EF-2 tornado confirmed in Runaway Bay after Texas storms kill 2, displace families
Two tornadoes — an EF-2 in the Runaway Bay area in Wise County and an EF-1 near Springtown in Parker County — have been confirmed from Saturday night’s severe storms in North Texas, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.
An NWS survey team determined the tornado that touched down in Runaway Bay had peak winds of 135 mph. Damage in the Springtown area was caused by another tornado with speeds up to 105 mph.
In Runaway Bay, the tornado killed one person, injured six and displaced more than 25 families from damaged homes, according to Wise County Judge J.D. Clark.
Roads blocked by downed power lines, trees and other debris were restricting access to several damaged structures, and first responders were coordinating with utility providers to clear those hazards, Clark said Sunday morning.
Runaway Bay is on the south side of Lake Bridgeport, about 50 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Aerial photos showed roofs and walls torn off many homes in the area.
Speaking to the Wise County community at a press conference Sunday morning, Clark said, “Situations like last night are challenging. They’re tough. It was a tough night, and it is understandable that emotions are running high. From the heart of our county government, all our community partners here that are working together, please know this: Wise County takes care of Wise County, and we are going to stand strong and we’re going to stand together.”
Volunteers are not needed at this time, he said. If that changes, information will be shared on official social media channels and through local media.
“As we move into recovery, we are focused on collecting accurate damage information so resources can be directed where they are needed the most,” Clark said. “The Texas Division of Emergency Management’s damage assessment team is helping us verify impacts across this community. Residents with damage to their homes or businesses are asked to complete the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool called iSTAT.” Complete the survey online at damage.tdem.texas.gov/
Clark issued a disaster declaration on Sunday and said additional updates will be provided through the county’s Office of Emergency Management.
Paul Olsen, 31, drove from his job in Decatur through a hail storm Saturday night to get back to his family in Runaway Bay.
“It was a scary drive, but they didn’t have power, or cellphones, or flashlights, so I had to rush home to make sure everyone was OK,” he said.
Olsen’s home north of Highway 380 sustained minimal damage with most of the tree limb debris landing in his front yard.
He said he felt lucky, because he and his wife, Jessica, had been looking at homes in the western parts of Runaway Bay most affected by the EF-2 tornado.
They also felt blessed for the huge amount of community support that made quick work of the cleanup the day after the storm.
“Even if they were only able to stay just 10 minutes, it was nice. That 10 minutes was extra hands, and all the neighbors came together in this big community,” Jessica Olsen said.
Springtown and Parker County damage
The Parker County Sheriff’s Office reported one death at a mobile home near Springtown.
The Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about 10:40 p.m. from a resident in the 6700 block of Hutcheson Hill Road. The caller reported she had found a family member who appeared to be dead in the debris of the storm-damaged home.
Emergency services personnel responded and found a 69-year-old woman who died at the scene of the severely damaged mobile home, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The woman will be identified by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The spot where the woman died was not in the path of the tornado but was hit by very strong rear flank downdraft winds that were part of the same supercell, according to the NWS.
A preliminary NWS survey found that the Parker County tornado cut across Texas Highway 199 headed southeast and was on the ground for more than 30 minutes.
Officials in the City of Springtown confirmed reports of property damage and downed trees and power lines throughout the city. According to Parker County Emergency Services District 1, there also was widespread damage west and south of Springtown and area fire departments responded to more than 70 calls for service. Some areas may be without electric power for an extended period of time.
A gas storage tank at a plant on the city’s north side was apparently hit by lightning during the storm, city officials said. Parker County ESD 1 said on Sunday that “hazardous materials and fire-related incidents caused by storm damage have been mitigated.”
“Please exercise patience with responding crews,” Springtown officials wrote in a Facebook post late Saturday. “Many are being called in for this event and will (work) through the night to clear roadways.”
As of 2 a.m. Sunday, most roadways in the Springtown city limits were cleared of major debris and power lines.
Springtown ISD schools will be closed on Monday, April 27, Superintendent Shane Strickland said in a message to families.
“We know this weather event has caused significant damage across our community, impacting many of our families’ homes and properties,” Strickland wrote. “With much of our town without power and serious damage to their properties, we want to give everyone time and space needed to take care of your families, assess damage, and begin the recovery process.
“Please know that our hearts are with each of you during this difficult time. We are truly sorry our community has been impacted in this way, and we are hoping that everyone is safe and able to find a secure place to stay if needed.”
Several churches in Springtown opened their doors Sunday to serve as cooling centers for residents without electricity. First United Methodist Church Springtown, at 109 W. 3rd St., is working with the American Red Cross to establish a longer-term shelter and access to resources.
On Sunday, lifelong Springtown resident Nadine Taliaferro, 72, was picking up debris in her yard on J E Woody Road.
She said she’d never seen a storm like this.
Things you’d expect to blow away stayed put and heavier things you’d expect to stay put got blown over, she said, pointing to an uprooted pine tree in her front yard.
Jane Galvin, who lives in Bittersweet Springs west of Springtown, said she’s seen a lot of damage in the area, including to roofs, metal shops, garages and RV garages.
A neighbor’s tree crashed through the side and roof of Galvin’s RV garage.
“Miraculously our Class A motorhome was not damaged that we have identified,” she said. “Our home was spared damage, except for some damaged shingles by 13 massive oak trees. We feel blessed considering the number of fallen trees.”
Neighbors came out to help each other and moved debris from trees to the street, she said.
“Our RV garage contractor, Cody Slocum, checked on us this morning, saw the tree through the roof and came back with crew to move the fallen tree in front of the garage and then stayed to cut up three massive trees that had fallen in the front yard,” Galvin said.
Staff writer Elizabeth Campbell contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 1:24 PM.
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