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Severe storms left extensive damage in Arlington on Tuesday night. NBC 5 meteorologist Grant Johnston believes the damage may have been caused by an EF-1 tornado, with winds of up to 110 mph. The National Weather Service will conduct a survey later this morning to confirm and determine the strength of the storm.
It seems that one of the worst affected areas is just south of West Pioneer Parkway, near South Cooper Street.
Most affected were the Mirage and Waterdance Circle apartment complexes along Pioneer Parkway.
“And all of a sudden I heard this big wind and the windows shook and everything went crazy,” said Minerva Rios. “My son went upstairs and helped me down because I can’t walk. So it was horrible.”
Firefighters transformed the normally occupied Pioneer Parkway into a temporary command post.
In the Waterdance Circle apartments, the roof was destroyed by people inside.
“I don’t know it happened so fast. It looks like windows crashed,” said Wilma Morris, who was sleeping on the sofa when the storm hit.
She was at home with her 17-year-old granddaughter when the storm hit.
“All of a sudden the ceiling started to go up,” Morris said. “She lay on top of me. She saved my life. The plywood, all that stuff was on us. But she lay on top of me. She saved my life.”
The drive-thru roof of the Burger Box restaurant along South Cooper collapsed above two queuing cars. Two people were inside these cars when the roof crashed over their cars. Firefighters helped get them out. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
Debris could be seen all around this area.
Next to the Burger Box, a Safelite AutoGlass store was also damaged. Video from the scene showed the store’s garage doors blown out and glass all over the parking lot.
The Arlington Fire Department has reported that several locations have reported gas leaks and broken power lines. Atmos and Oncor were on hand to make repairs.
The National Weather Service will monitor the damage to assess what caused the damage and confirm if it was a tornado.
Firefighters said a total of three people had been taken to local hospitals with minor injuries. The residents are just thankful that it was not worse.
“Everything else is material. So everything else can be replaced. Your life cannot,” Rios said. “And I’m just blessed that everything is fine.”
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