Deadly Tornado sweeps through area

At least 7 people were killed and 100 were injured in a tornado outbreak in North Texas Saturday, May 25th night. Four tornadoes were confirmed. Seven people died, including at least three children, and at least 100 people have been injured after at least three tornadoes in Cooke, Collin and Denton counties on Saturday night.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott came to Cooke County on Sunday, the area that was the hardest hit. He issued a disaster declaration for the affected counties.

More than 200 homes were destroyed and 120 were damaged, according to the governor. 

Governor Abbott urged anyone who suffered property damage to contact their insurance companies and go to damage.tdem.texas.gov.

The National Weather Service surveyed the damage.  The NWS determined an EF3 tornado hit Celina in Collin County with winds up to 165 miles per hour, an EF-2 tornado with winds up to 125 mph hit Valley View  and Sanger and an EF-2 tornado in Forestburg in Montague County.

The hardest hit area from the tornado outbreak was the Lone Oak Road area, just north of Sanger and in between to the Lake Ray Roberts Marina off FM 455 in Sanger. 

"Night time tornadoes are one of the most dangerous out there. People aren’t paying attention and it's hard to see the threat," said Jennifer Dunn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.

Dozens of people took shelter at a Shell Station on I-35 and Lone Oak Road as an EF-2 tornado ripped through the area. The people were inside the station at the time taking cover, including children. Some people were injured, but all survived. "It truly is a miracle," said Gov. Abbott. Metal pieces from the building wrapped around power poles and the roof caved in. Vehicles in the area were thrown into a nearby pasture. The mobile home park on the west side of I-35 wasn’t as lucky with devastating damage and deaths. 

The storm crossed to Lake Ray Roberts. Lake Ray Roberts Marina and RVs in Pilot Point were hit, tearing up the docks and sinking a number of boats. Many of those that weren't sunk are damaged. Residents say the owner of the RV park drove through the area honking his horn to make sure everyone was up and taking cover. Denton County says a number of people with injuries were taken to hospitals via ambulance and CareFlite. Homes on off and near Chisam Road were damaged and destroyed with roofs sucked off, metal shops tangled and thrown everywhere.  Trees were mangled and round bales were flying in the air.