A severe thunderstorm, with heavy rain and hurricane-force winds, pummeled Collinsville and left the city without power for more than 24 hours Sunday night.
The extreme weather event downed powerlines, up-rooted trees and left the town dark. But no injuries were reported, according to Collinsville Fire Chief Damon Stewart.
“We were blessed in that regard,” Stewart said. “The fact that no one was injured is a miracle.”
Forecasts had predicted the event and preparations were made at City Hall.
Collinsville ISD opened their storm shelter at the high school and the community braced for impact shortly after nightfall.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 8:53 p.m.
The storm hit Collinsville about 9:25 p.m. and the lights went out.
KRLD meteorologists reported 76 mph winds in Collinsville though some predict wind gusts may have exceeded that.
“I’ve been through two hurricanes in South Carolina,” Collinsville Mayor Chase Guidera said. “And that’s exactly what it was like. It was as if we were in a hurricane.”
The storm evolved to a tornado warning by the time it reached Dorchester, but no tornados were reported to have touched down.
Collinsville emergency crews were on hand as soon as the worst of the storm passed assessing the aftermath.
Multiple trees were down on city streets.
“We had help from several other departments,” Stewart said. “Mutual aid from the surrounding area is always welcome.”
According to Guidera, two roofs were damaged within the city limits.
The News-Record has confirmed three automobiles lost to fallen trees, two of which were at the same residence on South Main Street when a 100-year-old oak tree was uprooted.
Grayson County Pct. 3 Commissioner Lindsay Wright said one house was completely destroyed on Clements Road— just west of Collinsville— along with a metal building that housed a business, as the storm blew in.
Downed trees littered the Hwy. 377 corridor north to Whitesboro, though Collinsville sustained the brunt of the damage.
Monday morning, the town was still crippled by lack of electricity as storm cleanup got underway.
There was no indication from Oncor has to how long the city would be without power.
According to Stewart, there were six main power transformers affected that feed power to the town.
All six went down and access to the transformers was hampered by vegetation and wet conditions.
“We were told crews would need to gain access to the transformers and get them back up before they could address the multiple lines down in the city,” Stewart said.
The City opened up the lot behind Pelphrey Field where citizens can dispose of tree limbs.
The disposal site will be open until Friday.
“More than anything, the takeaway here is neighbors helping neighbors,” Guidera said.
“Posts went out on social media. Folks needed help cleaning up limbs and people showed up with trucks and trailers. I’m proud of that— as a citizen, not just as the mayor— I am proud of how our community has showed up for one another.”
A fleet of bucket trucks and linemen arrived in Collinsville Monday afternoon and got to work and, though it was feared that the power outage could last into a second day, the majority of Collinsville regained electricity shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday.
As of press time, Oncor still reports a handful of power outages in the area.
