The Monitor from McAllen, Texas • 36

4D Thursday, April 28, 1994 THE MONITOR, McAllen, Texas TEXAS TORNADOES LANCASTER: Governor Richards tours devastation LANCASTER: Animals Animal Rescue League helps return pets to their homes By JAY JORDEN The Associated Press The Associated Press least 15 trailers and several businesses were destroyed in that storm. No one was killed in the Gainesville. Authorities a death in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite to the storm. They said Richard Arnett, 72, died of a heart attack during Monday night's storms. More severe weather was expected through Friday.

In Monday night's tornado, the American Red Cross said Wednesday that a preliminary damage assessment shows 922 Lancaster homes were affected, with 173 destroyed and 192 getting major damage. Another 371 dwellings in DeSoto were affected, with 13 destroyed and 21 sustaining major damage, according to the Red Cross. Jerry Johns, with the Southwestern Insurance Information Institute, Wednesday estimated storm damage to insured property would exceed $300 million in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Crews from TU Electric continued work Wednesday to restore power to Lancaster's town square. The business district, which dates back to the years just after the Civil War, was left in ruins.

Richards held her news conference on the square by a 20-foot clock, which had stopped at 9:38 p.m.. when the twister hit. Richards said an 81-year old woman named Sybil weathered the storm sitting on a stool inside her closet "The only thing left standing in that home is that closet" she said. A young blind boy also sought shelter under his house with his parents, the governor said. "The only way he knows about his house is by feel, and there isn't much left to feel," she said.

The governor Tuesday declared Dallas County which includes Lancaster and nearby DeSoto and 11 other counties disasters from the spring storms, which also pelted North Texas with large hail and heavy rain. Buddy Young, a regional representative with the Federal Emergency Management Administration, told reporters at the town square he was "very encouraged by the hard work being done to recover from this type of disaster." Young said his agency was ready to establish an office within 24 hours of a federal disaster declaration. Richards said that the request for federal aid would be oh its way to Washington soon and would pave the way for U.S. aid. Another twister in Gainesville, north of Dallas, injured about a dozen people Tuesday as it ripped through a mobile home park.

At LANCASTER Gov. Ann Richards on Wednesday said it was a miracle only three people died in the powerful twister that rampaged through this Dallas suburb, destroying the town square, dozens of businesses and hundreds of homes. "The devastation that has taken place here with a very minimal loss of life we lost three people and that is a terrible tragedy," Richards said. "But when you see the fact that so many people lived, I think it goes directly to the good work of this town and its mayor who made sure there was an alert that went out" Richards, who took a 30-minute aerial tour of the twister's six-mile long and half-mile wide path of destruction, said there was only one casualty in one city block she looked at because so heeded warnings and took shelter. "And thank God for bathtubs," she said.

"There were a lot of bathtubs that saved a lot of lives in this tragedy." Richards said she was confident that President Clinton would declare Lancaster a federal disaster. "First, let me tell you the kind of hole you feel in your heart when you've seen something like this happen in a community," she said. LANCASTER Residents and business owners weren't the only ones displaced by heavy rains and tornados that hit North Texas the last few days. Their pets were, too. That's why the Denton County Animal Rescue League has sprung into action.

For the first time, the all-volunteer group is responding to a natural disaster to make sure displaced pets return home. "We have a crew down there rounding up either stray or lost ani-pials that have been either disoriented during the storm or have gotten out," volunteer coordinator Lance Shurtleff said Tuesday night. Word spread quickly about their efforts. Many people have contacted the group to say they found animals and want to give them homes. Others are calling trying to find their pets.

The biggest problem is pets without tags, Shurtleff said. "All we have to go by are descriptions, markings and where they were found," he said. Shurtleff said if this debut into the disaster relief effort is a success, they may consider making it part of their services. "It very much could be," he said. r-sK- Mil JSfc, hrTTZl i Tmsssp- The Associated Press Tornado Aftermath: Lancaster residents survey a tornado damaged-home Tuesday.

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si trK mm SATURDAY APRIL 30, 1994 Begin your day with the fun filled International Springfest Parade Downtown Main Street, McAllen at 10:00 A.M.! Immediately after the parade, walk over to Archer Park for a FIESTA! A whole day full of fun for the entire family! There will be plenty of food, beverages, games, Karate and Canine exhibitions plus continuous entertainment including the following: 11:45.. 12:15.. 3 Day Special FrL, Sat Sophisticated City Shorts $19.90 to $26.90 (Originally $26. $34.) This season's best designer look, at the value of the year! Soft rayon double-breasted top, with matching shorts. Olive, butterscotch, black.

Also available in blackwhite plaid. S-M-L 4-14 Stage I Stasel Stage I Stasel Stage II Stasel Stage II Stagel Stage III Stasel 1:00 2:00... 2:00 3:00... McAllen Parks Recreation Folklorico Dancers Magic Show by "THE Oscar Mufioz and Introduction of the International Springfest Queen Contestants Fandango! of the Rio Grande Valley Folklorico Dancers International Guest Singer from Mexico City, "GRACIELA MAGANA" FREE DANCE with Wally Garza and "SANGRE TEJANA" Mariachl "NUEVA GENERACION" FREE DANCE with Wally Garza and "SANGRE TEJANA" Beauty and Talent Competition for International Springfest Queen FREE DANCE with the 40's Big Band Sound of "DEL PRADO ORCHESTRA" of Jose G. Prado Coronation of the 1994 International Springfest Queen FREE DANCE with the TUFF BAND" of Oscar Hernandez DONT MISS THE FUN! Stage II.