A powerful tornado swept through the unincorporated community of Laguna Heights, located near the southern tip of Texas, causing significant damage to dozens of residences and leaving one person dead. The tornado struck at around 4 a.m. on Saturday, catching residents by surprise as most were asleep in their homes. Authorities reported that at least 10 individuals were hospitalized, including two in critical condition, while many others sustained cuts and bruises.
Laguna Heights, situated on the mainland across from South Padre Island, has a high poverty rate and is characterized by substandard housing. The community, which is not typically prone to tornadoes, had no advance warning of the approaching storm. The National Weather Service in Brownsville noted that the first tornado warning was issued simultaneously with the tornado touching down. With hurricanes, the region usually receives some advance notice, but tornadoes are less common and can occur suddenly, leaving little time for preparation.
The tornado, categorized as an EF1 tornado with wind speeds of 86-110 mph, lasted only a few minutes but caused significant devastation in the area. As many as 60 homes were damaged, prompting the county judge to declare a disaster. Concerns arose about potential looting as residents were hesitant to leave their homes unattended, prompting law enforcement to provide security in the affected areas. A temporary shelter in the nearby city of Port Isabel was established to assist 38 individuals who were displaced or affected by the storm.
The community’s emergency management coordinator, Tom Hushen, confirmed that a curfew had been imposed for individuals aged 17 and under, aiming to mitigate the public health and safety emergency caused by the tornado. The curfew is expected to remain in effect until May 16 and restricts non-residents from entering residential areas of Laguna Heights.
While Laguna Heights grapples with the aftermath of the tornado, the region is also preparing for the upcoming hurricane season. The tornado event follows a recent outbreak of tornadoes in states like Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, which caused damage but did not result in any reported deaths.
As the affected community begins to recover and rebuild, efforts are underway to provide support, assistance, and security to those affected by the tornado. The focus is on assessing the damage, offering shelter to displaced individuals, and initiating recovery measures to restore normalcy in the community.