Storms tear through Grayson County
Storms tear through Grayson County Save Email Print
Posted: 2:39 AM Dec 9, 2008
Last Updated: 6:06 PM Dec 9, 2008
Reporter: KXII Staff
Email Address: firstnews@kxii.com

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GRAYSON COUNTY, Tex. -- Strong storms, even a possible tornado, rolled through Grayson County Monday night into Tuesday morning, leaving one person injured and dozens of homes and businesses damaged.

Over 25 houses in rural southern Grayson and somewhere between 20 and 30 houses in Denison have reported damage.

No fatalities have been reported.

One person was taken to Wilson N. Jones Medical Center in Sherman for minor injuries, where they were treated and released. Officials at WNJ say that man was the lone patient injured in the storms they treated.

To the north in Denison, officials at Texoma Medical Center say they no not treated any patients injured during Monday night's severe weather.

In Southern Grayson County

According to Lieutenant David Hawley with the Grayson County Sheriff's Office, multiple houses were hit at FM 902 and Graham Grove Road near Gunter. Lt. Hawley says chimneys were knocked off roofs at Gibbons Road near Southmayd.

Ken Smith with the Tioga Fire Department confirms there was a structural collapse on Boren Road.

Collinsville Assistant Fire Chief Damon Stewart says the damage in his district began around Jones Road, and the path of the storm worked its way through the eastern side of Collinsville across and into Southmayd.

Stewart says now 28 houses have been damaged, and three houses have been completely leveled. One person was treated for minor injuries.

Stewart says officials have set up a "safe place" at the community building. Some 20 people out of the 17 homes that were damaged are staying with neighbors.

We're told there was no damage to the school in Collinsville, and that all roads are passable. Classes should go on as usual Tuesday.

FM 902 east of Collinsville at the intersection of FM 901 was closed overnight, due to downed power lines, but has since reopened.

In Denison

Denison was one of the areas hardest hit by the storm, as the storms moved on north.

The storms rolled through the south and southwest parts of Denison, and left power lines down, and over 4,500 people without power for most of Monday night.

One of the hardest hit area was at Woodlawn and Armstrong at Champion Coolers near Denison High School. Both Champion Coolers and the old Sher/Den Bowling Alley on Woodlawn sustained extensive damage. The storm scattered debris over Scullin Avenue and Brock Street, and downed power lines shut down Armstrong from Brock on south to Scullin. A house on nearby Bullock Street was completely destroyed.

Downed power lines on Rusk just south of the Denison ISD Administration Building had an intersection there blocked off as well Monday night.

Another area hit hard was the Park Avenue neighborhood, where a house at Deer Run and Park Avenue was completely destroyed.

Just down the road, Truth Tabernacle Church off U.S. 75 at Loy Lake Road also sustained extensive structural damage. We've received reports of downed power lines near this area as well, and one church member says the church's steeple is visibly bent.

Other areas in Denison reporting damage were North Loy Lake Road behind Wesley Village and near Caprice Street.

Many traffic lights were out from Heron Street on south on Austin Avenue toward Spur 503 and on Texoma Parkway from Denison on further south to FM 691, but those lights were back on and power was restored by early Tuesday morning for the majority of that area.

The area affected near Champion Cooler borders Denison High School. Denison ISD Superintendent Dr. Henry Scott said on First News AM that all classes are to go on as scheduled Tuesday at all Denison ISD schools.

Denison Police Lt. Mike Eppler said most power had been restored in Denison around 6:30 Tuesday morning.

Sharon Watson with the Grayson County Red Cross says the Red Cross will be out helping those affected by the storms Tuesday morning. They are advising people right now to stay in their homes if they can, saying it is not safe to get out.

Contact the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office if you need emergency assistance.

ROAD CLOSURES
-In Denison:
*Park Avenue
*Highland
*Loy Lake Road
*Acheson

TIPS AND INFORMATION

-If you encounter a traffic light that is not functioning, treat it as a 4-way stop. Use extreme caution in areas of low to no visibility.

-If you encounter a downed power line, DO NOT GO NEAR IT. Call your local police department and have them get the proper crews there to take care of it.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Grayson County Sheriff's Office: 903-893-4388
Grayson County American Red Cross: 903-465-1330
Denison Police Department: 903-465-2422
American Red Cross: 1-800-RED-CROSS

5 Storm Recovery Tips from Allstate

1. Make sure your home is structurally safe. Be extremely careful inside your home. Debris may be hazardous and the potential for collapse may exist. If you’re told by authorities to stay out, stay out.

2. Make emergency, temporary repairs. Take steps to prevent further damage, such as putting sheets of plastic over broken windows or holes in the roof. Do the same for your car’s broken windows. Clean out glass from the car’s interior to prevent cuts in the upholstery and fabric.

3. Inventory your home for damaged or lost items before your adjustor arrives. This will speed up your claim process.

4. Report your claim to your insurance company promptly. Be aware, if a widespread disaster has occurred, the company may set up special procedures. Prepare to file an insurance claim by gathering all relevant policy numbers.

5. Be patient and assist claims adjusters assigned to your case. Small losses may be settled quickly; extensive claims may take longer

On the Web:

Grayson County Office of Emergency Management

American Red Cross

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Posted by: GivemeaBreak Location: Pottsboro on Jan 1, 2009 at 08:36 AM
In a storm where power lines are being torn down and phone service might be interrupted... you can't count on TV warnings and "phone emergency calls". A siren should sound to warn citizens. Three years not working?!!!! Hello!!!!

Posted by: Erick Gent Location: Denison on Dec 15, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Jesse...come on...Champion Cooler may not be a landmark, but is one of Denison's oldest industries (50 years, I beleive). When other companies have pulled out, Champion has expanded creating new jobs and they are doing it again. As for the "old" high school, how many jobs did it provide? None...until the demolition crew came to town! :o) It is time to get over it and move on to something a little more constructive. As for complaining about the lot being empty...the City has made numerous attempts to but businesses there, but you and the other 1,100 bleeding hearts do everything you can to make sure that doesn't happen. I guess it will be up to my kids to take care of it after you are long gone.

Posted by: leith Location: denison on Dec 10, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Well if you have lived on Denison for any period of time you know how slow it is for City Of Denison to fix anything.

Posted by: resident Location: denison on Dec 10, 2008 at 12:38 PM
i agree that the sirens should have gone off too but the sirens are to warn and protect people. no one in the area was injured. the damages that occured would have happened whether the sirens went off or not. the siren is not going to save your house. we should be happy no one was hurt and pray for those rebuilding today instead of tearing down the city. come on people people need our help today. if you can't look past the siren problem and help out.....move! i'm confident that the city will repair the siren system and we will be much better off with out you

Posted by: dustin Location: denison on Dec 10, 2008 at 12:28 AM
i can't believe Denison's sirens don't work. i mean doesn't the city realize that a phone call system won't always work either. if a utility pole goes down that takes out phone cable and power. The people of Denison have always relied on the sirens. i hope this is a wake up call to the city before something worse happens.

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 9, 2008 at 07:51 PM
Outside Lookin In, get a life, if the electricity goes out you have no way of knowing if a tornados going to hit or not, Denison sirens should have went off, I know one thing I am glad I don't live there

Posted by: Hunter on Dec 9, 2008 at 06:47 PM
look i used to live in denison. i read all these comments i agree why dont we just fix the sirens i go down there every summer why dont u just fix them.Down here in wewoka they test ours every wendsday. and last year there was a tornado and the sirens went off.WEEEEEEEWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO they went and in wewoka there are more cellars and basements in houses than in denison even though denison is 1000x bigger than wewoka.and thanks to the sirens no one got injured or Died! cause i swear if i go down there and theres a tornado and some one i love dies im gonna Sue ur ***. then imm kill ya. why did they tear down the old hs?that was a historical landmark if u didnt notice. people could have got a injunction...

Posted by: Jesse Location: West Walker on Dec 9, 2008 at 06:16 PM
How can ya'll call Champion Cooler one of Denisons Greatest Landmarks, When One the rthe greatest Land marks in Denison was torn down Monthes ago. Champion Coolers is nothing but a metal building that wil never add up to what the schoolo was.

Posted by: Sharon Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Where the hell were the sirens!!!! Thank God there were no lives lost because we had no warning !!!!

Posted by: STUPIDISASSTUPIDDOES on Dec 9, 2008 at 03:59 PM
THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO UPDATE THE STORM SIRENS BECAUSE THEY SPENT ALL THEIR MONEY TEARING DOWN THE OLD HIGH SCHOOL SO WE COULD HAVE A VACANT LOT!

Posted by: Sat Location: denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 02:48 PM
I have to say i am very impressed with the denison P.D and kxii they we awsome KXII was right on top of the storm info and the police actualy checked on every person in my block thanks guys that takes a lot of effort.

Posted by: County Resident on Dec 9, 2008 at 02:46 PM
First off, sirens are to warn people that are outside. Denison has Code Red that will call you. Are you registered for Code Red?? Check and see. You can register on the website. As for the Emergency Management Coordinator for the County. She was here working all night and is still working today. She has done ten times the work that the last Emergency Management Coordinator ever thought about doing.

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 9, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Thanks Leroy, you get that nader good!

Posted by: Tex Location: Pottsborro on Dec 9, 2008 at 01:19 PM
This is exactly why it is important to watch your local news. I live in Pottsbor and the sirens went off there last night. Why if someone makes mopre money than you do you say they are overpaid? This makes me so mad that people complain when someone makes more money than them. Hey Jane why dont you run for the position instead of gripping about them? Quit complaining and do something

Posted by: Leroy Location: Out There> on Dec 9, 2008 at 01:17 PM
I saw that ol' nasty nader. I grabbed my lariat rope, twirled it a few times and snagged that booger good. But right when I went to dally off to a nce post, the dang post broke right in half! Sorry 'bout that people. I was only wearing my underwear, didn't even have time to get my boots on. I'll try real hard, to do better next time.

Posted by: J Location: DENISON on Dec 9, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Need to ask where did all the Federal disaster management grant money go, that the city (and county) has been awarded in the past few years....was it spent on a disaster plan????

Posted by: Zyklon B Location: Sherman on Dec 9, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Wish this website had pictures with its stories.

Posted by: One Who Knows Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 12:53 PM
The Sirens have not worked for over 3 years in Denison. Have you not noticed that they are not tested on the first Wednesday of each month????? I suggest you talk with your city manager and elected officials about why the new sirens have been taken out of the budget for the last 2 years. The sirens are old & outdated and parts are not available for them. NONE of them work. The main controller is even missing that sets them off from the Fire Station. This can be verified by going to Central Fire Station and look in the dispatch office or even better just ask the chief.

Posted by: Jane Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 12:35 PM
We ask about our Sirens, how about our over paid county emergency coordinator, why didn't she do her job to make sure the citizens of the county are taken care of and the same for our beloved Judge!

Posted by: WHAT?? Location: Here on Dec 9, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Mr. Responsibility, what happened to the CITY having responsibility????

Posted by: cheryl Location: north of Loy Lake Park on Dec 9, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Why is the news still not saying it was a torradoe? Cause no sirens and warnings went off? I know what I saw was a twister right over spur 503.

Posted by: OUTSIDE LOOKIN IN Location: GRAYSON on Dec 9, 2008 at 12:23 PM
DON'T BLAME DENISON FOR THIS. JUST WAITING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP YOU OUT I SEE. WATCH THE WEATHER OR LISTEN TO THE RADIO. THEY SAID ALL DAY IT WAS GOING TO BE A BUMPY NIGHT. COME ON PEOPLE.

Posted by: EAS ch31 stinks Location: Sherman on Dec 9, 2008 at 11:53 AM
First of all, I wish cableone would bag channel 31 already. The radar is never up to date, and the EAS system SUCKS. The radar is about 15 minutes behind. Lost night it was frozen on a sweep from hours earlier. They need to change this system to send us to LOCAL STATIONS ALREADY. I'm tired of dealing with Severe Weather and being forced to watch ch. 31 that offers NOTHING. I've addressed this to TCOG's and got no real answer. Second, Jim Cantore on the Weather Channel talked about the severe storm entering Grayson County showing ROTATION 10 minutes BEFORE local stations said anything. Also I'd like to know why our local meteorologists at both local stations weren't showing the upper and lower wind sheer markers??

Posted by: responsibility on Dec 9, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Might be a good time for folks to invest in a weather radio! You can get one of these that will wake you up and warn you immediately!

Posted by: Sheri H Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Where are all of the sirens located throughout the Denison area? And why even if you weren't totally sure of an actual tornado were we not warned of the danger coming right at us!!

Posted by: Eddie Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 11:29 AM
In Denison damage was done south of us, west of us, and east of us last night and NO sirens went off? WHAT happened ???

Posted by: Opinionated Location: Ardmore on Dec 9, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Some times, they do not sound the sirens to keep people from going out into the storm. Lots of people do it. And as stated on KXII, only the National Weather Service can "oficially" declare it a tornado. And Kathy, just how often have you seen the after affects of straight line winds? Instead of you people always nitpicking what the station reports, just be glad no one was killed. And if you don't like this station so much, then why do you keep watching?

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 9, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Yea good, job Denison, its good to know that we can count on you when we need you in an emergency! In case you didnt get it I was being really Sarcastic!!!

Posted by: Sunni Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 11:07 AM
I live on mirick by the high school 2 blocks from where this all happen. Well the lights went out then it got very quite and still outside then you hear a train sound. We were very luck it didnt come to blocks over.

Posted by: denisonsirens? Location: duhduhdenison on Dec 9, 2008 at 10:55 AM
no sirens, thanx denison for warning us and keeping us safe

Posted by: Former Resident of Denison Location: OKC on Dec 9, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Denison's Tornado alarms SUCK. Our here's in OKC sound EVERY Saturday at 12pm JUST TO MAKE SURE they work. Denison is not that far from here, and the Red River Valley is not out of tornado alley... Denison needs to get with the program and update their stuff!!!

Posted by: straight Location: Texas on Dec 9, 2008 at 10:12 AM
I was in a bad storm with straight lines winds before. You would be surprised what they can do. I was in Waxahachie in the spring 1999 when that happened, we thought it was a tornado but it was not........ I did not know anything was going on last night until I turned to your station...Thanks!!

Posted by: Leanne Location: Gainesville on Dec 9, 2008 at 10:08 AM
My grandparents used to live on the corner of Brock & Bullock. I sure would hate to know that the house full of memories is gone.......The best thing is that no one was seriously injured.

Posted by: Dan Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 10:01 AM
My Girlfriend drove into this storm on her way home@ Woodlawn And Armstrong. She helped a couple who's car had power lines on top of it. She told me that she seen the funnel as it crossed over.

Posted by: me Location: Sherman on Dec 9, 2008 at 09:57 AM
I had the same questions as "leith" posted from Denison at 7:39am, why didn't any sirens go off, does there have to be a "visible" tornado first? I thought that a "tornado warning" meant just that? KXII, any information on this would be great, please help.

Posted by: JT Location: Texoma on Dec 9, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Why did the sirens not sound in Denison? The storm was not a surprise. They had been tracking it way before it hit Denison.

Posted by: cheryl Location: north of loy lake park and the the fairgrounds on Dec 9, 2008 at 09:29 AM
I didn't have time to take a picture but I saw the funnel cloud, every time it would lightninhg. It was southeast of me, over spur 503 area.

Posted by: Amy Location: sherman on Dec 9, 2008 at 09:20 AM
I have first alert on my computer the tornado warning came across my computer and thats what got my attention.I watched live doppler I suggest if you dont have it get it Its worth it. Thanks for having that. and Thank you KXII you did a great job with such little time to work with.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: denison, tx. on Dec 9, 2008 at 09:05 AM
I live on Loy Lake road in Denison and there is a weather alarm system half a block from my home...it never went off. I have a friend that lives off Park St. and her house was damaged by the tornado and homes surrounding her neighborhood were completely damaged. Please we need to put this alarm system to use. It's there!

Posted by: Dan Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 08:26 AM
So much for our storm warning sirens. Did anybody here one sound the alarm? I live in Northwest Denison so maybe this area didn't have one sound, but apparently neither did any one else.

Posted by: Zyklon B Location: Sherman on Dec 9, 2008 at 08:25 AM
I hope the hotties I know in Collinsville are okay.

Posted by: wayne Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 08:16 AM
I Just want to thank the entire KXII team for a job well done. you were all on top of the game,I live on mogan in denison just blocks from were the storm hit but thanks to you I was able to take steps to protect my family. I feel safer knowing that your there for me in times like this. thank you.

Posted by: jennifer Location: soythmayd on Dec 9, 2008 at 08:08 AM
I live about a quarter mile east of Hwy 289 and 56. We experienced heavy rain and lightning, but nothing like a tornado or straight line winds. We were very lucky, but we were really watching the sky and tree movement.

Posted by: Anon Location: Denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 08:07 AM
There are lines down, traffic signs flattened and billboards damaged as well as a fireworks stand blown over between Grayson College and FM 131.

Posted by: leith Location: denison on Dec 9, 2008 at 07:39 AM
I have a quick ? If their was a possible tornado why didn't sirens sound here in denison. Does there have to be a visible confirmation before they can sound them? I have 2 tracker programs that i use. Storm predator and swift wx. One can detects twister. It showed possible rotation. Thx

Posted by: Kathy Location: Sherman on Dec 9, 2008 at 06:49 AM
Possible tornado? Never heard of straight line winds wrapping barbed wire around telephone posts or twisting posts. Never knew stright line winds to be in the form of a funnel either.

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