Tornado Hits Area

County and state emergency officers were searching the Silver Lake area Thursday after a tornado inflicted major damage throughout Van Zandt County on Wednesday.

Officials described the Silver Lake Area, just east of Grand Saline, as the hardest hit area in the county. At least four homes and a church were completely destroyed. Only minor injuries were reported Thursday morning.

The tornado also caused extensive damage to Canton, where more than 60 homes and businesses suffered damages.

Investigators at the scene included officers from Van Zandt County Sheriff’s office, Department of Public Safety and State Emergency Management team.

Strong thunderstorms came through Van Zandt County at 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, causing the National Weather Service in Fort Worth to issue a Tornado Warning sending residents to take cover.

Van Zandt County Emergency Management Coordinator Chuck Allen said late Wednesday night it was a tornado that hit the area.

Allen went on to say, "We have major damage in the northeast part of the county."

An aerial search was scheduled for early Thursday morning, with a press conference at 11 a.m.

Allen said there were multiple homes and a church destroyed.

The intersection of Interstate 20 and State Highway 19 was one of the areas in Canton heaviest hit by these storms as they touched ground.

Canton Public Information Officer Julie Seymore said Canton Fire Chief Charles Bazhaw authorized the civil defense sirens three times. Twice prior to the storm, when Canton was put under a Tornado Warning, and the other time after the tornado had touched down.

Seymore said as of Wednesday night no injuries were reported within the city limits of Canton.

One 18-wheeler overturned on the south service road to I-20. The Interstate was closed due to downed transmission lines and debris for several hours as crews worked to clear the lines.

Traffic was diverted from I-20 via State Highway 64 and Farm-to-Market 17.

"We were very lucky," Canton Mayor Rusty Wilson said. "This is the third time in three years that a tornado has hit Canton, and there were no injuries."

"We are very fortunate that it came down in one general location and we responded quickly," Wilson continued.

He went on to say that a city police officer and a city worker witnessed the storm come through and the tornado touched the ground.

In a press release from the city of Canton it stated that Chick’s Chevron was the most heavily damaged business in Canton. Other Canton businesses damaged include Juanita’s Restaurant, Two Senoritas Restaurant, Dairy Queen, Days Inn, Shell station, Circle K, and McDonald’s.

The American Red Cross, National Guard and local Department of Public Safety Trooper were called in to assist the Canton Fire Department and Canton Police Department.

Also on scene was the South Van Zandt Volunteer Fire Department Station 4 out of Canton, deputies from the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, and Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Ronnie Daniel.

Ben Wheeler and Whitton volunteer fire departments stood command at the Canton Fire Department.

"It was very quick response," Wilson said. "I would venture to say that by tomorrow this will all be cleared up."

Although power was out at the city sewer plant, an emergency generator was set to kick in and take over.

"There was not any interruption of services to our citizens," Wilson added.

There was a report of four homes heavily damaged in the Silver Lake area south of I-20 near FM 1255, however, as of press time there were no other details available.

Damage was also reported in Wynne Community, near Canton.

As of press time no injuries or deaths had been reported county-wide. See the Van Zandt News for more on this story.