Thoughts going out to Dallas area. Just heard from my kids there and both okay. But...

[madfloridian]

There's apparently been a lot of damage. They live in different areas but were out to dinner together when the power went out and cell phones went dead. One had hit very close with much damage. Extensive power outages.

Daughter got enough cell phone coverage back to call me but hard to hear.

Their homes are okay, but there seems to be roofs off and damage to cars all around. I had tracked it on a Dallas radar earlier and had a bad feeling.

Hope DUers and their families around there are okay.

[WhiteTara]

1. was it a tornado? nt

[madfloridian]

2. That's what they are hearing.

Sounds like it.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

13. Yes...

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. Glad your kids are ok

[madfloridian]

4. Question...will the Dallas area be getting the snow or ice or both.

Looks like it hits west TX tomorrow.

[TexasTowelie]

6. The are saying that ice is in the forecast.

[madfloridian]

10. Last time there was a lots of ice commuter train died.

Daughter 4 hours getting home.

[TexasTowelie]

11. I believe that they have made some improvements,

but the priority will be to keep it operating within the core areas including the central business district and the major hospitals. The orange line that goes out to Irving and the DFW airport is low priority along with the blue line that goes to Garland and Rowlett.

[TexasTowelie]

5. The news reports say that four people were killed in Garland tonight.

I have a friend in Rowlett that I'm trying to contact.

[madfloridian]

7. One lives near that area.

Just watched WFAA and saw pics of the Rowlett area. Wow. I know there are a lot of power outages in that area and spotty cell phone coverage.

[icymist]

8. Thank goodness you're alright.

I'm worrying about all our Texas peeps tonight.

[TexasTowelie]

9. I'm about 250 miles away from Dallas,

southwest of Houston currently. It's a bit windy and tomorrow is supposed to be a nasty day, but I don't think that I'll be outside much other than to feed a couple cats that I look after in the apartment complex.

[icymist]

12. Stay safe, Okay?

I see on weather radar that the same storm is moving toward Central Illinois for tomorrow. That's where my family is.

[madfloridian]

19. This article has some stuff about Rowlett

Sounds pretty bad there.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/12/27/severe-weather-tornadoes-texas-south/77939562/

[snooper2]

21. We are in Wylie and saw the straight line winds coming through

got everyone in the safe interior downstairs bathroom as I was standing outside with a friend to see what, we could see.

Had some pieces of plywood and shingles falling out of the sky into our yard- was nuts.

I imagine that was debris that just comes down as the tornado dissipates. Sad for the people affected

[madfloridian]

14. Just got a call from son who lives closer to downtown Dallas.

His area has power, and has mostly had heavy rains. Clear cell phone coverage. He said he looked out from some bridge he was crossing and 2 apt complexes looked practically leveled.

[madfloridian]

15. Death toll may be up to 8 around Garland area.

I heard 4 of them were in a car when it was hit by the tornado.

[Waldorf]

16. I live in the Arlington area of D/FW. They are saying the people killed in the car where

lifted and thrown off the overpass. A buddy of mine who lives in Red Oak had one of the tornadoes touch down about a mile west of him. Scary stuff. We didn't get anything but some rain here.

[madfloridian]

18. Had not heard that. That's a horrible thing.

Terrifying.

[MissB]

17. So glad your kids are ok!

How scary to be in the path of something so destructive!

[JCMach1]

20. Missed us by about 5 miles, but sadly about 8 people have died...

[madfloridian]

23. Hey, did not know you were in Texas.

Had a quick conversation with my daughter this morning, but her cell phone is lacking signal strength. Expects to be without power for a few days. Says her street got very very lucky, lots of damage around them.

[JCMach1]

28. We live in McKinney currently, but were visiting family in Anna,

just to the north.

[malaise]

22. Glad they are OK

My nephew and his wife and kids are OK as well.

That was an EF4

[madfloridian]

24. Figured out to communicate with my daughter.

My son is going to keep in touch with her by text since she can text but not enough cell coverage to call....and he will relay stuff to me. She expects to be without power for days. I don't have text on my cell phone but from now on I will for sure.

He said people outside damage zone are just starting to realize how bad the damage was.

[malaise]

25. I'm seeing massive damage on CNN

Four counties declared disasters

[malokvale77]

26. Hey mad...

Glad your kids are OK.

I live right along the Mesquite, Garland border in East Dallas. The tornado missed us by a smidge. Whew.

We got some high winds and torrential rain, though. I awoke to the distinct sound of dripping from my bedroom ceiling. Crap.

I will climb up and have a look when the rain stops. In the meantime I'll keep an eye on the bucket.

[madfloridian]

27. Sorry about your roof leak, but thankful it wasn't worse for you.

My daughter is in that general area, and she was shook when daylight came and she saw how much damage had been done around her. She feels very lucky and is thankful. No power for a while though.

[madfloridian]

29. Pic of one Rowlett neighborhood and Garland

Found this online. Waiting to hear more from kids today.

Garland



http://www.breakingnews.com/item/2015/12/27/photo-destruction-of-neighborhood-shows-path-of-t/