LIVE COVERAGE: Get minute-by-minute weather updates

Published 11:27 pm Saturday, April 29, 2017

1. More than 50 people injured, property damaged after tornadoes in Van Zandt, Henderson counties
2. Red Cross opens shelters in Canton, Emory
3. Photos of storm damage in Canton
4. TORNADO UPDATES: Two remain in critical condition after Saturday tornadoes in Van Zandt, Henderson Counties
5. How to help tornado victims
6. TORNADO UPDATES: 4 tornadoes confirmed in East Texas as door-to-door rescue continues in Van Zandt County
7. Van Zandt County residents begin cleanup after tornadoes hit Canton community

10:42: Red Cross has opened a second shelter at the Emory City Center, 320 Texas Street North, Emory, TX 75440. Another shelter is on stand-by in Eustace should it be needed.

10:30 p.m. – Van Zandt County officials say five people were killed in storms, and that number could rise as workers continued to search for victims. Officials reported extensive damage throughout Southern Van Zandt County, including damaged and destroyed homed, downed power lines and debris, and they urged people to stay away while crews work the area. 

Officials said more information would be available in a 9 a.m. Sunday press conference. 

9:53: The American Red Cross Serving East Texas has opened a shelter at First Methodist Church Life Center, 600 S. Buffalo, Canton.

9:24 p.m. – Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Camp, Smith, Wood, Franklin, Morris, Upshur, Titus Counties until 10:15. 60 mph winds & Hail ~ 1″

9:20 p.m. – Power Outages:

Oncor – 6,546SWEPCO – 2,023Upsur Co. Rural – 2,694

9:09 p.m.: ETMC Athens has received 36 patients; 1 is critical. ETMC Cedar Creek Lake has received eight patients.

These patients all have injuries that are non-life threatening except the one critical.

ETMC Tyler has four more patients en route from the Canton tornado – all non-life threatening.

9:02 p.m.: So far three patients have been transferred by ETMC EMS from the Canton tornado. One patient came to ETMC Tyler and we transferred  to Christus Trinity Mother Frances.

The regional ambus is on the scene in Canton and a triage has been setup and we are awaiting the arrival of potentially more patients. ETMC Athens has received nine patients from the tornadoes in Henderson County (Eustace and Fruitvale).

ETMC EMS sent 10 ambulances to Canton but the contract for that city is with Champions EMS so please check with them on where other patients are going.

That’s all the info I have at this time. R

8:32 p.m.: Smith and Wood Counties are under a tornado warning until 9:15 p.m. 

8:25 p.m. – The National Weather Service said they confirmed two tornadoes in East Texas – one in Canton that crossed Interstate 20 about 6:25 p.m. and continued north of Canton near Fruitvale and crossed U.S. 80 about 6:40-6:45 p.m. The weather service is not yet able to confirm the category of the tornado.

The second confirmed tornado was in Caney City, near Eustace. It lasted about 10 minutes. 

Officials at the weather service said six tornado warnings were issued for Van Zandt County, beginning at 4:47 p.m., and the last one was at 7:58 p.m. It was set to expire at 8 p.m. Saturday.

7:54 p.m. – ETMC officials say they have received nine patients at ETMC Athens, but it is unclear what storms patients came in from. Officials added the hospital is on yellow alert to expect mass casualties and potentially will receive 40 victims from the Athens storm. 

7:35 p.m. – Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Canton, Grand Saline, Van until 8:30 PM CDT

7:31 p.m. – Tornado Warning for Smith and Wood County until 8 p.m.

7:30 p.m. – Tornado Warning issued for Smith County.

7:19 p.m. – Tornado Warning including Canton, Tundra until 8:15 PM CDT

7:01 p.m. – Tornado Warning including Grand Saline, Edgewood, Emory until 7:30 PM CDT

6:55 p.m. – Reports of overturned cars on I-20 east of Canton. Also widespread damage reported of the Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership near Canton.

6:55 p.m. – Tornado watch issued for Smith County.

6:32 p.m. – Massive wedge tornado near Canton (I-20 near FM 17). This could be a killer tornado: TAKE COVER!

6:22 p.m. – Storm chasers take video of tornado between Eustace and Athens.

6:13 p.m. – Tornado Warning for Rains and Van Zandt County until 7:00pm.

5:33 p.m. – Spotter states tornado on ground one mile south and east of Eustace. Take cover!

5:06 p.m. – Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Henderson, Kaufman, and Navarro County until 6 p.m.

4:55 p.m. – Tornado warning for Henderson County until 5:30 p.m. Take cover!

4:50 p.m. – Tornado Warning in Van Zandt County until 5:30 p.m. Take cover!