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High Wind Warnings and Red Flag Warnings Across the Permian Basin UPDATE 6:30 PM
High Winds Take Over West Texas 12/19/12
Jennifer Samp
jsamp@CBS7.com
CBS 7 News
December 19, 2012
Permian Basin - Officials say today's high winds added with our current dry conditions created a recipe for disaster.
Its something some west Texans never get used to- strong winds took over the Permian Basin.
Local firefighters say they were out nonstop since the winds picked up earlier this afternoon.
A mobile home fire was one of several fires Midland and Odessa departments were called out to.
“We deal with the weather service and red flag days,” said Battalion Chief Kavin Tinney, “We prepare for that.”
No one was injured, but Tinney says the home was a total loss and high winds made their job of protecting the rest of the neighborhood harder.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also had their hands full.
Troopers say low visibility was a factor to many crashes they were called out on.
A trooper says one person was killed and least 17 injured in a series of accidents that occurred when a violent dust storm forced authorities to close a portion of Interstate 27 just north of Lubbock.
23 vehicles were involved in a series of chain-reaction crashes.
Troopers say the highway remains closed in both directions because of concern over more crashes.
“It’s the first red flag day in a long time,” Tinney said
Chief Tinney says the cold weather is also a concern because that means a dryer season.
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