The Ellis County Press: Gone with the wind; Storm blows through, destroying counties

Gone with the wind; Storm blows through, destroying counties
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Megan Gray on 04/16/2011 12:18:00


ELLIS AND DALLAS COUNTY -  Straight line winds caused parts of the roof to fly
off the Comfort Suites in Waxahachie, located off Highway 77 and 287, early
Monday, April 11.
According to the National Weather Service, winds were estimated at 80 miles per
hour or more in some areas.
Around 1:30 a.m. city sirens started going off and local power outages were
reported across Ellis and Southern Dallas County.
Damages were reported throughout, leaving many local business signs and
buildings destroyed as well as homes.
In Lancaster, city hall was out of electric because of downed power lines on
Dallas Avenue until 6:05 p.m. according to Lancaster City Secretary Dolle Downe.
Students in Waxahachie were delayed going into school by two hours while Red Oak
Independent School District closed.
Winds causing damage to a church in Lancaster were estimated at 95 MPH according
to the latest data report from the NWS.
The same wave of storms netted four tornadoes, including ones in nearby Johnson
and Kaufman Counties.
No injuries or deaths have been reported.