Today, more than 50 million people in a large area of the United States are facing a severe weather threat. This comes after deadly storms tore through Texas and Florida yesterday. In Perryton, Texas, a destructive tornado struck the town, resulting in three fatalities, as reported by the fire chief. Additionally, up to 100 individuals were hospitalized with various injuries, including head wounds and abrasions, according to the interim CEO of Ochiltree General Hospital.
Tragically, in Florida, a person lost their life when a tree fell on their home, trapping them underneath. Escambia County officials reported flash flooding emergencies overnight, leading to high water rescues. Areas such as West Pensacola, Warrington, and Gulf Breeze are experiencing widespread and significant flash flooding, with numerous roadways flooded and water entering several structures, as stated by Escambia County Emergency Management.
In Pensacola, nearly 150 residents of an apartment complex were relocated to a community center for shelter due to rising water levels. Warrington, located just south of Pensacola, received almost a foot of rain in just three hours. Radar estimates indicate that overnight, up to 16 inches of rain fell, with more expected throughout Friday. A flash flood watch is in effect until 7 p.m. for the affected areas.
Many of the regions that experienced severe weather conditions on Thursday are at risk of encountering storms again. A level 2 of 5 slight risk of severe storms has been issued for parts of the South, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern Plains. This slight risk area includes cities such as Montgomery and Mobile in Alabama, Little Rock in Arkansas, Jackson in Mississippi, and Tallahassee in Florida, where large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are possible.
A level 1 of 5 marginal risk is in place from South Dakota to Florida and parts of the Mid-Atlantic. This broad zone includes Perryton and cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Denver, and Jacksonville, Florida. These areas could experience large hail and damaging winds.
The tornado that struck Perryton caused significant damage to homes, businesses, and the local fire department and EMS. Multiple mobile homes were also impacted. Residents were caught off guard as the tornado formed suddenly, with no warning sirens or time to seek shelter. People had to endure the storm in their vehicles, experiencing the chaos of flying dumpsters and hailstones hitting cars.
While Jamie James, a resident of Perryton, survived the storm, her neighboring structure was destroyed. She described the tornado as a devastating blow to the city she has called home for 15 years. Despite the destruction, she emphasized the sense of community and people looking out for one another.
For safety reasons, the city's power facilities were shut off by Xcel Energy. Transmission lines supplying electricity to Perryton were damaged, and numerous lower voltage distribution lines are down. Xcel Energy is working to ensure the safety of residents and first responders, but an estimated time for power restoration is not yet available, according to a spokesperson for the company named Wes Reeves.