Crews Work To Clear Roads, Restore Power

Van Zandt County Precinct 1 Commissioner Ricky LaPrade joined numerous other law enforcement and emergency officials Thursday morning in continuing work in the Silver Lake area after Wednesday’s tornado damage.

Although damage to homes and property was extensive in that corner of the county, LaPrade said he knows the situation could have been much worse.

"There was one house (on Farm-to-Market Road 1255) where, someone told me this morning, some people had been taken to the hospital," he said. "But that was all the major injuries from it as far as I know and we have no deaths to report.

"We were very fortunate in that sense, I guarantee you," LaPrade added.

The commissioner said he feels fortunate in another way — great assistance provided by local residents as well as officials from other parts of the county.

"I was just fascinated by the number of volunteers we had last night," LaPrade said. "Precinct 4 helped us a lot, sending six or seven guys, and we had citizens with their chainsaws cutting trees and helping us clear some of these roads.

"Van and Edgewood volunteer fire departments came over…we had all kinds of help," he added.

It was welcome assistance, he noted, as Precinct 1 Road and Bridge personnel worked "until the wee hours of the morning" Thursday trying to clear paths for emergency and utility crews to get where they needed to be.

"Most times, something like this happens after dark, and you can’t see very good. It is a lot different when you have some sunlight, but during the night you’ve got to be careful because there are usually power lines down everywhere," he said.

"There has been a large crew working at Silver Lake, trying to repair power lines there but they couldn’t get them all last night. There were just so many trees down," LaPrade continued. "We’ve been working getting those cleared out so the electric providers could get to their power lines and get them back up."

He estimated that most of the area would have electrical service restored by Thursday night, but noted that two county roads — 1703 and 1708 — remained impassible due to fallen trees and debris. Van Zandt County Road 1605 was also among the worst in terms of damage.

LaPrade also said the storm destroyed the former Starr Community Church building on Van Zandt County Road 1215, northeast of Canton. The building was still being used as a community center, he said.

"It was strong enough to blow down the chain link fence over on the front and back of the cemetery," LaPrade said.

On Thursday, Grand Saline ISD Superintendent Mark Keahey said although none of the school buildings or facilities were damaged in the storm, he did know of Grand Saline students whose homes were damaged.

Keahey said in traumatic situations such as a tornado, individuals, groups or school organizations will often step in to provide some type of assistance.

"Our counselors can help families, and our organizations within schools may come together to collect clothing, food or whatever is needed," he said.

Keahey and other school officials were out in the hardest hit parts of the district assessing the roads on school bus routes.

"I knew there were roads that were impassible and had to find out what we could do to provide transportation to and from school for today. We had to determine if we were going to have to modify some bus routes," he said.

As it turned out, only one route needed alteration and classes began at their usual time Thursday.

"As families have called in with concerns, we have told them, if we can’t get a bus to you, just get the kids here as quickly as you can. We will understand," Keahey said.

Kevin Davis, a public affairs officer with State Farm Insurance, said Wednesday’s tornado-producing storm had resulted in 167 homeowner claims and 133 automobile claims throughout Northeast Texas as of noon Thursday. He said he expected those numbers to increase.

LaPrade said he was receiving phone calls early Thursday from people wanting to make donations to assist those displaced by the storm.

The commissioner said a command center at the Van Zandt County Fairgrounds was established Wednesday night and that an organized relief effort may be in the works.