Tornadoes late May 15 in north-central Texas damaged multiple homes, killing six people and injuring 100.

As many as 10 twisters touched down after nightfall on May 15 in Hood, Johnson, and Ellis counties, destroying homes, scattering trailers and throwing down softball-sized hail. According to local news sources, about 20,000 homes and businesses are still without power.

“April through June is the height of our storm season in Texas, and North Texas is located in tornado alley and the hail belt,” says Mark Hanna, spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas. “Just last year we had major hailstorms and tornados in April that caused $750 million in losses and another occurrence in June that cost $900 million. The Dallas-Fort Worth area continues to get pounded.”

The first sign on the oncoming storm was softball-size hail that fell around Mineral Wells the morning of May 15.

“Holy cow, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The hail could have been larger than softballs,” says Mark Wiley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Southern Region Headquarters in the city of Fort Worth, which dispatched ambulances to the affected townships.

Granbury, a city about 40 miles from Fort Worth, was the hardest-hit when a tornado touched down around 8 p.m., leaving behind six fatalities and reports of 14 missing people. Most of the destruction occurred in Rancho Brazos, a neighborhood subdivision built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers.

“Insurance adjusters will be trying to reach policyholders and providing them with additional living expense checks if their homes have been destroyed or unlivable,” says Hanna. “This will be a massive response because we're talking a very large area of destruction.”

A mile-wide twister tore through the nearby city of Cleburne, damaging roofs and houses but causing no confirmed deaths. Additional damage occurred in Ennis, where squalls of 70 mph winds tore through homes and infrastructure, and the small town of Millsap about 40 miles west of Fort Worth.

State Farm as of late May 16 says it has received 1,073 auto claims and 2,102 homeowner claims. The damages were caused by high wind and large hail concentrated in Granbury, Cleburne, and Mineral Wells.

The Insurance Council of Texas says that the timing of yesterday's night storms may have allowed people more flexibility to get to safety.

“People are probably more tuned in to their televisions and radios in the evenings, heeding weather warnings,” says Hana. “You can't see what's going on outside the window, but you are able to hunker down in a safe location in your home; it's also safer than having people out on the roadway during drive time.”

In 2012 there were 114 tornadoes in Texas, second only to Kansas, which experienced 145 twisters. According to data accumulated by the Insurance Infromation Institute, average insured losses from thunderstorms–including tornadoes–have increased sevenfold since 1980.

Special Reports /

Tornadoes Rip Through North Texas, Causing Extensive Damage

Related Stories

Recommended For You