Death toll at least 8 in Texas storms that spawned tornadoes

Tornadoes swept through the Dallas area, leaving substantial damage and at least eight people dead either from the storm or related traffic accidents, in the latest of a succession of freakish winter weather events across the country.
The Texas tornadoes that touched down after dark on Saturday followed days of tumultuous weather in the Southeast including unusual winter tornadoes that left 18 people dead there over the Christmas holiday period.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Anthony Bain in Fort Worth said several tornadoes touched down in the Dallas area, although the full extent of damage would not be known until daylight Sunday.
The storms left homes had roofs blown away, vehicles mangled or turned upside down, churches damaged, power lines down, natural gas lines burst, trees toppled and debris strewn across neighborhoods. The damage stretched over about a 40-mile (64-kilometer)-long area from 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Dallas to northeast of the city.
Joe Harn, police spokesman for Garland, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Dallas, said five people were killed in vehicle accidents during the massive storm, but it’s unclear if all were in the same vehicle or how they died.
Three other people died in Collin County, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Dallas, according to sheriff’s deputy Chris Havey, although the circumstances were not immediately clear.
The Red Cross said it was setting up shelters for people whose homes were damaged by the storm.
“I think everyone understands now the gravity of what happened,” Anita Foster, spokeswoman for American Red Cross of North Texas, said on WFAA television. AP