Tornado Destroys Homes, Businesses in Dallas

A major search and rescue operation is underway in Dallas, where a tornado accompanied by violent thunderstorms touched down Sunday night, leaving a trail of destruction over 17 miles. Homes and businesses were destroyed and at least three people were hospitalized with storm-related injuries, the Washington Post reports. Authorities say there have been no reports of fatalities, but police officers and firefighters are assessing damaged structures and carrying out door-to-door searches to check on residents. The Dallas Morning News reports that tens of thousands of people were left without power. The north of the city was the hardest hit, with reports of extensive damage around the Love Field Airport.

The National Weather Service confirmed that the tornado touched down near the airport at around 9pm. Lew Morris says he was preparing to host "Reckless Rock Radio" at KNON-FM when the power went out and he heard the "distinctive whistle" of a tornado. He says he told the host of the previous show to shelter in a bathroom to avoid flying glass. "We then heard the building shaking and could hear the glass windows shattering everywhere along with debris banging around," Morris tells the AP. "We walked out to see the studio he was just broadcasting from destroyed." Dallas Fire-Rescue tweeted photos of a fire station wrecked by the tornado. The service says none of the firefighters at Station 41 were injured. (More tornado stories.)