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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A fallen tree on top of a house at 822 Oak St. in Graham. Graham received 71 mph winds the morning of Thursday, April 3 which resulted in damage across the city. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A temporary stop sign placed Thursday, April 3 at the intersection of Elm Street and Second Street due to the streetlights being out. Power outages occurred across the city of Graham due to severe weather that blew through the area early in the morning. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A home at the corner of East Street and Second Street with a tree split down the middle. Trees and tree limbs are scattered throughout the city of Graham due to earl-morning storms. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A tree limb that fell near Open Door Christian School in Graham. Staff of ODCS and members of Oak Street Baptist Church helped to clean up debris in the area. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Uprooted trees in front of Woodland Elementary School that were impacted by the early-morning storm that blew through the area. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A fallen tree on top of a house at 822 Oak St. in Graham. Graham received 71 mph winds the morning of Thursday, April 3 which resulted in damage across the city. -
(DON GRAHAM | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) A metal roof blown off a building due to high winds that blew through the area in the morning of Thursday, April 3. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Trees down Cliff Drive near Woodland Elementary School that were impacted by a storm that blew through the area Thursday, April 3.
After wind, rain and hail blew through the area, city crews and first responders worked overnight and into the morning clearing roadways to ensure the safety of area residents.
First responders across the county responded to down power lines, trees, vehicle wrecks and will be continuing their efforts throughout the day.
“I appreciate all the efforts of Graham Fire Department, Graham Police Department and our local emergency management who quickly responded to the emergency, keeping the streets clear so emergency vehicles could get through. They did a great job,” Graham City Manager Eric Garretty said.
Graham Municipal Airport measured 71 mph wind gusts at 3:48 a.m. which caused trees and tree limbs to come crashing down across the city.
“We’ve had 25-plus reports of trees down across the city. We’ve cleared most of the roadways and then over the course of the next week we’ll be sending some of the crews around to pick up some of the debris,” Garretty said.
Debris from trees is scattered across the city with some homes and other property damaged by the early-morning severe weather.
“The only significant damage to structures we’ve heard of is there was a residence at 822 Oak St. that had a tree fall in the middle of the house,” Garretty said. “That person is being rehoused by neighbors and they will have to work on that through their insurance.”
Power outages also occurred across the city and streetlights down Elm Street were out in the morning. City crews had temporary stop signs placed at the intersections to regulate the flow of traffic while the lights were out.
“As far as power outages, there are some sporadic ones left, … but for the most part power is on,” Garretty said. “…There were a couple of traffic signals that were blown off their mount and TxDOT is aware of those and they’ll be working on those throughout the day.”
The National Weather Service said additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight into Friday, April 4. Possible hazards include large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
NWS said a final round of thunderstorms will hit the area Friday, April 4 into the morning of Saturday, April 5. Severe weather potentially hitting the area during this time is predicted to be heavy rain, damaging wind gusts, quarter-sized hail or greater or tornadoes.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management is looking for homes that sustained damage due to the storm. To report home damage, contact TDEM Young County Liaison Jarod Cook by text at 940-282-5270, or by email at jarod.cook@tdem.texas.gov.
