Image Courtesy of WFAA
IRVING, Texas — The National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado struck Irving on Tuesday, causing widespread damage.
Irving Police reported that more than 350 residents were displaced, with significant damage affecting at least two apartment complexes. The tornado, which originated near Pecan Drive south of West Pioneer Drive, traveled less than half a mile with maximum wind speeds of 110 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.
Footage from WFAA crews at the Las Haciendas apartments, located in the 500 block of North O’Connor Road, showed a collapsed wall and broken windows. Residents described the tornado’s impact as catastrophic, with bricks scattered across yards, downed power lines, and debris hanging from trees.
Dale Hughes, a 45-year Irving resident, said the destruction was like nothing he had ever witnessed.
“I thought a bomb went off,” Hughes said. “I was asleep, and then I was on the ground trying to get my brother and my uncle. It was devastating. We lost everything.”
Irving police posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Pioneer Drive and North O’Connor Road remain closed to through traffic. Residents who were not required to evacuate can return to their homes, but others are advised to avoid the area until it is cleared for public access.
By noon on Tuesday, Irving police had evacuated approximately 350 people from the Las Haciendas and Tree Country apartment complexes. Displaced residents were relocated to the Georgia Farrow Recreation Center at 530 Davis Drive, where a temporary shelter was set up. A Red Cross representative noted the emotional toll on the community, saying, “There’s a lot of adrenaline, there’s a lot of emotions.”
The National Weather Service report highlighted that the tornado caused tree and roof damage along Pecan Drive, with one vehicle damaged by falling trees. The Tree Country Apartments suffered EF1 wind damage to the roofs of nearly every building. Nearby, the Learning Tree Academy also experienced tree and roof damage. The Irving Police Family Advocacy Center saw half of its roof torn off, along with damage to a second-story balcony. The tornado dissipated between Cedar Drive and North O’Connor Road, leaving additional damage at the La Hacienda Apartments from rear-flank downdraft winds.
Across North Texas, high-speed winds from the storm caused widespread damage. Thousands were left without power, adding to the difficulties faced by displaced residents. Angeline, a young girl who lived in one of the affected complexes, shared her struggles with WFAA: “It feels sad because we don’t have hot water to make coffee or electricity to make food.”
Restoration efforts are expected to take days due to ongoing high winds, which have made clearing streets and restoring power more challenging. An Irving Police Department spokesperson noted that gusty conditions could further delay these efforts.
Irving police have assured residents they will be allowed back into their homes once the buildings are deemed safe. As of Tuesday evening, no injuries were reported.
As cleanup begins, many residents are left grappling with the uncertainty of their future.
“We’re just devastated,” said Hughes, echoing the sentiment felt by many in the community..