At least 7 dead, dozens injured in reported tornado outbreak in North Texas – MASHAHER

At least 7 people are dead, including at least two children, and dozens are injured after reported tornadoes in Cooke, Collin and Denton counties on Saturday night.

The National Weather Service will survey last night’s damage throughout the day on Sunday. The survey will give us details of how strong the tornadoes were, along with the track.

The NWS says the final determination on the number of tornadoes and their strength could take a day or two.

More than 27,000 customers were still without power at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to Oncor.

Assessment and repair teams are working to restore power to those without it.

Oncor say there are damages to main lines and localized damage in some area.

Teams must repair the main lines before power can be restored. Oncor says communities with extensive damage could be without power for “prolonged” times.

Governor Greg Abbott is expected to hold a news conference today at 4:15 p.m.

Cooke County

The hardest hit area from last night’s tornado outbreak appears to be Valley View in Cooke County.

Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington says at least 7 people were killed.

Around 9 a.m., the sheriff confirmed they had found the bodies of a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old on Sunday morning.

Cooke County Commissioner Jason Snuggs says multiple people were found in a pond.

“Right now I think people are in shock. The families that lost loved ones are mourning their loss, and I’m just absolutely devastated,” said Snuggs.

Snuggs says he believes that everyone has been accounted for at this time.

Texas Task Force One Search and Rescue and first responders across the region were brought in to help search for victims in homes and businesses.

The Cooke County Sheriff says a reported tornado hit a mobile home park and a Shell Station Travel Center.

“This took a major hit. There is not much left of it,” said Sappington.

Video taken by Conner Stines showed the moment the winds from the storm broke the store’s windows.

Dozens of people were inside the station at the time taking cover, including children.

READ MORE: Valley View, TX tornado rips through gas station walls

Some people were injured, but all survived.

The sheriff says those from the Shell station were bused to a QuikTrip gas station in Gainesville that is being used as a reunification center.

Two people who were killed were found in a mobile home park.

“Power lines were down, trees were down, it’s taken a huge effort to just get back in there where most of the damage is,” said Sappington.

VIDEO: Valley View, TX tornado caught on camera by driver

A Red Cross shelter has been set up at the First Baptist Church community center on North Lee Street in Valley View.

Valley View Methodist Church on Church St. opened a feeding center for first responders and those directly impacted.

Denton County

The storm crossed Lake Ray Roberts, about 10 miles north of Denton.

Lake Ray Roberts Marina and RVs in Pilot Point were hit, tearing up the docks and sinking a number of boats.

Many of those that weren’t sunk are damaged.

Residents say the owner of the RV park drove through the area honking his horn to make sure everyone was up and taking cover.

Sidney Lepard drove away from the area with her husband and returned to find their 40-foot motorhome destroyed.

“My husband says the bus is gone. I said, where could it have possibly gone? It’s flipped over and it rolled it. It’s flipped over, and it’s lying on its roof. It’s flat,” Lepard said.

She says the decision to leave saved her life.

“We’re very blessed that we left. We would not have survived. Our bus is completely flattened,” Lepard said.

Lepard says people were trapped and that residents worked together to free them.

She says she has recovered some clothing, but nothing of value from inside her home.

Denton County says a number of people with injuries were taken to hospitals via ambulance and CareFlite.

The total number of injuries is not known at this time.

Collin County

Celina, on the border of Denton and Collin Counties, was also hit hard.

“I am heartbroken from the reports of devastation sustained by our friends and neighbors in Collin County last night,” said Collin County Judge Chris Hill.

Several homes were destroyed, but officials say there were limited injuries and no fatalities.

We talked with Kim Weston, a resident on Prairie Meadow Lane, who came home after the storm to find her home destroyed.

Her mother, who also lives in the neighborhood was home at the time.

“We have heard that everyone on the street is ok and unfortunately our house was a total loss, but you know we’re grateful that we’re ok,” said Kim Weston. “It was a godsend we weren’t home. the neighbor across the street had an RV and it landed on our house the only part that’s standing is where we would have been sheltered.”

Weston said her mother was trapped inside the house for a time, but was eventually rescued.

Collin County says there is a lot of debris across the area on Sunday morning and its public works team is out assessing the damage.

Residents in need of supplies are asked to contact GraceBridge.

The nonprofit will be open today at 402 South Oklahoma Drive to accept donations of essential supplies and resources.