Tornadoes cause damage in Texas and Oklahoma, leaving 65,000 without power

Washington, 22 Mar School authorities in Jacksoboro, in Texas, suspended classes for the rest of the week after one of the tornadoes that wreaked havoc in that state and in Oklahoma ripped off the roof of the gym at the local high school, while tens of thousands were left without electricity supply. The principal of Jacksboro High School, Starla Sanders, told the media that she noticed that the phenomenon became very strong in the middle of Monday afternoon, and so she let about 300 students who could drive their vehicles leave the building early. But students using school buses and teaching and administrative staff took refuge in the building until the tornado passed. Both elementary and high schools in Jacksboro, some 100 miles northwest of Dallas, have storm shelters, and School Superintendent Brad Burnett told the press that there were no injuries among students or school staff. Another tornado razed homes and damaged several buildings near Bowie, in Montague County, about 180 kilometers north of Dallas. Local authorities indicated that four people were trapped in a collapsed building, but there were no serious injuries. Forecasters warned that systems that caused tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas have shifted to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, where they could cause floods and more tornadoes. The Weather channel said it was able to confirm the death of a 73-year-old woman in Grayson County, Texas, but there were no further details of the matter. This morning more than 65,000 homes and businesses woke up without power supply in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, according to the PowerOutage.us portal. “Tornadoes, some of which could be very strong, and potentially damaging winds will be the most impactful hazards,” said the National Weather Service. “Excessive rains, with pockets of storms, bring the threat of flash floods.” CHIEF jab/msc