LAGUNA HEIGHTS, Texas (AP) \u2014 One person was killed when his mobile home was crushed as a powerful tornado tore through a community near the southern tip of Texas before dawn Saturday, damaging dozens of residences and knocking down power lines, authorities said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At least 10 others were hospitalized, including two people who were listed in critical condition, said Tom Hushen, the emergency management coordinator for Cameron County. Many residents also suffered cuts and bruises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tornado hit at about 4 a.m. as most people were in their homes asleep in the unincorporated community of Laguna Heights, located on the mainland across from South Padre Island, off the Gulf of Mexico. The county has among the highest poverty rates in Texas and is dotted with substandard housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was no advance warning. Instead, the first warning of a tornado \u201cwent out at the same time it was touching ground,\u201d said Barry Goldsmith, a warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Brownsville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith hurricanes we have the benefit of getting some advance warning; we know it\u2019s probably on its way,\u201d Eddie Trevi\u00f1o Jr., the Cameron County judge, said during a Saturday press conference. \u201cWith a tornado, like Barry mentioned, it\u2019s not a common scenario unless we have a hurricane\/tropical cyclone in the area. So, we didn\u2019t have the benefit of a warning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe hour didn\u2019t help,\u201d Trevi\u00f1o added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roberto Flores, 42, died after being \u201cbasically crushed as a result of the damage to his mobile home,\u201d Trevi\u00f1o said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The storm was clocked with wind speeds of 86-110 mph (138-177 kph) and was categorized as an EF1 tornado, according to the weather service. It lasted only about two to four minutes but it ravaged the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As many as 60 homes were damaged. The county judge signed a disaster declaration, and a temporary shelter in the nearby city of Port Isabel was providing help to 38 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cApparently it went straight through that community,\u201d said county sheriff Eric Garza. \u201cIndividuals don\u2019t want to leave their houses because they\u2019re afraid that somebody will go in there and start stealing stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Garza said his department is helping provide security for the area, and Trevi\u00f1o said officials were considering a nighttime curfew to help victims of the storm who fear their properties will be looted if they leave their property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laguna Heights is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of the U.S.-Mexico border at Brownsville and is not prone to having tornados, although this spring has been active, said weather service meteorologist Angelica Soria. The area is also gearing up for the start of hurricane season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Texas tornado follows an outbreak of dozens of twisters in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado that caused damage but no reported deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n