Livingston family credits service dog for saving their lives during severe flooding
Heavy rains and severe flooding have prompted officials in Polk County to issue a mandatory evacuation for certain low-lying areas along the Trinity River. One family says they learned the hard way this morning. They say they couldโve lost their lives if it wasnโt for the help of their furry companion.
โShe was amazingโ: Family of Audrii Cunningham shares exclusive insights into the life of the Livingston girl murdered
Audrii Cunningham's family sat down with KPRC 2 for the nearly hour-long interview, where they talked about Audriiโs life, who she was, what she liked to do and who she wanted to be.
Whatโs next for Audrii Cunninghamโs accused killer?
The five-day search for missing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham ended Tuesday when her body was found in the Trinity River. The Polk County Sheriff's office says they're building a capital murder case against the prime suspect in her death, Don Steven McDougal.
Audrii Cunningham disappearance: Person of interest spent time in prison for sexual contact with young girl
Investigators in Audrii Cunninghamโs disappearance have zeroed in on a person of interest who has spent time in prison for enticing a child, a third degree felony, after being indicted by a Brazoria County grand jury for attempted indecency with a child.
2 weeks after deadly EF-3 tornado ripped through Onalaska, community still reeling
ONALASKA, Texas โ The Onalaska community is still reeling from the devastation caused by an EF-3 tornado that touched down and destroyed several neighborhoods on April 22. โItโs been two weeks and every time we pull up itโs a different flood of emotions,โ said resident Debbie Robins. Robins said she was home when the tornado hit and only had a few seconds to find shelter. Onalaska Assistant fire Chief TD Jennings was working the night the tornado hit and gave KPRC 2 a look at some of the hardest-hit areas in the Yaupon Cove subdivision. Officials asking anyone who can donate their time or money to please call the city of Onalaska or Polk County Emergency Management at (936) 327-6826.
Number of homes destroyed by EF3 tornado exceeds 170, Polk County Judge says
ONALASKA โ Polk County officials gave an update two days after a tornado ripped through Onalaska, leaving devastation in its wake. Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy said that the number of damaged homes increased to 306. The American Red Cross provided shelter to about 100 residents who were displaced by the tornado, Murphy said. Instead, people can go to the Polk County Emergency Management Facebook page for instructions on how to properly sort their debris so it will get picked up by the countyโs contractor. โUp until this point Polk County has done a great job,โ Murphy said.
Community remembers couple among those killed in Polk County tornado
ONALASKA โ The damage across Onalaska in Polk County from Wednesday's violent tornado was widespread. One of his best friends, Taylor Holbert and Taylor's girlfriend, Brooke Ivey, were both killed. Billy Price said he is thankful to be alive, considering he was driving down the highway when the tornado hit. Like so many small knit communities, Price also knew the couple that was killed. Less than 24 hours after the deadly tornado struck, the entire community is coming together to start rebuilding while remembering those lost.
Reporterโs Notebook: Surrounded by debris of what was their lives, Onalaska community remains resilient after tornado
Very little warning.โThis is the sixth tornado Farrows said he has lived through. Mayra couldnโt recall too much of the moments the tornado hit but does remember waking up, pinned beneath her trailer. โI was expecting rain and hail and maybe a little wind, but not a full Wizard of Oz tornado,โ Jimenez joked. Reilly told us preliminary findings indicated the tornado that descended on this little community had caused EF-2 damage. Reilly told us NWS has crews surveying the damage from this tornado all the way into Louisiana and their findings would be compiled into a complete report.
Polk County family says theyโre lucky to be alive after tornado destroys home
POLK COUNTY, TEXAS โ Residents of the Canyon Park Subdivision were left trying to pick up the pieces after a tornado touched down and left a trail of destruction on Tuesday. I was praying, thank God weโre blessed and unscathed,โ Aryana Manning said. Manning considers her family lucky to be alive after a tree split their mobile home in half. โMy mother-in-law said, โIs that a tornado siren?โ I said, โNo thatโs the tornado.โ It sounds like a siren or a train,โ Manning said. The Manning family said they arenโt sure what theyโll do next but will stay with family until they can figure it out.
'So heartbrokenโ: This is what residents say it was like to experience tornado as it ripped through Polk County
ONALASKA, Texas โ Residents were fearful and in shock after a tornado ripped through multiple neighborhoods in Onalaska in Polk County Wednesday evening. Y'all please keep Onalaska Texas in your prayers. this is yaupon cove drive pic.twitter.com/18QusOTPV7 โ Joe Smith SDK (@JoeSmithSDK) April 23, 2020my dads entire neighborhood in onalaska tx just got completely destroyed by a tornado. 2020 is out for blood pic.twitter.com/948AqfVF5V โ kasey (@eattmyshorts_) April 23, 2020Please pray for everyone who lost everything here in Onalaska, TX. A command post was set up at the Onalaska Fire and Rescue as first responders worked to rescue trapped residents and assess the damage.
How to help people in Polk County after deadly tornado
ONALASKA, Texas โ Three people lost their lives, and several communities were devastated by a tornado that plowed through Polk County Wednesday. People are in need of basic items like food, water clothing and other miscellaneous household items. The PCEM shared a post on how you can help those impacted by the tornado. VolunteeringDue to COVID-19, Polk County Emergency Management will not be setting up a physical volunteer reception center. People who were displaced by the tornado and need clothing can also call the Oasis at 936-327-1208 or 936-327-8467.
NWS: Deadly tornado in Onalaska peaked at 140 mph winds, caused EF3 damage in parts
ONALASKA, Texas โ The National Weather Service said Thursday that preliminary information shows the tornado that ripped through Onalaska in Polk County Wednesday evening, caused between EF1 and EF3 damage with a peak wind of 140 miles per hour. NWS officials said the tornado caused EF1 and EF2 damage with winds of 135 miles per hour for the most part. However, in Paradise Acres Subdivision of Onalaska, the peak winds were at 140 miles per hour which caused EF3 damage. See the path of a deadly tornado that ripped through Polk County on April 22, 2020. โUp to this point, Polk County has done a really good job of sheltering at home,โ Murphy said.
KPRC 2โs Frank Billingsley breaks down the dynamics of tornado that destroyed Polk County neighborhoods
HOUSTON โ KPRC 2 Chief Meteorologist tracked the storm that moved through the Houston-area Wednesday evening. A tornado ripped through four neighborhoods in Polk County at about 6 p.m. Wednesday, bringing wind and hail damage to the surrounding areas. PHOTOS: Tornado rips through trees, buildings in Seven Oaks area Wednesday eveningIn the video above, Billingsley breaks down the dynamics and trail of the tornado and the damage it left in its wake.
3 killed, at least 20 injured after tornado rips through Onalaska in Polk County Wednesday
ONALASKA, Texas โ At least 20 people were injured and three people were killed after a tornado ripped through multiple neighborhoods in Onalaska in Polk County Wednesday evening, according to the Polk County Office of Emergency Management. Polk County subdivisions hit hardest by tornado (Polk County Emergency Management, Texas)National Weather Service storm spotter Ian Shelton told KPRC 2 he started chasing the storm in the early afternoon. Multiple agencies including the Texas Department of Public Safety, the San Jacinto County Sheriffโs Office and the Polk County Sheriffโs Office are enforcing blockades, assessing damage and helping residents in the area, Shelton said. VIDEO: Residents describe terrifying moments they saw a tornado touch down in Polk County WednesdayShelters:Polk County Emergency Management said anyone who might need shelter is asked to go to Dunbar Gym in Livingston as the schools in Onalaska have lost power. Posted by Polk County Emergency Management, Texas on Wednesday, April 22, 2020Gov.
George Zimmerman sues Trayvon Martinโs family, others for $100 million
POLK COUNTY, Fla. โ George Zimmerman is suing Trayvon Martinโs family, prosecutors and others for $100 million. Zimmerman, a Sanford neighborhood watch volunteer in 2012, was acquitted of homicide in the fatal shooting of Martin, who was 17 years old. The lawsuit, filed in Polk County, where Zimmerman now lives, cites information in a documentary about the case that accuses the Martin family of engineering false testimony. The suit seeks $100 million in civil damages, alleging defamation, abuse of civil process and conspiracy. This story was originally published on our sister site at WKMG.