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Mineral Wells Opens High School Shelter After Tornado, Sets Curfew

4/30/2026

41 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

City opened Mineral Wells High School cafeteria as emergency shelter after tornado.
The tornado touched down near Mineral Wells, Texas, on April 28, injuring at least two and damaging structures along Highway 180.
National Weather Service confirmed the tornado at 5:10 p.m., three miles east of Mineral Wells on Highway 180.
Police Chief Tim Denison set a 10 p.m. curfew and told residents to stay home and avoid travel in the city’s northeast.

History

Historical Context

On May 3 1999 a violent F5 tornado ripped through Bridge Creek, Moore and Oklahoma City, killing 36 people, injuring 583 and causing about $1 billion in damage—the first billion-dollar tornado in U.S. history. The disaster prompted President Bill Clinton’s federal aid declaration, spurred FEMA’s shelter-policy reforms, and led to stricter building-code standards across tornado-prone regions.

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Story summary

City opened Mineral Wells High School cafeteria as emergency shelter after tornado.
The tornado touched down near Mineral Wells, Texas, on April 28, injuring at least two and damaging structures along Highway 180.
National Weather Service confirmed the tornado at 5:10 p.m., three miles east of Mineral Wells on Highway 180.
Police Chief Tim Denison set a 10 p.m. curfew and told residents to stay home and avoid travel in the city’s northeast.

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