Smith County Storms Update

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County first responders responded to over 1,000 911 calls since 7:30 p.m. on June 3. No storm-related fatalities have been reported, and emergency services are running at full strength according to a county news release. Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore reported 71,000 residents and businesses were without power in the county. Emergency calls included nine homes with trapped residents, one water rescue, multiple people trapped in vehicles due to power lines and/or downed trees, as well as multiple traffic lights out, he said.

The Smith County Road and Bridge Department is working on a list of Smith County roads that could have wash outs or downed trees.

The Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace and Constables Offices in Lindale are closed because of a power outage, however, the constables are still out working, Constable Wesley Hicks said.

The Heritage Building, which is serving as a polling location for the City of Tyler District 2 Council Runoff Election, is without power but the elections equipment is running off backup batteries. Lights are being brought in and Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon said she is trying to get a generator. People can still cast ballots there, but the process will be a bit slower. The Hub, at 304 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler, and Lanes Chapel Methodist Church, at 8720 Old Jacksonville Highway in Tyler, are also open for voting today.

Monday’s storms were the latest severe weather to hit the area and cause heavy damages over the past two weeks.

STORM DAMAGES BEFORE THE JUNE 3 SEVERE WEATHER EVENT

From the first major storm that blew through southern Smith County on May 23, followed by another that hit all of Smith County on May 28, and several smaller storms throughout last week, first responders were called out to more than 500 calls for service in Smith County. Smith County Engineer Frank Davis reported that 137 county roads were affected by the storms and his employees worked 1,665 hours in storm cleanup alone. More than 350 full trees were cut up and moved off county roads.

On Monday, Road and Bridge crews had begun picking up debris left on county road rights of way and in ditches, he said.
The first severe weather hit late on May 23, starting as an EF1 tornado in Henderson County, and was downgraded to straight-line winds after jumping over Lake Palestine. Winds reached highs of 70 mph in the southern Smith County area, including Bullard and Emerald Bay.

A shelter was temporarily opened, and Smith County Judge Neal Franklin issued a Disaster Declaration on Friday, May 24.

As many people in southern Smith County were still cleaning up after the May 23 storm, more severe weather hit all over the county on Tuesday, May 28. This storm resulted in more people being left without power and trees on their property and roads. At the very peak of electrical outages, there were an estimated 55,000 individuals in Smith County without power.

Following extensive surveys, an estimated 23 homes in Smith County received serious structural damage or were destroyed.

Initially, more than 40 county roads were covered with trees down after the May 28 storms, many that brought power lines along with them. Again, Road and Bridge crews worked to clear the roads enough so people could drive them.

Oncor, SWEPCO and other electrical providers worked countless hours as well to clear powerlines from trees and restore power.

County Road 381, which runs southeast of U.S. Highway 271, is closed just south of the railroad crossing because of a wash out, Davis reported. He said it would take about three weeks, depending on the weather, to replace the culvert.

County Road 498, just east of CR 431, will remain closed for about three weeks while two culverts that were undermined by the storms can be replaced.

Power outages in the Arp area caused brief water outages for citizens. Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2 distributed bottled water from their Arp Fire Station for citizens, as well as non-potable water.

Storms have continued throughout the week and weekend, resulting in more power outages as others had just been restored.

“I personally witnessed many neighbors helping neighbors,” Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said.

He thanked responders from the following organizations: Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Smith County Constable’s Offices, Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office, Emergency Service Districts No. 1 and No. 2, EMS, multiple municipal law enforcement and fire departments, Smith County telecommunicators (dispatch), the International ALERT Academy, Smith County Road and Bridge, Smith County Emergency Management, Oncor and countless volunteer groups and individuals.

A group of 30 volunteers from the International ALERT Academy came to Smith County on May 30, a day before they were set to graduate from the academy, to help clean up trees for residents who did not have the means to clear them on their own.

Smith County Emergency Management has asked that anyone sustaining storm damage during the past two weeks, please submit those damages to Texas Division of Emergency Management: click here.

If you reside on a Smith County road and have trees down due to the storms, Smith County Road and Bridge can assist you by hauling off only the tree refuse, (no structural lumber, roofing or metal). They cannot go onto private property so you must move the tree material that is cut into manageable sizes into the Smith County road right of way. Please be patient as it will take a considerable amount of time to pick up all the material throughout the county.

Smith County recently launched an interactive map that lists all Smith County road closures. You can find up-to-date road closures by visiting http://www.smith-county.com and clicking on “County Road and Office Closures” under Citizen Resources.