The Latest: Severe weather strikes portions of East Texas, causing widespread damage

EAST TEXAS (KETK) – Severe weather rolled through portions of East Texas on Tuesday, causing structural damage, fallen trees and power outages. Here is the latest:

POWER OUTAGES:

• SMITH COUNTY: 613
• GREGG COUNTY: 173
• ANDERSON COUNTY: 217
• NACOGODCHES COUNTY: 520
• CHEROKEE COUNTY: 393
• RUSK COUNTY: 219
• HENDERSON COUNTY: 152

LINDALE

A possible tornado touched down in Lindale on Tuesday afternoon, according to Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore. Witnesses say what was believed to be a tornado a little after 3 p.m., was seen off Farm-to-Market Road 2710, northeast of Lindale.

Moore, as well as Emergency Services District 1 officials, are out on the scene to assess damages. Reports of trees and homes damaged off FM 2170, and County Roads 4126 and 4128. No injuries have been reported.

Customers on FM 768 in Rusk and surrounding county roads are experiencing very little to no water pressure at all.

Courtesy of Ashley Turner

Hoard Road, County Road 4122 in Lindale

KILGORE

UPDATE: The Kilgore Police Department said electric companies to cut off power to allow crews to remove the trees that have affected eight to 10 blocks in the city. People are asked to treat all downed lines as electrified. As of this time, they have not reported any injuries.

Law enforcement continues to work on crashes reported due to rain on Interstate 20.

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The Kilgore Police Department has released a statement that power will be cut in certain Kilgore neighborhoods to clear streets following heavy wind damage.

Courtesy of Cali Moss

The Kilgore Police Department said that neighborhoods south of the football stadium have sustained heavy wind damage. They are coordinating with Public Works to clear the streets and remove trees, but must turn off power to the downed power lines to do so.

However, they noted that people should treat all powerlines as electrified and to stay away from them. The Kilgore Police Department also says to report any downed lines to SWEPCO, not to the police department.

Kilgore police said they are handling dozens of significant accidents on I-20, and their dispatch is in crisis mode.

A communications trailer at Driller Park is being set up to handle storm communications, and they ask for patience as they continue working to find downed trees and blocked roads.

TRAFFIC ALERT: TxDOT cameras show heavy traffic on Interstate 20 just above Kilgore.

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