Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, June 13, 1997

Reported by Sheriffs Office.

A line of severe thunderstorms developed across north central Texas during the afternoon and moved into Franklin County from the west producing considerable wind damage to trees and power lines. Some homes and businesses were heavily damaged from fallen trees.

Severe thunderstorms moved from Franklin County to the west across Titus county producing macroburst damage about 5 miles in width across the entire length of the county. The winds knocked down numerous trees and powerlines leaving the entire town without power. The high winds were also blamed for blowing down a wall on an equipment building under construction along with the new Texas Department of transportation building on FM 1845. The wall was 250 feet long and built with concrete blocks. The winds sent trees up to 20 feet in diameter crashing into houses and carports which collapsed onto cars. A 300 foot tower at Farmers Academy that serves Mt. Pleasant's cable TV system was blown over. Ninety-five (95) percent of all the trees and tall structures above 30 feet in height fell to the southeast. Minor damage occurred to a supermarket in town leaving the people trapped inside after the power went out. At least 5 county roads were closed, two trailer homes were damaged significantly and one woman was injured when she was struck by a shopping chart at a grocery store. In the city alone, at least 70 structures were damaged to some extent.

NWS Observers reported several trees toppled in the high winds.

Winds reported by Storm Spotters. Roofs were torn from homes and businesses with numerous pines were snapped and fell onto homes and power lines. So many power lines were topped that power outages lasted for several weeks in many areas. Power companies from Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas and Texarkana, AR were called in to help with the repairs.

Numerous trees and power lines toppled.

Numerous trees and power lines were toppled along Hwy 49.