Authorities warn death toll could rise as rubble searched About 100 people injured as homes destroyed trees uprooted Three separate tornadoes strike near Dallas Fort Worth By Marice Richter DALLAS May 16 (Reuters) At least six people were killed and 100 injured when tornadoes ripped through north central Texas after dark and authorities said the death toll could rise as rescuers search through the rubble of destroyed homes. At least three twisters were confirmed to have struck on Wednesday night the deadliest tornadoes to hit the United States so far this year destroying homes and uprooting trees. The worst damage was reported in Granbury a town of 8 000 people about 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Dallas Fort Worth. Granbury Mayor Pro Tem Nin Hulett told ABC News on Thursday that the top priority is to try to get the people that are out there in the community under a shelter somewhere and to account for the missing. Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds said 14 people remained unaccounted for as rescue workers searched houses. I've had information that people were found in homes they were hard hit those homes. I've been told (they) were collapsed destroyed as they were probably hit by flying debris Deeds told CNN. Hulett said authorities did expect to find people trapped in their homes. All six of the people confirmed killed were found in Rancho Brazos a neighborhood of around 110 mostly single family homes on the fringe of Granbury that bore the brunt of the winds Deeds said. Power lines were down homes were heavily damaged to destroyed and the roads were blocked with debris Deeds said. Bulldozers were clearing roads so people could be moved out of their houses. Matt Zavadsky a spokesman for MedStar Mobile Healthcare an agency that provides ambulance service to the region said about 100 people were injured in the Granbury twister. There was no immediate estimate for the extent of property damage but Sheriff's Lieutenant Kathy Jividen said a number of homes were destroyed and trees downed.
TORNADO SEASON The tornado season in the United States typically starts in the Gulf Coast states in the late winter and then moves north with the warming weather peaking around May and trailing off by July. Several deadly tornadoes have struck in recent years. In March 2012 at least 39 people were killed in a chain of tornadoes from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico. The following month at least six people were killed by a twister in an Oklahoma town during a weekend outbreak of dozens of twisters across the Great Plains. In May 2011 a massive tornado struck Joplin Missouri killing 161 people and damaging or destroying 7 500 homes. On Thursday the Hood County Sheriff Deeds said a very big percentage of the homes in Rancho Brazos were devastated. About 90 people were cleared from the area on buses to a school and then to relocation centers. In Granbury Pastor Dean Porter of Lake Granbury Christian Temple told Dallas/Fort Worth ABC affiliate WFAA that looking out the front porch of his church at the parking lot he began to see what looked to be a circular formation and he ran back inside. This particular night is not like anything that I've ever seen Porter told the station. Properties were damaged but no one was injured in nearby Parker County bordering Hood County Parker County Judge Mark Riley said. (Additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington and Paul Thomasch in New York Writing by Scott Malone)
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Loading SlideshowIn this photo provided by Cathy Pasquariello a storm cloud approaches Ocean City Md. on Thursday Sept. 15 2011. The National Weather Service is looking into reports of a tornado in Ocean City. Rick Curry NWS observation program leader in Wakefield Va. says there have been unconfirmed reports of a tornado and wind damage near 75th Street on Thursday afternoon. He says a storm was moving through the area at the time. Fire department spokesman Ryan Whittington says buildings and multiple vehicles were damaged in the 75th Street area but no major injuries were reported. He says town officials are working with NWS to determine what kind of weather event caused the damage. (AP Photo/Cathy Pasquariello)
Alabama Severe WeatherA funnel cloud appears in the distance in Level Plains Ala. near U.S. Highway 84 and Dale County Road 1 Sunday June 10 2012. The area was under a tornado warning until 12 15 p.m. There is no official word of any injuries. (AP Photo/Dothan Eagle Max Oden)
In this photo provided by Gothamist dark clouds loom over the skyline Saturday Sept. 8 2012 in New York. Two tornadoes struck New York City on Saturday one swept out of the sea and hit a beachfront neighborhood and the second stronger twister hit moments later hurling debris in the air knocking out power and startling residents who once thought of twisters as a Midwestern phenomenon. (AP Photo/Gothamist Jake Dobkin) MANDATORY CREDIT
This photo provided by Joey Mure shows a storm cloud over the Breezy Point area of Queens section of New York on Saturday Sept. 8 2012. A Fire Department spokesman said there were power lines down and possibly other damage in the Point Breeze section of the Rockaway peninsula in Queens. The general manager of the Breezy Point Surf Club tells the Associated Press the storm ripped up cabanas and even picked up industrial sized metal trash bins. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Queens and Brooklyn as a line of strong thunderstorms moved through the city. The service said radar detected a strong rotation in the storm but there was no immediate confirmation that a twister actually formed. (AP Photo/Joey Mure)
Storm clouds move over west of Palmyra Ind. Friday Mar. 2 2012 Powerful storms stretching from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes in the north wrecked two small towns killed at least three people and bred anxiety across a wide swath of the country on Friday in the second deadly tornado outbreak this week. (AP Photo/The Courier Journal David Lee Hartlage) MAGS OUT NO ARCHIVE MANDATORY CREDIT
This photo provided by Michael Abrams shows a storm cloud over the Breezy Point area of Queens section of New York on Saturday Sept. 8 2012. A Fire Department spokesman said there were power lines down and possibly other damage in the Point Breeze section of the Rockaway peninsula in Queens. The general manager of the Breezy Point Surf Club tells the Associated Press the storm ripped up cabanas and even picked up industrial sized metal trash bins. The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Queens and Brooklyn as a line of strong thunderstorms moved through the city. The service said radar detected a strong rotation in the storm but there was no immediate confirmation that a twister actually formed. (AP Photo/Michael Abrams) MANDATORY CREDIT
Texas Tornado WeatherThreatening clouds continue to move through southern Tarrant and Dallas counties after a tornado swept through Lancaster Texas on Tuesday April 3 2012. Tornadoes tore through the Dallas area Tuesday peeling roofs off homes tossing big rig trucks into the air and leaving flattened tractor trailers strewn along highways and parking lots. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star Telegram Ron Ennis) MAGS OUT
Texas WeatherLightning streaks across the sky in Tyler Texas as a powerful line of thunderstorms several spawning tornados moved across Texas Tuesday evening April 3 2012. (AP Photo/Dr. Scott M. Lieberman)
A Thursday June 7 2012 photo provided by Andrew Kniss shows a funnel cloud seen from Kniss's car on Highway 34 near Wheatland Wyoming. The rare quarter mile wide tornado cut a swath across mainly open country in southeastern Wyoming damaging homes derailing empty train cars and leaving one person with minor injuries officials said. The twister was part of a powerful storm system that rolled through parts of Colorado and Wyoming Thursday afternoon and evening packing heavy rains high winds and hail. (AP Photo/Andrew Kniss)
A funnel cloud dips down from the clouds on Saturday April 14 2012 just southwest of Otis Kansas as severe thunderstorms roll across Kansas. The funnel touched down briefly before the storm weakened. Supercell thunderstorms spawned numerous tornadoes in Kansas on Saturday. (AP Photo/The Hays Daily News Steven Hausler)
A funnel cloud begins to form over the Canebrake Subdivision of Athens Ala. Friday March 2 2012. Homes were damaged and utilities were interrupted when several suspected tornadoes struck Limestone County Friday morning. (AP Photo/Chris Simmons Athens Fire and Rescue Dept.)
A funnel cloud is seen Monday Nov. 7 2011 near Tipton Okla. Officials say an agriculture office was destroyed and other buildings damaged as tornadoes touched down in southwestern Oklahoma Monday. Tornadoes are most prevalent in Oklahoma in the spring but the state has a secondary severe weather season in autumn. (AP Photo/The Frederick Leader Jennifer Grice) MANDATORY CREDIT
Also On The Huffington Post...Check out this amazing video of a tornado touching down in Northern California. The twister hit on Tuesday in Tehama County just south of Redding bringing lightning and large hail. The tornado reportedly tore the roof off one home. There were reports of two other tornadoes one in Richfield and the other east of the I 5 between Corning and Red Bluff. Fortunately the extreme weather is not being blamed for any injuries.
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