Search and rescue efforts are underway in the Texas Panhandle town of Perryton, northeast of Amarillo. A tornado ripped across the community of 8,300, leaving widespread damage. A mobile home park reportedly took a direct hit. Emergency responders from throughout the area were rushing to the town to assist in search and rescue efforts. Officials report 3 people died and as many as 100 were hurt.
State Representative Four Price said, "please keep the Perryton community in your prayers. They were hit by a tornado & will need lots of help. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and Governor Abbott’s office are mobilizing resources right now."
Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to deploy state emergency response resources to meet urgent life-safety needs in Perryton, Texas, due to a tornado that has impacted the community.
“The State of Texas is swiftly deploying critical emergency response resources to provide all necessary support and assistance to protect Texans and help those impacted by tornadoes in Perryton,” said Governor Abbott. “I encourage all Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials and to take all necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones. We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event. I ask all Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for our fellow Texans who have been impacted by this horrific storm. Stay safe, Texas.”
The storm that hit Perryton was part of a larger system of storms that spawned tornadoes in Texas and Oklahoma.
At the Governor’s direction, TDEM has deployed the following state resources to support tornado response operations:
- Texas Department of Transportation: Road crews to support traffic control and monitor road conditions
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Public Works Response Team): Personnel and equipment to help restore water, wastewater and other utilities
- Texas A&M Forest Service: Saw Crews and Incident Management Teams
- Texas Department of State Health Services: Emergency Medical Task Force ambulance buses, ambulance strike teams
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Texas Task Force 2): Urban Search and Rescue teams
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Crews to monitor and respond to air, water and wastewater needs
- Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol