Though it turned out not to be a tornado after all, parts of the County of Grimes were severely damaged by the thunderstorms early Monday morning April 27th. Many in rural areas were caught unaware as it passed through with winds reported up to 80 miles an hour, damaging several homes in Shiro and elsewhere, uprooting trees and cutting off power for hours, for many.
Emergency Coordinator Dave Lilly tells Navasota News, they’re still trying to determine the damage and to get help to those who were affected by the storm.
Lilly says, the National Weather Service has determined that it was strong straight winds – not a tornado – that ripped through the county. And with the ground already saturated from previous rain, he adds, even healthy trees were blown over.
Due to the storm early voting was cancelled on Monday for Navasota ISD and Anderson-Shiro School Board and Township elections, according to County Election Administrator Rebecca Duff. She says, that while there’s not enough time to add another early voting day, they will instead, this Friday May 1st extended voting hours from 7 to 7.
