Severe Thunderstorm Warning 98, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

TXZ142-155-156-142130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
320 PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SAN SABA COUNTY...

AT 318 PM A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS IN EASTERN SAN SABA COUNTY MOVING
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE STRONG
GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. IF YOU LIVE IN NORTHERN LAMPASAS
COUNTY YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THIS STORM WITHIN THE HOUR. SECURE ALL LOOSE
OUTDOOR OBJECTS TO AVOID DAMAGE.

TSCHIRHART

WWUS40KMKC-;

TXZ142-155-156-142130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
320 PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SAN SABA COUNTY...

AT 318 PM A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS IN EASTERN SAN SABA COUNTY MOVING
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE STRONG
GUSTY SURFACE WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. IF YOU LIVE IN NORTHERN LAMPASAS
COUNTY YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THIS STORM WITHIN THE HOUR. SECURE ALL LOOSE
OUTDOOR OBJECTS TO AVOID DAMAGE.

TSCHIRHART

TXZ142-155-156-171-172-188-190-173-192-191-174-142215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
418 PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN SAN SABA AND
WESTERN MILLS COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL AND
EASTERN TEXAS UNTIL 10 PM CDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR
LAMPASAS...MILLS...SAN SABA...BLANCO...BURNET...GILLESPIE...HAYS...
MILAM...LLANO...TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES.

AT 415 PM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER THE SAN SABA AND MILLS COUNTY
LINE DRIFTING SLOWLY SOUTH AT LESS THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. NO OTHER
ACTIVITY WAS DETECTED.
 
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. IT WILL PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. IF YOU LIVE IN THE PATH OF THIS
STORM...TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER.

TSCHIRHART

TXZ142-155-156-171-172-188-190-173-192-191-174-142215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
418 PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN SAN SABA AND
WESTERN MILLS COUNTY UNTIL 430 PM...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL AND
EASTERN TEXAS UNTIL 10 PM CDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM FOR
LAMPASAS...MILLS...SAN SABA...BLANCO...BURNET...GILLESPIE...HAYS...
MILAM...LLANO...TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES.

AT 415 PM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER THE SAN SABA AND MILLS COUNTY
LINE DRIFTING SLOWLY SOUTH AT LESS THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. NO OTHER
ACTIVITY WAS DETECTED.

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM. IT WILL PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. IF YOU LIVE IN THE PATH OF THIS
STORM...TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER.

TSCHIRHART

LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
430PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

REFERENCE LOCAL STORM REPORT /SATLSRAUS/ ISSUED 03Z..14 MAY 1994

GROUND SURVEY REPORT OF THE MARBLE FALLS, TEXAS TORNADO
EVENT OF FRIDAY.. 13 MAY 1994..
(SURVEY WAS UNDERTAKEN SATURDAY MORNING, 14 MAY 1994;
SURVEY TEAM: LOU WITHROW, M-I-C, WSO AUSTIN; TROY KIMMEL,
CHIEF METEOROLOGIST, LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY;
OTHER INFORMATION GATHERED FROM AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

THE GROUND SURVEY INDICATED A PATH LENGTH OF 3 TO 5 MILES THROUGH THE
WESTERN AND THE NORTHERN PARTS AND THEN EASTERN PARTS OF THE CITY OF
MARBLE FALLS. THE STORM APPROACHED THE CITY'S WEST AND SOUTHWEST SIDE
AROUND 11:30 A.M. CDT. THERE WERE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS
IN THE HORSESHOE BAY AREA /4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARBLE FALLS/ JUST
BEFORE THE STORM MOVED INTO CITY ITSELF. SOME DAMAGE TO ROOFS AND
DOWNED TREES WAS REPORTED AROUND THE HORSESHOE BAY AREA /ON LAKE
L.B.J./.

AS THE TORNADO MOVED ACROSS THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY.. IT CROSSED
FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD 1431 IN A HEAVILY COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL AREA /AT
AVENUE Q, FM1431 INTERSECTION/. SEVERAL STRUCTURES IN THIS AREA RECEIVED
F1 TO F2 DAMAGE WITH ROOFS SEVERELY DAMAGED.. NUMEROUS LARGE TREES
BROKEN OR UPROOTED.. AND POWER LINES DOWN. A SERVICE STATION FUEL PUMP
METAL CANOPY COLLAPSED UNTO THE PUMPS. ROOFING ON A STORAGE FACILITY..
JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE AVENUE Q/FM1431 INTERSECTION.. WAS REMOVED AND
WAS BLOWN NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS FM1431. SEVERAL BOATS AT A BOAT
DEALERSHIP WERE TOSSED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF
THE INTERSECTION. THE ROOFING ON A CHURCH WAS RIPPED OFF AND THROWN
DOWNWIND.. CREATING SHORT DISTANCE AIRBORNE MISSILES. TWO 2 X 4S WERE
BLOWN INTO THE SIDE OF THE CHURCH'S PRESCHOOL CARE CENTER WHERE THEY
FULLY PENETRATED THE OUTSIDE WALL AND EMERGED AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR
FEET INTO A INSIDE CLASSROOM. LUCKILY.. ALL CHILDREN HAD BEEN MOVED INTO
HALLWAYS ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE AS THEY HAD RECEIVED WORD OF THE
IMPENDING STORM. A LARGE PLYWOOD SHEET.. APPARENTLY FROM THE CHURCH..
WAS IMPALED INTO A TREE ON THE PRESCHOOL GROUNDS. NUMEROUS COMMERCIAL
SIGNS DOWN. DAMAGE TO THE ROOFS OF A STRIP SHOPPING CENTER AS WELL AS
TO THE H-E-B GROCERY STORE. WATER REPORTED UP TO 6 INCHES DEEP ALONG
WITH HAIL ON THE FLOOR OF SOME OF STORES IN THE STRIP CENTER
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM. SOME ROOFING AND AWNING DAMAGE TO
BUILDINGS AT MARBLE FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH IS 1/8TH MILE NORTHEAST
OF THE AVENUE Q, FM1431 INTERSECTION. DAMAGE AS WELL TO THE SCHOOL'S
FOOTBALL FIELD PRESSBOX/BLEACHERS. RESIDENTIAL AREAS RECEIVED SOME ROOF
DAMAGE AND TREE DAMAGE.. ESPECIALLY JUST TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF
THE AVENUE Q/FM1431 INTERSECTION. INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES IN THIS
AREA REPORTED THAT POWER FAILED IN THIS AREA SOME TWO TO FOUR MINUTES
BEFORE THE TORNADO HIT; IN ADDITION, MANY REPORTED THAT THEY KNEW THAT
A SEVERE WEATHER "WARNING" WAS OUT (REF: SATSVRAUS ISSUED AT 11:12AM
CDT FOR SOUTHERN BURNET AND WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTIES).. SO MANY REPORTED
THAT THEY WERE PREPARED AND IN SHELTERS.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED ON A NORTHEASTWARD TRACK WITH MAINLY F0 TO F1
DAMAGE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS NORTHEAST OF MARBLE FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AS THE STORM APPROACHED AND CROSSED U. S. HIGHWAY 281 IN THE NORTH
SECTION OF THE CITY.. ROOFING DAMAGE BECAME EXTENSIVE WITH A CORNER OF
THE COMFORT INN MOTEL ROOF /ON THE WEST SIDE OF U. S. 281/ COMPLETELY
REMOVED. A FUNERAL HOME IN THE AREA.. ON THE EAST SIDE OF U. S. 281..
HAD A COLLAPSED ROOF OVER A CAR DRIVEWAY/PASSAGEWAY. MARBLE FALLS
PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORTED ROOFING DAMAGE.. WITH ROOFING MATERIAL REMOVED
FROM TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS. AGAIN, ALL STUDENTS HAD BEEN EVACUATED TO
THE MAIN SCHOOL STRUCTURE MINUTES BEFORE AS THEY REPORTED KNOWING THAT
SEVERE WEATHER WAS IMMINENT. CEILING TILES AND INSULATION FELL DOWN
INTO SCHOOL HALLWAYS.. WATER DAMAGE REPORTED. TREES UPROOTED ON SCHOOL
GROUNDS. ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL.. A STORAGE STRUCTURE /USED
BY AN AIR CONDITIONING FIRM/ COLLAPSED. JUST NORTHEAST OF THE SCHOOL,
THE EAST END OF A METAL REINFORCED STRUCTURE, OCCUPIED BY GOULD
INCORPORATED, WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED WITH ALL EXTERIOR WALLS COMPLETELY
BLOWN OUT. METAL I-BEAMS WERE BENT AND SOME WERE PULLED FROM THE
CONCRETE FOUNDATION. DAMAGE AT THIS POINT IS ESTIMATED TO BE UPPER F2
TO LOWER F3. IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH OF THIS METAL STRUCTURE IS THE
MARBLE FALLS WAL-MART STORE.. WHICH RECEIVED EXTENSIVE ROOFING AND
EXTERIOR AWNING DAMAGE. THE STORE'S GARDEN CENTER WAS EXTENSIVELY
DAMAGED. AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER WALMART TRUCK AND A BREAD DELIVERY TRUCK..
PARKED TO THE SOUTH OF THE BUILDING.. WERE OVERTURNED. TWO OTHER
EIGHTEEN WHEEL TRUCKS.. JUST SOUTH OF THE GOULD INCORPORATED
STRUCTURE.. WERE OVERTURNED AS WELL. TWO EMPLOYEES OF LONE STAR SUPPLY
IN THIS AREA REPORTED THAT "THE TWO TRUCKS WERE LIFTED TWO TO THREE
FEET OFF OF THE GROUND" AS THEY WERE OVERTURNED. THE LONE STAR SUPPLY
STRUCTURE.. LOCATED JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE GOULD STRUCTURE.. ALSO
REPORTED HEAVY ROOF DAMAGE.

AN ESTIMATED 100 TO 200 PEOPLE.. EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.. WERE
IN THE WAL-MART STORE AT THE TIME THE STORM HIT. THE STORE HAS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY FIRE/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS INCLUDING ONE ON
THURSDAY, 12 MAY 1994. EMPLOYEES HAD HEARD SEVERE WEATHER WAS IMMINENT
AND HAD BEGUN TO MOVE CUSTOMERS TO SAFETY WHEN THE STORM HIT. THE STORE
WAS STILL SEALED OFF BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STORE OFFICIALS AS OF
SATURDAY MORNING AND WAS OPEN ONLY TO LOCAL RESIDENTS IN NEED OF
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES.

A MECHANIC AT AN AUTO DEALERSHIP.. ON THE EAST SIDE OF U.S. 281.. WAS
BRIEFLY BURIED UNDER DEBRIS WHEN PART OF THE CEILING COLLAPSED IN THE
DEALERSHIP'S OFFICE. EMPLOYEES SAW HIM AND RESCUED HIM.

FROM THIS POINT.. THE STORM CONTINUED EASTWARD WITH DAMAGE TO TREES..
POWER LINES AND SOME STRUCTURES CONTINUING.

AS THE STORM CONTINUED ITS MOVEMENT, MODERATE TO HEAVY ROOFING DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED AT MARBLE FALLS HIGH SCHOOL.. LOCATED NORTH OF FM1431 EAST
OF THE CITY. SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JEFF FORD REPORTS THAT THE SCHOOL HAS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED FIRE/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS. THE SCHOOL WAS AWARE
THAT SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS WERE IN EFFECT. HE REPORTS THAT ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES BEFORE THE STORM STRUCK THE SCHOOL, HE GOT ON THE INTERCOM
SYSTEM AND ASKED STUDENTS (APPROXIMATELY 700), FACULTY AND STAFF TO
MOVE TO INTERIOR HALLWAYS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.. AS "INCLEMENT
WEATHER" WAS IMMINENT. THE STORM HIT SHORTLY AFTER 11:30 AM.. WITH
EXTENSIVE PEELING OF METAL FROM THE SCHOOL'S AUDITORIUM AND GYMNASIUM
ROOFS. WATER DAMAGE WAS REPORTED ALONG WITH ONE WINDOW BROKEN OUT. THE
SCHOOL IS RELATIVELY NEW.. HAVING BEEN BUILT IN THE MID 1980S. MANY
TREES BROKEN OFF OR UPROOTED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.

TREES WERE BROKEN AND UPROOTED EASTWARD ALONG FM1431 TO ABOUT 5 MILES
EAST OF THE CITY.. WITH ONE RESIDENCE WITH THE ROOF PARTIALLY REMOVED
ABOUT 3 MILES EAST OF THE CITY.

INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES INDICATED SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUD SIGHTINGS..
AND A "LOUD" ROAR.. ALONG WITH HAIL OF UP TO 3/4 INCH WHICH ACCUMULATED
ON THE GROUND. OF WITNESSES INTERVIEWED, NO ONE REPORTED ACTUALLY
SEEING A TORNADO IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. MANY PEOPLE REPORTED THAT
TORRENTIAL RAINS AND HEAVY HAIL WERE OCCURRING AT THE TIME THAT THE
TORNADO HIT.

STORM STATISTICS:
--DEATHS... NONE.
--INJURIES... HIGHLAND LAKES MEDICAL CENTER SPOKESWOMAN REPORTS TWO
PERSONS TREATED AND RELEASED FOR STORM RELATED INJURIES. ACCORDING TO
SOURCES.. THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EVEN THOUGH THE
CITY'S FOUR SCHOOLS WERE DAMAGED WHILE IN SESSION. EACH SCHOOL HAD
ACTIVATED THEIR SEVERE WEATHER PLANS IN ADVANCE.
--DOLLAR FIGURE ESTIMATES... FROM MARBLE FALLS MAYOR GRIFF MORRIS'
OFFICE (PRELIMINARY AS OF SATURDAY AFTERNOON).. 4 TO 5 MILLION DOLLARS.
--DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES... AFTER EVALUATION FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY, THE
FOLLOWING STRUCTURE TYPES REPORTED LIGHT TO HEAVY DAMAGE IN THE CITY,
ACCORDING TO MARBLE FALLS MAYOR GRIFF MORRIS: RESIDENTIAL 305;
COMMERCIAL 70; PUBLIC BUILDINGS 6.. INCLUDING THE CITY'S FOUR SCHOOLS;
AND INDUSTRIAL 4. TOTAL.. 385 BUILDINGS AFFECTED.
--DISASTER DECLARATION... BURNET COUNTY JUDGE MARTIN MCLEAN HAS
REQUESTED DISASTER DECLARATION FROM GOVERNOR ANN RICHARDS' OFFICE.

LW/TMK/JVD/WT/CP/SL/MR

LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN TX
430PM CDT SAT MAY 14 1994

REFERENCE LOCAL STORM REPORT /SATLSRAUS/ ISSUED 03Z..14 MAY 1994

GROUND SURVEY REPORT OF THE MARBLE FALLS, TEXAS TORNADO
EVENT OF FRIDAY.. 13 MAY 1994..
(SURVEY WAS UNDERTAKEN SATURDAY MORNING, 14 MAY 1994;
SURVEY TEAM: LOU WITHROW, M-I-C, WSO AUSTIN; TROY KIMMEL,
CHIEF METEOROLOGIST, LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY;
OTHER INFORMATION GATHERED FROM AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

THE GROUND SURVEY INDICATED A PATH LENGTH OF 3 TO 5 MILES THROUGH THE
WESTERN AND THE NORTHERN PARTS AND THEN EASTERN PARTS OF THE CITY OF
MARBLE FALLS. THE STORM APPROACHED THE CITY'S WEST AND SOUTHWEST SIDE
AROUND 11:30 A.M. CDT. THERE WERE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS
IN THE HORSESHOE BAY AREA /4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARBLE FALLS/ JUST
BEFORE THE STORM MOVED INTO CITY ITSELF. SOME DAMAGE TO ROOFS AND
DOWNED TREES WAS REPORTED AROUND THE HORSESHOE BAY AREA /ON LAKE
L.B.J./.

AS THE TORNADO MOVED ACROSS THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY.. IT CROSSED
FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD 1431 IN A HEAVILY COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL AREA /AT
AVENUE Q, FM1431 INTERSECTION/. SEVERAL STRUCTURES IN THIS AREA RECEIVED
F1 TO F2 DAMAGE WITH ROOFS SEVERELY DAMAGED.. NUMEROUS LARGE TREES
BROKEN OR UPROOTED.. AND POWER LINES DOWN. A SERVICE STATION FUEL PUMP
METAL CANOPY COLLAPSED UNTO THE PUMPS. ROOFING ON A STORAGE FACILITY..
JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE AVENUE Q/FM1431 INTERSECTION.. WAS REMOVED AND
WAS BLOWN NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS FM1431. SEVERAL BOATS AT A BOAT
DEALERSHIP WERE TOSSED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF
THE INTERSECTION. THE ROOFING ON A CHURCH WAS RIPPED OFF AND THROWN
DOWNWIND.. CREATING SHORT DISTANCE AIRBORNE MISSILES. TWO 2 X 4S WERE
BLOWN INTO THE SIDE OF THE CHURCH'S PRESCHOOL CARE CENTER WHERE THEY
FULLY PENETRATED THE OUTSIDE WALL AND EMERGED AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR
FEET INTO A INSIDE CLASSROOM. LUCKILY.. ALL CHILDREN HAD BEEN MOVED INTO
HALLWAYS ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE AS THEY HAD RECEIVED WORD OF THE
IMPENDING STORM. A LARGE PLYWOOD SHEET.. APPARENTLY FROM THE CHURCH..
WAS IMPALED INTO A TREE ON THE PRESCHOOL GROUNDS. NUMEROUS COMMERCIAL
SIGNS DOWN. DAMAGE TO THE ROOFS OF A STRIP SHOPPING CENTER AS WELL AS
TO THE H-E-B GROCERY STORE. WATER REPORTED UP TO 6 INCHES DEEP ALONG
WITH HAIL ON THE FLOOR OF SOME OF STORES IN THE STRIP CENTER
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM. SOME ROOFING AND AWNING DAMAGE TO
BUILDINGS AT MARBLE FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL WHICH IS 1/8TH MILE NORTHEAST
OF THE AVENUE Q, FM1431 INTERSECTION. DAMAGE AS WELL TO THE SCHOOL'S
FOOTBALL FIELD PRESSBOX/BLEACHERS. RESIDENTIAL AREAS RECEIVED SOME ROOF
DAMAGE AND TREE DAMAGE.. ESPECIALLY JUST TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF
THE AVENUE Q/FM1431 INTERSECTION. INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES IN THIS
AREA REPORTED THAT POWER FAILED IN THIS AREA SOME TWO TO FOUR MINUTES
BEFORE THE TORNADO HIT; IN ADDITION, MANY REPORTED THAT THEY KNEW THAT
A SEVERE WEATHER "WARNING" WAS OUT (REF: SATSVRAUS ISSUED AT 11:12AM
CDT FOR SOUTHERN BURNET AND WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTIES).. SO MANY REPORTED
THAT THEY WERE PREPARED AND IN SHELTERS.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED ON A NORTHEASTWARD TRACK WITH MAINLY F0 TO F1
DAMAGE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS NORTHEAST OF MARBLE FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL.

AS THE STORM APPROACHED AND CROSSED U. S. HIGHWAY 281 IN THE NORTH
SECTION OF THE CITY.. ROOFING DAMAGE BECAME EXTENSIVE WITH A CORNER OF
THE COMFORT INN MOTEL ROOF /ON THE WEST SIDE OF U. S. 281/ COMPLETELY
REMOVED. A FUNERAL HOME IN THE AREA.. ON THE EAST SIDE OF U. S. 281..
HAD A COLLAPSED ROOF OVER A CAR DRIVEWAY/PASSAGEWAY. MARBLE FALLS
PRIMARY SCHOOL REPORTED ROOFING DAMAGE.. WITH ROOFING MATERIAL REMOVED
FROM TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS. AGAIN, ALL STUDENTS HAD BEEN EVACUATED TO
THE MAIN SCHOOL STRUCTURE MINUTES BEFORE AS THEY REPORTED KNOWING THAT
SEVERE WEATHER WAS IMMINENT. CEILING TILES AND INSULATION FELL DOWN
INTO SCHOOL HALLWAYS.. WATER DAMAGE REPORTED. TREES UPROOTED ON SCHOOL
GROUNDS. ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL.. A STORAGE STRUCTURE /USED
BY AN AIR CONDITIONING FIRM/ COLLAPSED. JUST NORTHEAST OF THE SCHOOL,
THE EAST END OF A METAL REINFORCED STRUCTURE, OCCUPIED BY GOULD
INCORPORATED, WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED WITH ALL EXTERIOR WALLS COMPLETELY
BLOWN OUT. METAL I-BEAMS WERE BENT AND SOME WERE PULLED FROM THE
CONCRETE FOUNDATION. DAMAGE AT THIS POINT IS ESTIMATED TO BE UPPER F2
TO LOWER F3. IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH OF THIS METAL STRUCTURE IS THE
MARBLE FALLS WAL-MART STORE.. WHICH RECEIVED EXTENSIVE ROOFING AND
EXTERIOR AWNING DAMAGE. THE STORE'S GARDEN CENTER WAS EXTENSIVELY
DAMAGED. AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER WALMART TRUCK AND A BREAD DELIVERY TRUCK..
PARKED TO THE SOUTH OF THE BUILDING.. WERE OVERTURNED. TWO OTHER
EIGHTEEN WHEEL TRUCKS.. JUST SOUTH OF THE GOULD INCORPORATED
STRUCTURE.. WERE OVERTURNED AS WELL. TWO EMPLOYEES OF LONE STAR SUPPLY
IN THIS AREA REPORTED THAT "THE TWO TRUCKS WERE LIFTED TWO TO THREE
FEET OFF OF THE GROUND" AS THEY WERE OVERTURNED. THE LONE STAR SUPPLY
STRUCTURE.. LOCATED JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE GOULD STRUCTURE.. ALSO
REPORTED HEAVY ROOF DAMAGE.

AN ESTIMATED 100 TO 200 PEOPLE.. EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.. WERE
IN THE WAL-MART STORE AT THE TIME THE STORM HIT. THE STORE HAS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY FIRE/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS INCLUDING ONE ON
THURSDAY, 12 MAY 1994. EMPLOYEES HAD HEARD SEVERE WEATHER WAS IMMINENT
AND HAD BEGUN TO MOVE CUSTOMERS TO SAFETY WHEN THE STORM HIT. THE STORE
WAS STILL SEALED OFF BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STORE OFFICIALS AS OF
SATURDAY MORNING AND WAS OPEN ONLY TO LOCAL RESIDENTS IN NEED OF
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES.

A MECHANIC AT AN AUTO DEALERSHIP.. ON THE EAST SIDE OF U.S. 281.. WAS
BRIEFLY BURIED UNDER DEBRIS WHEN PART OF THE CEILING COLLAPSED IN THE
DEALERSHIP'S OFFICE. EMPLOYEES SAW HIM AND RESCUED HIM.

FROM THIS POINT.. THE STORM CONTINUED EASTWARD WITH DAMAGE TO TREES..
POWER LINES AND SOME STRUCTURES CONTINUING.

AS THE STORM CONTINUED ITS MOVEMENT, MODERATE TO HEAVY ROOFING DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED AT MARBLE FALLS HIGH SCHOOL.. LOCATED NORTH OF FM1431 EAST
OF THE CITY. SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JEFF FORD REPORTS THAT THE SCHOOL HAS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED FIRE/SEVERE WEATHER DRILLS. THE SCHOOL WAS AWARE
THAT SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS WERE IN EFFECT. HE REPORTS THAT ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES BEFORE THE STORM STRUCK THE SCHOOL, HE GOT ON THE INTERCOM
SYSTEM AND ASKED STUDENTS (APPROXIMATELY 700), FACULTY AND STAFF TO
MOVE TO INTERIOR HALLWAYS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.. AS "INCLEMENT
WEATHER" WAS IMMINENT. THE STORM HIT SHORTLY AFTER 11:30 AM.. WITH
EXTENSIVE PEELING OF METAL FROM THE SCHOOL'S AUDITORIUM AND GYMNASIUM
ROOFS. WATER DAMAGE WAS REPORTED ALONG WITH ONE WINDOW BROKEN OUT. THE
SCHOOL IS RELATIVELY NEW.. HAVING BEEN BUILT IN THE MID 1980S. MANY
TREES BROKEN OFF OR UPROOTED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.

TREES WERE BROKEN AND UPROOTED EASTWARD ALONG FM1431 TO ABOUT 5 MILES
EAST OF THE CITY.. WITH ONE RESIDENCE WITH THE ROOF PARTIALLY REMOVED
ABOUT 3 MILES EAST OF THE CITY.

INTERVIEWS WITH WITNESSES INDICATED SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUD SIGHTINGS..
AND A "LOUD" ROAR.. ALONG WITH HAIL OF UP TO 3/4 INCH WHICH ACCUMULATED
ON THE GROUND. OF WITNESSES INTERVIEWED, NO ONE REPORTED ACTUALLY
SEEING A TORNADO IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. MANY PEOPLE REPORTED THAT
TORRENTIAL RAINS AND HEAVY HAIL WERE OCCURRING AT THE TIME THAT THE
TORNADO HIT.

STORM STATISTICS:
--DEATHS... NONE.
--INJURIES... HIGHLAND LAKES MEDICAL CENTER SPOKESWOMAN REPORTS TWO
PERSONS TREATED AND RELEASED FOR STORM RELATED INJURIES. ACCORDING TO
SOURCES.. THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EVEN THOUGH THE
CITY'S FOUR SCHOOLS WERE DAMAGED WHILE IN SESSION. EACH SCHOOL HAD
ACTIVATED THEIR SEVERE WEATHER PLANS IN ADVANCE.
--DOLLAR FIGURE ESTIMATES... FROM MARBLE FALLS MAYOR GRIFF MORRIS'
OFFICE (PRELIMINARY AS OF SATURDAY AFTERNOON).. 4 TO 5 MILLION DOLLARS.
--DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES... AFTER EVALUATION FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY, THE
FOLLOWING STRUCTURE TYPES REPORTED LIGHT TO HEAVY DAMAGE IN THE CITY,
ACCORDING TO MARBLE FALLS MAYOR GRIFF MORRIS: RESIDENTIAL 305;
COMMERCIAL 70; PUBLIC BUILDINGS 6.. INCLUDING THE CITY'S FOUR SCHOOLS;
AND INDUSTRIAL 4. TOTAL.. 385 BUILD
INGS AFFECTED.
--DISASTER DECLARATION... BURNET COUNTY JUDGE MARTIN MCLEAN HAS
REQUESTED DISASTER DECLARATION FROM GOVERNOR ANN RICHARDS' OFFICE.

LW/TMK/JVD/WT/CP/SL/MR