Johnny Ortiz, left, and James South, right, carry Miguel Morales, center, who was injured in a tornado, to an ambulance in Granbury, Texas, on Wednesday May 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes) Multiple tornadoes swept through north Texas on Wednesday, damaging dozens of homes and claiming several lives, NBC Dallas Fort-Worth reported.

At least six people were killed after a twister touched down southeast of Granbury, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds announced in a midnight press conference. Up to 100 more were injured, some critically, The Associated Press reported.

The Granbury neighborhoods of Ranchos Brazos Estates and DeCordova Ranch suffered the brunt of the damage.

"There were probably 75 homes in [the Rancho Brazos] subdivision that are totally destroyed,'' Deeds said. "We haven't had a bad one like this for a while.''

A mile-wide tornado reached 80 mph winds as it passed through the town of Cleburne, the Dallas Morning News reported. Injuries were also reported there, NBC reported.

Another twister hit about 40 miles west of Fort Worth in the town of Millsap, causing damage to buildings.

The tornadoes developed this evening out of a system of thunderstorms over the area. Grapefruit-sized hail also pelted the area around Mineral Wells.

A tornado warning issued earlier for southwestern Ellis County, north central Hill County and southeastern Johnson County has expired.

MORE FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GRANBURY, Texas — Officials awaited daybreak to fully assess the scope of the destruction left in the wake of a deadly tornado in Granbury. Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds said he hoped the death toll from the tornado would hold at six, with about 50 people injured and 250 people left homeless.

The twister was part of a swarm of tornadoes unleashed on North Texas, devastating two neighborhoods in southern Granbury and a neighborhood in nearby Cleburne.

"I've been assured by my deputies on the scene that they're pretty confident with the six that they found, but there was a report that two of these people that they found were not even near their homes. So we're going to have to search the area out there," he said.

About 50 people were taken to a Granbury hospital, where 14 were admitted for treatment of injuries and two were transferred to a hospital in Fort Worth, about 35 miles to the northeast, Deeds said.

About 50 people gathered in the Oak Wood Elementary School after nightfall Wednesday to have their injured children examined by paramedics. Five were taken away by ambulance.

As many as 100 people were injured, said Matt Zavadsky, spokesman for MedStar Mobile Healthcare. His company sent three ambulances and a medical bus from its Fort Worth base to Granbury.

Deeds said officials were trying to account for 14 people, but it was not clear if they were missing or were away from the area for other reasons.

Hardest hit were two neighborhoods, Rancho Brazos Estates and DeCordova Ranch, in the southern end of the town of about 8,000 residents about 65 miles southwest of Dallas.

Behind one house in the storm's path sits a detached garage stripped of much of its aluminum siding have with its garage door stove in and its roof torn off. Siding was scattered up to 50 yards away, and bits of fiberglass insulation draped on a fence. A tree behind the house was stripped of most of its branches, and a vacant doublewide mobile home on an adjoining lot was torn apart.

Deeds spoke of a county road operations supervisor who lives in the affected area.

"I've been told his home is destroyed but he was OK, so he was ready to go to work to help his neighbors. But he can't find his truck. The winds were strong enough out there that he still doesn't know where his truck is," Deeds said.

Ambulances from as far away as Fort Worth were being called to Granbury, said Tye Bell, Richland Hills police spokesman who was heading to Granbury on Wednesday night.

The same storm spawned another tornado that storm spotters told the National Weather Service was a mile wide. That twister tore through the southwestern quadrant of Cleburne, a courthouse city of about 30,000 about 25 miles southeast of Granbury.

There were no reports of deaths in that storm, Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain said, "but we do have the potential for some injuries." He had no estimates.

Cain had no estimate on the number of homes damaged, but he said he expected the number to soar into the dozens based on his inspection of damage ranging from roof damage to total destruction.

Another tornado hit the small town of Millsap, about 40 miles west of Fort Worth. Parker County Judge Mark Kelley said roof damage was reported to several houses and a barn was destroyed, but no injuries were reported.

Hail as large as grapefruit also pelted the area around Mineral Wells on Wednesday evening. A police dispatcher reported only minor damage.

DALLAS, May 15, 2013  Several strong thunderstorms cut a swath through north Texas late Wednesday, with baseball-sized hail smashing everything from car windshields to the marquee of a landmark East Dallas movie theater.

A storm in Fannin County northeast of Dallas flipped over a mobile home, injuring three people, according to a National Weather Service report.

No serious injuries were reported but property damage was extensive.

Two intense storms that swept through the Dallas area in the late afternoon lasted more than three hours before tapering off, said Jason Dunn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

"This was definitely a multimillion-dollar hail storm," said Dunn said. "A lot of car windshields were blown out and roofs damaged in Dallas."

Hail smashed the marquee of the landmark Lakewood Theatre in East Dallas. Several glass sculptures created by nationally renowned artist Dale Chihuly that are on display outdoors at the Dallas Arboretum suffered minor damage, WFAA-TV news reported.

The storms also shredded trees and blanketed streets with downed limbs and leaves. About 6,000 homes and businesses lost power during the storms, WFAA reported.

In the Northern Hemisphere, there's no doubt summer is here — and with it, the perpetual quest to stay cool. For those of us interested in sustainability, the thought of huge summer cooling bills (and all the greenhouse emissions they cause) is enough to send a chill down the spine.   You've probably already heard the basics of summertime energy management: keep your air conditioner filters clean, make sure your weather stripping is tight, draw the drapes during the heat of the day, and avoid the use of big heat-creating appliances like ovens and ranges whenever possible. If you want a quick review of hot weather energy-saving ideas, check this giant list of summer cooling tips.   But there are other ways to keep your cool through the summer. We've rounded up five for your consideration, including several tried-and-true methods from the days before central air. Give one or two a shot, and see how they work for you.
                                                                                            
1) Go tropical
 Take the lead of those who spend most of their lives in tropical climates: loose, lightweight cotton and linen clothing rules.   The guayabera, sometimes called the "Mexican wedding shirt," is constructed to cool you naturally. A relative of the traditional Filipino barong, the guayabera wicks moisture from the skin and is worn untucked to promote air circulation. Madras is another good summertime choice for both men's and women's clothing.   Don't forget the old standard of the American Deep South: seersucker. Originally an Indian import, its crisp cotton and cooling ridges make it a hot weather classic.                                                                                              
2) Cool that pulse point
  When you were sick as a child, your mom may have brought you a cold facecloth. This idea works the same way.   Chill your pulse points by running cold water over your wrist for a minute or so each hour. Splashing water on your temples or face can produce a similar effect. And be sure to put some of that tap water into a glass and stay hydrated.                                                                               3) Don't eat: Graze
  Ever notice how you feel hot after a big meal? It's not just because the food was served warm.   Big, protein-laden meals force your body to stoke its metabolic fires. The solution is to break up your eating into smaller, more frequent meals. You'll feel cooler — and it's better for you, anyway.   4) Eat to sweat
  Latin America, India, Thailand — some of the world's hottest places. And they happen to serve some of the world's hottest foods.   Scientists have argued for years over why this is the case, but the most likely reason is that spicy foods make you sweat without actually raising body temperature. Chalk it up to capsaicin, a chemical found in things like hot peppers. Once your skin is damp, you'll feel cooled by its evaporation. 
5) Stay cool under the covers
  A lot of people find it difficult to sleep in hot weather.   Want to cool the bed down? Fill a standard hot water bottle with ice water. Use it to cool your ankles and the back of your knees — it works. You can also try bagging your sheets and tossing them in the freezer for an hour or two before bed. Cooling your head cools your entire body. Opt for a cool and absorbent pillow of organic cotton if at all possible.

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How do I know I have hail damage?  That seems to be quite a common questions these days after the recent storms that blew through the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex  
and the surrounding areas.


 
So then, how DO you know it you have hail damage? To the trained eye,
hail damage can be easy to spot to your roof, gutters, fascia, AC units, or
other aluminum around your property. But to the average homeowner who rarely
looks at those things, it can often go unforeseen.
 
 Above All Roofing can help!
 
Typically when hard hail, like what we experience in the Dallas 
area impacts your shingled roof at high velocity, it creates a small
indentation in the shingle and is often surrounded a dark circle which resemble
a bruise. Sometimes, the hail can actually puncture the shingle entirely. When
we at Above All Roofing inspect your roof for hail damage, we look for a range
of 7-10 identifiable hail hits on at least two separate slops of your roof to
consider filing a replacement claim with your insurance  provider.

If you think that your roof may have been damaged by the recent hail and
wind storm, please contact Above All Roofing today for a free, no obligation
inspection report. We have been in business a long time and have certified hail
damage and insurance claim specialists ready to help you with your claim.

Don’t wait to long because or let the damage go unnoticed. Unfortunately,
some people let it go too long without having a hail damage expert look to
verify the damage and will not be able to claim the loss in damages from their
insurance company
 
We would be happy to take a look and see if your roof was one of the many
in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that were affected by the hail storm.
And a special note to our DFW clients, we appreciate the trust you’ve
placed in is in handling your repairs.
  
Here are 3 key ways you can quickly
check to see if you may have experienced hail damage to your home:

1. After a hailstorm, check the downspouts that drain your gutters to see if
   there may be granules from your roof there.


2. Look at your AC Unit or your guttering system to see if you can identify any
   collateral damage.


3. Look on your ceilings or walls to see if you notice any premature or sudden
   leaking that could be coming in through your roof.

About Storm Chasers

  What is a storm chaser? Storm chasers are companies that follow severe
weather from area to  area, completing home repairs (generally roofs and siding)
that are  damaged by hail and wind. They collect homeowners’ insurance claim 
checks in payment for their services, complete the work (often shoddily) before
moving on to the next storm ravaged area. Here in Dallas, we  are prone to
hailstorms, and storm chasers generally quickly follow any  such event. They
generally go door-to-door in storm damaged areas, and  may advertise themselves
as insurance recovery experts or specialists in insurance restoration. (The term
“Storm Chaser” can also be used to  describe a person who follows storms in
order to research, photograph,  or simply experience a weather phenomenon. This
type of storm chaser is  entirely different and is not of any concern to a
homeowner!)

   Why are storm chasers bad? The first step of a storm chaser is to ask
the homeowner to sign a  contract allowing their company to negotiate  with
homeowner’s insurance company.  By  signing these documents, homeowners may
be waiving their  right to any decision  making regarding their repairs or
replacement.  They also lose control over the insurance settlement, and the
entire  check of the payment may legally need to be signed over to the storm 
chaser- regardless of the quality or quantity of work completed. The  homeowner
may lose some control over materials used, leaving the storm  chaser free to cut
corners in order to increase their profit. Most  importantly, warranty repairs
can be very difficult to obtain as most  storm chasers leave the area as soon as
the storm “plays out.” These  companies are generally gone long before warranty
issues arise.  The  company is certainly not going to return from Florida
or Ohio to repair a problem with their work. To make matters even more
difficult, some  storm chasers lease local company names so the appear to be
local. Once  they complete their work in the area, they leave. The local company
is  then responsible for the warranty work. Of course, the volume of  warranty
work is often so great the local company ends up out of  business, leaving the
homeowner with problems.
Storm chasers are also very damaging to the local
economy. They  deprive local contractors of business and decrease the number of 
resources you have when your roof suddenly springs a leak.  By employing a
local contractor to complete your repairs, you are helping to  employee
local  workers.



How to spot a storm chaser
Storm chasers usually:

• Come door to door and try to get you to sign something immediately


• Use high pressure sales tactics


• Offer you a “Free Roof” or “Free Siding” or offer a way around paying a
  deductible (this  is insurance fraud!)


• Have out-of-state license plates or drivers license (and YES! you  can &
    should ask to see a drivers license to verify identity.)


• Are unable to produce recent, local references (or references from before 
  the storm date)


• Are unable to produce local supplier references (always check  references 
  from a potential contractors’ suppliers. If suppliers aren’t paid in a  timely
  fashion by a contractor, they can legally place a lien on your 
  home)


• Have no proof of manufacturer certifications (large manufacturers  offer
  their own  certifications to established legitimate contractors.  Look for 
  GAF-Elk Master Elite Contractors, GAF-Elk Certified  Contractors, IKO 
  Shield-Pro Plus, CertainTeed 5-Star Contractors)


• Are unlisted, have unsatisfactory ratings or have complaints filed  against
  them with the Better Business Bureau.

Advantages of Ridge Vent   

Roof ridge vents help to effectively prolong
and  protect a homeowner's roof from common culprits within the home, including 
moisture and heat. Found on most new homes, roof ridge vents offer a 
very simple and effective technology that many homeowners are relatively 
uninformed about. Especially here in Texas, with the HOT summers, finding the 
proper ventilation is very important!     
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Outside Air
 
Homes without roof ridge vents have the issue of an
escape  route for outside air flowing into the attic. The problem with
traditional  roofing is that once the outside air goes into the attic, it has no
way to  escape. Roof ridge-vent allows the outside air that enters to
escape out  the top of the roof, preventing damage--such as premature aging and
cracking--to  the attic and roof.

Moisture
 
Moisture can be released from many activities that are 
performed within homes, including running a washer, using a dishwasher or taking
  a shower. Moisture is one of the leading causes of damage to rafters, shingles,
  walls and insulation within homes. Roof ridge vents help to release 
moisture from homes, which is especially useful during the winter when moisture 
has a greater impact.

Ventilation
 
With the help of wind, a ventilation system is 
created in the attic with a roof ridge vent. As wind passes over the roof ridge 
vent, it draws air out of the attic. Fresh air is then drawn into the underside 
of the vent, creating a circulation system of fresh air.

Look
 
Most homeowners prefer the look of roof ridge
vents--which  are sleek and blend in well with the other shingles--to other
forms of  ventilation systems, which often consist of large fans, turbines and
vents.

Other Systems

Another benefit of roof ridge ventilation
systems is that they are  effective without being used in combination with other
systems. Other  types of ventilation systems, such as fans and powered
ventilators, can even  have an adverse effect when used with roof ridge vents
because of airflow  issues.