Mineral Wells gives update about storm damage; praises employers

A powerful storm and tornado left five people injured and dozens of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed.

Authorities in Mineral Wells provided an update on the devastation caused by an EF-3 tornado that ripped through the community Tuesday afternoon.

The powerful storm left five people injured and dozens of homes and businesses damaged or destroyed.

Fire Chief Ryan Dunn began with the good news.

"We've had no other reported injuries in the impact zone and as well, we've seen a lot of good productivity from Encore," Dunn said.

The EF-3 tornado carved a path of destruction at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday, damaging or destroying 132 homes and businesses in all.

The latest survey shows that nine homes are a total loss and 12 others have major damage, according to the city.

The hardest hit areas include: the Holiday Hills Country Club estates and the industrial area of Fort Walters, where authorities say 14 commercial buildings were decimated and dozens of others were damaged.

"I'm in awe of this community," said Mayor Regan Johnson on Thursday, praising both the outpouring of support and those who almost certainly saved lives.

The mayor pointed to Ventamatic, a ventilation manufacturer that employs 130 people.

"I was immediately gut wrenched knowing we have people and employers out there," she said, thinking back to Tuesday afternoon and becoming emotional. "Well, what we have since found out is that employer was weather aware. That employer sent that shift home early and delayed the second shift. I mean, true, true lifesaver there for this community."

As far as the five people who were hurt, officials are only saying that none of the injuries is critical.

As the cleanup continues, police remind the public that a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. is still in effect for areas of devastation where only volunteers and clean-up crews are being allowed.

"We've also had some reports of, you have some solicitors that are already going into the neighborhoods and, you know, trying to make contact with homeowners. We are not gonna be issuing out any solicitor permits right now," said Police Chief Tim Denison.

City leaders are asking that donation items go through the Mineral Wells Center of Life.

The American Red Cross is also set up at First Baptist Church in town.

Volunteers are asked to go through the Steve Perdue Memorial Training Center downtown rather than "self deploy" in affected areas.