police Lt. Pedro Barineau

The damage began to come into view Sunday in North Texas, where local officials estimated as many as 1,450 homes were damaged or destroyed. Vehicles were mangled, power lines fell and trees were toppled. Heavy rain, wind and falling temperatures hampered cleanup efforts Sunday afternoon. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made disaster declarations Sunday for four counties — Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and Ellis — and warned that the number of victims could rise. The storm system was moving to the north-east and was expected to bring a mix of snow and ice into the Upper Midwest. Forecasters said parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin could see up to 10 inches of snow.

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