Tornadoes ravaged North Texas on Sunday. Gordon, Texas saw significant damage that led to several people hospitalized and Gordon ISD classes canceled for the rest of the week. The tornado that ripped through Gordon has been classified as an EF-1, according to NBC 5 News.
Among some of the worst damage in the area are Gordon High School’s athletics facilities. The storm leveled the football stadium and baseball field. It also damaged the weight room and the gymnasium roof.
Tornadoes ravaged North Texas on Sunday. Gordon, Texas saw significant damage that led to several people hospitalized and Gordon ISD classes canceled for the rest of the week. The tornado that ripped through Gordon has been classified as an EF-1, according to NBC 5 News.
Among some of the worst damage in the area are Gordon High School’s athletics facilities. The storm leveled the football stadium and baseball field. It also damaged the weight room and the gymnasium roof.
According to Sports Illustrated, the back-to-back Class 1A state championship football team might not have a usable home field come football season.
Storm chasers and weather experts estimate that the tornado that destroyed these facilities was a “wedge” tornado, a rare phenomenon with a width measuring well over a mile. The tornado was on the ground for an estimated two hours and 40 minutes.
Photos and videos taken of the damaged football stadium and baseball field show bleachers twisted and torn to the ground. Any structures surrounding the field, like those for concessions, have also been ripped apart. There is debris everywhere.
The Longhorns athletic director, Mike Reed, told Sports Illustrated that the weight room and equipment storage areas were also destroyed and seemingly a total loss.
Said Reed, “All equipment, uniforms etc. gone. Weight room (collapsed) and destroyed, new gym roof also ripped off in parts, and school damaged, but too dark to evaluate.”
The Gordon Independent School District released a statement early on Monday, imploring students and staff to stay off campus property. “We can’t thank you enough for the outpouring of love,” the statement read. “We are most thankful that no life-threatening injuries occurred. We do have substantial damage on campus. We will assess better (Monday morning). For safety purposes, we ask that everyone please stay off campus at this time, including staff. We need to let emergency crews and insurance adjusters do their job.”
