At least two people are dead and at least 20 families have been displaced after tornadoes destroyed homes in northern Texas on Saturday night, authorities said Sunday. The storms struck the towns of Runaway Bay in Wise County and Springtown in Parker County, both located roughly 30 to 45 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 135 mph touched down in the Runaway Bay area around 10 p.m. Saturday. An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph was confirmed in Springtown. The slow-moving supercell traveled southeast from near Wichita Falls, near the Oklahoma border, passing just west of Fort Worth.
What the Left Is Saying
Wise County Judge J.D. Clark, the county's chief executive, said emergency responders worked to clear debris to reach damaged homes and provide medical care where needed. "Access has been difficult due to blocked roadways and downed utilities, but crews have continued pushing forward to reach those in need," Clark said.
Parker County Assistant Fire Chief David Pruitt described significant damage south of Springtown's city limits and noted that widespread power outages were affecting many residents. The storm also prompted radar detection of a "potentially large and extremely dangerous" tornado near Azle at 10:14 p.m., about 10 miles southeast of Springtown.
Community advocates emphasized the need for coordinated emergency response resources and long-term recovery support for displaced families, noting that 20 families facing major home damage will require sustained assistance beyond initial rescue operations.
What the Right Is Saying
Local officials highlighted the resilience of affected communities in coming together during the immediate aftermath. Representatives from both counties stressed the importance of local control in disaster response, with county-level emergency management taking the lead role in coordinating search and rescue efforts.
Residents in both communities described the sudden onset of the storm and the rapid spread of damage through their neighborhoods. The confirmed EF-2 and EF-1 ratings indicated moderate tornado strength on the Enhanced Fujita scale, consistent with damage patterns that destroyed some homes while leaving others structurally intact.
What the Numbers Show
The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes: an EF-2 (135 mph peak winds) in Runaway Bay and an EF-1 (105 mph peak winds) in Springtown. The EF scale rates tornado intensity from EF0 to EF5, with EF-2 classified as "strong" causing considerable damage.
At least 20 families have been displaced due to major home damage across both communities. Emergency officials reported widespread power outages affecting residents in the affected areas. Runaway Bay is located approximately 45 miles northwest of Fort Worth on Lake Bridgeport; Springtown sits about 30 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
The Bottom Line
Search and rescue operations continue as crews clear blocked roadways and downed utility lines to reach all damaged properties. Both counties are coordinating emergency response while assessing the full extent of destruction. Officials have not yet released identities of those killed in the storm. Residents displaced by the tornadoes will need temporary housing and long-term recovery assistance as damage assessments continue in the coming days.