Hundreds huddled in shelters Sunday while trying to add up the damage to their homes, churches and schools caused by deadly storms that blew through North Texas.
Eleven people, including an infant, were killed in Dallas and Collin counties, and as many as 11 tornadoes were reported to the National Weather Service.
This still aerial image from video courtesy of NBCDFW.COM shows tornado damaged houses and vehicles in Rowlett, Texas on December 27, 205
The National Weather Service confirmed nine tornadoes Sunday night and said that number could rise in the coming days as more areas are surveyed.
A tornado that blew through Garland, Rowlett and Sunnyvale killing eight people Saturday night has been classified as an EF4, with winds up to 180 mph, according to the Weather Service. And a tornado that killed two people in Copeville has been classified as an EF2 with winds reaching 125 mph.
Twisted guard rails sit on the side of the road after night tornado in Garland, Texas on December 27, 2015
The tornadoes started as far south as Hillsboro and moved north toward Blue Ridge and northeast to Sulphur Springs.
“I don’t know if it was one tornado or several,” said meteorologist Matt Bishop. “We’re trying to figure it all out.”
Residents and rescue workers continued to work frantically Sunday morning, battling early heavy rain and the forecast of more downpours in the afternoon. By Sunday night, forecasters are predicting a rain and snow mix over the same neighborhoods.
This still aerial image from video courtesy of NBCDFW.COM shows tornado damaged houses and vehicles in Rowlett, Texas on December 27, 205.
About 8,000 power outages were reported Sunday, mostly in Rowlett, down from 50,000 at the height of the storm.
“This is catastrophic,” said Rowlett city manager Brian Funderburk. “We are going to have many people displaced for months.”
Early estimates suggested as many as 1,000 homes and buildings were damaged across Ellis, Dallas and Collin counties; thescoopblog.dallasnews reported.
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