Global Courant
A destructive tornado swept through Perryton, Texas, Thursday night, killing at least one person and leaving the city without power.
The north and east sides of the town saw significant damage, with trailers destroyed and communications towers downed, Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher told ABC News. One death has been confirmed and more than 75 people were treated at the local hospital, he said.
Storm damage seen in Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023.
Sabrina Devers/Facebook
Storm damage seen in Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023
Sabrina Devers/Facebook
Dutcher said the confirmed death is from a trailer and multiple agencies are on scene responding to the tornado.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management organized a team to get out of Amarillo, Texas, and send an AmBus that can transport 10-12 patients, Dutcher said.
“We have a lot of patients in the hospital that need to be transported,” Dutcher said.
There is currently no power to Perryton, Xcel Energy told ABC News.
“Our crews come to the scene and help remove lines from cars and roads. We are patrolling the transmission feeds to the city and also assessing potential damage to the main substation in the city. One of the three main transmission feeds to the city was apparently undamaged, but we have de-energized it for safety reasons,” Xcel Energy said in a statement.
Ochiltree General Hospital, the area hospital, is running on generators amid widespread power outages, hospital spokesman Amie Marrufo told ABC News.
Seven tornadoes have been reported in Texas, Oklahoma and Michigan as of Thursday night.
Severe thunderstorms, Thursday.
ABC news
Severe thunderstorm watches have been issued in Brunswick, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi.
Georgia and Alabama are also being hit by heavy rainfall and flooding. More than 7 inches of rain has hit Albany, Georgia, in the past 24 hours.
Warnings for serious threats.
ABC news
This comes after Wednesday storms brought massive hail and strong winds to Mississippi and at least 10 tornadoes to Texas, Alabama and Georgia.
On June 14, 2023, a tornado forms in Blakely, Georgia. Officials from Texas to Georgia are reporting damaging winds and possible tornadoes as a powerful storm system sweeps across the South.
Rand McDonald via AP
The plains are also gearing up for rough weather, with a severe thunderstorm warning in parts of southeastern Colorado and southwestern Kansas. Residents of the region should expect dangerous winds of up to 80 mph, hail up to 4 inches in diameter and possible tornadoes.
More storms are expected from Colorado to the Gulf Coast on Friday, with damaging winds and hail being the main threat. Severe storms are also possible Friday afternoon and evening from Virginia to New Jersey.
Severe storms, Friday.
ABC news
Meanwhile, the South is baking through dangerous triple-digit heat. Record high temperatures are possible in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans in the coming days.
