State of disaster, curfew declared after tornado tears through Texas town leaving behind a path of destruction
MINERAL WELLS, Texas – On the tail end of a relentless severe weather marathon, a destructive tornado tore through the town of Mineral Wells in North Texas, leaving a trail of significant structural damage and reported injuries Tuesday evening, officials said.
Overnight, officials declared a local state of disaster as first responders continued to assist those affected, assess the damage, and secure impacted areas to ensure public safety.
The city has implemented a curfew for areas with extensive damage until 6 a.m. Wednesday, followed by a nightly 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew until further notice.
The National Weather Service (NWS) will now survey the damage to determine the tornado’s strength.
On Tuesday, the NWS issued a Tornado Warning for Southern Parker County at 5:11 p.m. CDT, warning of a confirmed, radar-indicated tornado that impacted Mineral Wells, among other areas.
At 5:10 p.m. CDT, a confirmed tornado was located along Highway 180 just west of Cool, Texas, roughly three miles east of Mineral Wells, moving towards the city at 25 mph, the warning said.
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Located just outside the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, the tornado ripped through Mineral Wells, destroying buildings and scattering debris across roads and parking lots, in addition to causing injuries, city officials told FOX 4 KDFW.
Mineral Wells Fire Department Chief Ryan Dunn told local media that two people were hospitalized, while several others sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
In a post on Facebook, Mineral Wells officials confirmed structural damage and the presence of first responders working to assess damages and immediate recovery efforts.
"We are asking residents to stay home and avoid traveling in the northeast area of Mineral Wells, specifically from Country Club Estates to Lake Mineral Wells State Park along Highway 180," the post said.
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Images from Mineral Wells highlight the devastating impact of severe weather, with an entire warehouse suffering significant structural damage and numerous other buildings destroyed or heavily damaged, with officials saying some structures are a "complete loss."
The devastating twister follows severe storms that swept across the region, killing two people in Texas and significantly impacting Parker County and other areas across the South.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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