At least 4 dead as tornadoes race through Fort Worth

A motorist abandons his car in heavy rain

March 28, 2000
Web posted at: 10:12 p.m. EST (0312 GMT)

In this story: 'It was coming straight up the street' Some small businesses devastated RELATED STORIES, SITES

FORT WORTH, Texas (CNN) -- At least four people were killed when back-to-back tornadoes raced through downtown Fort Worth around dusk, smashing windows in high-rise office buildings and flattening smaller structures.

Authorities confirmed the deaths on the city's west side Tuesday and said there were "numerous injuries."

Heavy rain flooded many streets. Drivers were seen abandoning cars caught in high water.

Lt. Kent Worley of the Fort Worth Fire Department said the tornadoes "struck to the west of the downtown area, then marched into the downtown area itself."

Property damage was extensive after the storm

He said he saw three or four "15- to 20-story buildings that look like they don't have a window left in them."

Worley said, "We're trying to get word out to people still in those buildings to stay put. We'll send rescue units to get them out."

The Cash America International Building, on the west side, suffered heavy damage on all eight floors, with all its windows blown out.

'It was coming straight up the street'

Carrie Furlong, of Tarrant County Emergency Management Services, told CNN, "We've got debris everywhere. We've got power outages, telephone lines down."

About two blocks from the courthouse in downtown Fort Worth, Thomas Bullard said he saw "a well-formed tornado that was swirling and coming straight up the street."

Heavy rain accompanying the storm partially submerges a vehicle on a Fort Worth street

After it passed, Bullard said, "The streets are covered with litter. There's still debris flying around out there."

Some small businesses devastated

Television news reports spotlighted neighborhoods where small businesses such as barbershops, paint stores and restaurants were devastated.

The streets were covered with "all kinds of debris," Worley said, including "all kinds of products from storefronts" wrecked by the high winds.

In some areas, buildings were flattened, roofs were ripped off buildings and sheet metal was wrapped around utility poles.

The twisters were followed by hail and heavy, but short-lived rain.

The storm system then headed toward Arlington, Texas, where the mayor's office said a tornado touched down and much of the city's communications were knocked out.

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