Texas town declares emergency after tornado flips cars, shreds roofs in Temple
The highest threat of severe weather on Wednesday was centered across portions of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana – farther south than residents of communities decimated by the severe weather on Tuesday.
Significant damage reported in Texas after powerful storms rip through Belton, Temple
Cleanup efforts are underway in Belton and Temple in Texas after power storms ripped through the region on Wednesday causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.
TEMPLE, Texas – Significant damage was reported in Central Texas after an EF-2 ripped through the town of Temple on Wednesday, leaving a trail of destruction to homes and businesses that forced officials to declare an emergency and tell people to stay off roads.
A supercell thunderstorm with at least one tornado tore across the region around 6:30 p.m. local time, triggering Tornado Warnings that sent residents scrambling to get to safety.
Tornado damage reported in Central Texas
Significant damage was reported around Temple, Texas after a reported tornado struck the region on Wednesday.
Photos and videos from the impacted communities in Bell County, including the town of Belton, showed massive trees that had been blown over across roads, vehicles heavily damaged and flipped over, and numerous buildings that suffered significant damage and destroyed roofs.
Other videos showed utility poles that had been heavily damaged by the strong winds and power lines stretched across roads, while a manufactured building was seen leaning on its side after being blown off its foundation during the extreme weather.
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![Storm damage in Temple, Texas on 5/22/2024]()
Image 1 of 11Storm damage in Temple, Texas on 5/22/2024 ( )
![Storm damage in Temple, Texas on 5/22/2024]()
Image 2 of 11Storm damage in Temple, Texas on 5/22/2024 (Morgan Head)
![Storm damage in Temple, Texas on 5/22/2024]()
Image 3 of 11Storm damage in Temple, Texas on 5/22/2024 (Morgan Head)
![Storm damage in Temple, Texas on 5/22/2024]()
Image 4 of 11Storm damage in Temple, Texas on 5/22/2024 (Morgan Head)
![This photo shows a Public Works truck working to clear debris after a powerful thunderstorm in Belton, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.]()
Image 5 of 11This photo shows a Public Works truck working to clear debris after a powerful thunderstorm in Belton, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Belton, Texas - City Government / Facebook)
![This photo shows crews working to remove a massive tree that fell during a powerful thunderstorm in Belton, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.]()
Image 6 of 11This photo shows crews working to remove a massive tree that fell during a powerful thunderstorm in Belton, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Belton, Texas - City Government / Facebook)
![This photo shows a massive tree that was brought down across a road in Belton, Texas, during a powerful thunderstorm on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.]()
Image 7 of 11This photo shows a massive tree that was brought down across a road in Belton, Texas, during a powerful thunderstorm on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Belton, Texas - City Government / Facebook)
![This photo shows crews working to remove a massive tree that fell during a powerful thunderstorm in Belton, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.]()
Image 8 of 11This photo shows crews working to remove a massive tree that fell during a powerful thunderstorm in Belton, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Belton, Texas - City Government / Facebook)
![This photo shows a large tree brought down by a tornado in Temple, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.]()
Image 9 of 11This photo shows a large tree brought down by a tornado in Temple, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (@Steven8398/X)
![This photo shows the top of a light pole that was damaged by a tornado in Temple, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.]()
Image 10 of 11This photo shows the top of a light pole that was damaged by a tornado in Temple, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (@Steven8398/X)
![This photo shows a large tree brought down by a tornado in Temple, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.]()
Image 11 of 11This photo shows a large tree brought down by a tornado in Temple, Texas, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (@Steven8398/X)
Immediately after the storm, officials in Temple said they were working a flurry of emergency calls from residents, but so far no significant injuries or deaths have been reported.
"If you can stay home, please do so," officials said in a news release. "Some roads are dangerous, closed or impassible."
Significant damage was also reported in the town of Belton, southwest of Temple.
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Watch: Texas building lifted off foundation, utility poles toppled after tornado in Temple
Dramatic video from Temple in Texas showed the aftermath of a tornado that toppled utility poles, ripped the roofs off buildings and lifted structures off their foundations on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
"We are still assessing storm damage, but we know there are trees over multiple roads and widespread power outages," officials said in a Facebook post.
Photos showed crews working to remove storm debris left behind after the storm, as well as trees that had fallen over and were blocking roads.
As of Wednesday night, officials said they had removed more than a dozen trees that had been blocking roads and crews would continue to conduct cleanup efforts.