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Tornadoes, hail rake region; four injured

Two spotters reported a tornado in northern Lamar County on April 22. The reports were filed at 6:25 and 6:50 p.m.
KETR

A severe weather system that struck Northeast Texas on the evening of April 3 resulted in several small tornadoes, along with high winds and large hail. Multiple structures were damaged and several injuries were reported throughout the region.

Thousands of homes and businesses lost electrical service during the storms. Flooding followed the storms.

Northern Hunt County was hit hard, with significant damage between U.S. Highway 69 and State Highway 34 north of Greenville.

The Greenville Herald-Banner reported that at least four people in Hunt County suffered injuries as a result of the storm. Three were injured at a home on County Road 1081 and one was hurt on FM 1569, after he was blown out of his trailer home into a field, county law enforcement officials said.  All of the injured were transported to the Hunt Regional Healthcare hospital in Greenville. The extent of the injuries was unknown.

The American Red Cross set up an emergency center at the Kingston Baptist Church late on April 3.

Hunt County Emergency Management Coordinator Richard Hill reported that “multiple homes” were damaged or destroyed along County Roads 1079 and 1081 and along FM 1569. As of the early hours of April 4, emergency responders attempting to reach at least one home on County Road 1003, where a tree was reported to have fallen onto a home and where one person was said to have been injured.

As of early morning on April 4, about 1,000 homes and businesses in the area remained without electricity, with over 700 of those in the northern Hopkins County town of Birthright, and over 100 of those in the Hunt County town of Campbell.

The severe weather began after 6 p.m. on April 3, when storm spotters observed a developing tornado seven miles west of Ladonia, in southern Fannin County.

A tornado that had hit Denton County earlier in the evening made its way into Collin County, following an easterly path close to U.S. Highway 380. Princeton and Farmersville were reported to have been struck by tornadoes as the storm progressed.

As the storm went eastward into Hunt County, the system passed north of Greenville and crossed a path between Merit, Celeste and Wolfe City. The cell dumped baseball-sized hail in Commerce before moving east and out of Hunt County around 9 p.m.

Golfball-size hail and a brief tornado were also reported in Cooper as the storm crossed into Delta County and northern Hopkins County. 

A tornado touched down in Birthright, north of Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County. Local officials reported heavy damage to multiple structures. 

Mark Haslett has served at KETR since 2013. Since then, the station's news operation has enjoyed an increase in listener engagement and audience metrics, as well recognition in the Texas AP Broadcasters awards.