On Saturday morning, Christy Green, a Granbury tornado survivor, left John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth to return to Granbury.

Amid the destruction caused last Wednesday by the tornado that killed six of her neighbors, you will find Gene May.

One of the first things May did was get the flag from a pole, so that it didn’t fall to the ground.

“I can't let the flag, where it's going to, touch the ground. There's no way. This is my flag,” said May.

Her home was leveled by the EF- tornado, but the one thing left standing was the closet where she took cover.

“I am shocked it's still standing and that it protected me,” said May. “Whenever I crawled in there and felt that hardwood, I felt like Jesus was right there with his arms wrapped around me.”

Under all the debris scattered on her lot, we witnessed her find something priceless.

“My daddy's picture, oh, my daddy's picture. Now I'm fixing to cry. My daddy's been gone since '91!” said May. “Now the tears are going to come, I didn't think I would see any pictures of my family.”

May, despite losing her home, is still feeling blessed.

“I'm thankful for what I got, for the things I'm finding that still mean something.”

As many as three tornadoes may have hit in Young County on Friday night, according to the sheriff.

The Young County Sheriff Bryan Walls said the tornadoes were near Eliasville. One house that took a direct hit was damaged, the sheriff said.

There are uprooted trees, and one roadway is blocked with debris, he said.

The storms also produced baseball-sized hail in the area after the apparent tornadoes.

No injuries have been reported.

The North Texas branch of a Christian relief organization is putting together essentials for victims of this week's tornado outbreak.

Volunteers with World Vision are assembling packages in a warehouse tucked away in Grand Prairie. In assembly-line fashion, important items go into a bright orange pouch.

"Toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, anything associated with a first-aid kit, will fit right into this packet," volunteer Charles Davis said.

At the end, they add a personal touch -- a handwritten note of encouragement.

"[I'm] just telling them to hang in there, dig in, rebuild, be strong, that we're pulling for them," Elizabeth Marks said.

"It makes a difference when someone knows that we're there, along with the others who are responding to this tragedy," said Rafael Munoz, World Vision youth and community engagement organizer.

Hundreds of the packets are going to storm-damaged areas Friday, along with family meal kits and water cleanup kits.

"We just want encourage people to know that we're thinking of them and we know they can come back and they'll all be OK," volunteer Carol Yokell said.

More: World Vision

Hood County Sheriff Randy Deeds said Friday that officials are working on a plan to get displaced residents access to their property.

The areas impacted by Wednesday night's storms have been sealed off due to hazards in the neighborhood, including downed power lines and compromised gas lines.

Deeds said that until those were repaired, residents wouldn't be allowed back in the neighborhood.

During a news conference with Gov. Rick Perry on Friday, Deeds said there was a plan being put in place to allow residents back on their property beginning Saturday morning, on a limited basis.

Now, residents, contractors and insurance representatives will be allowed in the impacted area between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday, but all must first register with the county to get past roadblocks.  Proof of residency will be required.

Additionally, a disaster recovery information meeting will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Church of Christ at 1905 West Pearl Street in Granbury.  The meeting is open only to disaster victims and will include representatives from the American Red Cross, Mission Granbury and various insurance companies and contractors.  All will be available to answer questions about the recovery process.  All attendees will be required to park off of Pirate Drive in the south parking lot.

Contractors and Insurance Company representatives should call the Hood Fire Marshall’s Office at 817-579-3335 for additional information.

NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff contributed to this report.

As the cleanup continues in tornado-ravaged Cleburne, some people are seeing the destruction for the first time -- including 6-year-old Cole Curlee.

When the boy ran out of his house right after the tornado, his parents covered his eyes with their hands to shield him from the devastation.

The tornado was enough trauma, they said, and they didn't want him to see the trail of destruction left behind.

On Friday morning, the Curlee's returned to their neighborhood and Cole saw his house for the first time.

The roof is mostly gone and nearly every room in the house has shattered glass, broken furniture and debris scattered everywhere.

"What do you think, buddy?" asked his dad, Cody Curlee.

"Wow," Cole Curlee said, his eyes wide with shock and bewilderment. "Yeah, it doesn't look like our house anymore."

Cole explained how he survived the devastating EF-3 tornado.

"I was scared and everything. [Hiding] in the bathroom, I heard it all. I thought something blew off the roof," Cole Curlee said.

The boy then re-enacted that horrific night, climbing back into his bathtub that shielded he and his brother from flying debris.

"I was sitting right here like this, here. And my little brother was right here," he said.

Cole said he prayed with his parents until the tornado passed, and then he shared that prayer again.

"God, please let this storm pass, please let us be OK."

And everyone is OK.

Cole and his father returned to the house Friday so that he could learn a valuable lesson -- one of perseverance.

"We're going to get it fixed. We live in a good house. And it'll be even better when we're done with it," Cody Curlee said.

Cole, whose family is currently staying in a hotel, said he's ready to get back to kindergarten.

The General Motors Foundation is pledging $500,000 to Habitat for Humanity to help victims recover from Wednesday's rash of tornadoes.

The funds will be used to help restore neighborhoods devastated by Wednesday's storms.

Officials said 97 of the 110 homes in the Rancho Bravo Estates neighborhood were damaged or destroyed by the tornadoes.  Many of the homes were built by Habitat for Humanity.

"Helping Texas residents rebuild and repair their homes is a critical priority for Habitat for Humanity International in the aftermath of the recent tornadoes," said Selim Bingol, vice president, GM Global Communications and Public Policy and Chairman of the GM Foundation. "Through the $500,000 grant from the GM Foundation and the recently donated Chevrolet Express Vans, we are helping the organization immediately provide financial and other important resources to those in need."

Habitat for Humanity is assessing the impact on affordable housing in the affected areas and will assist with clean up, repairs and new construction efforts.
 
Additionally, Chevrolet is sending 24 Express vans donated as mobile response units in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy to Hood, Johnson, Montague, Parker and Wise counties.

"The vans are filled with tools and equipment from Lowe's and Robert Bosch Tool Corporation," the foundation said in a news release.

The GM Foundation's support of Habitat for Humanity in 2013 also includes a $1 million grant for neighborhood revitalization efforts in 12 U.S. cities, including Arlington and Austin, where teamGM Cares volunteers will be deployed this year.

The GM Foundation's support of Texas also includes a recent $100,000 grant to the Red Cross to aid emergency management officials with relief efforts in West, Texas.

The GM Foundation also donates annually to the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program to ensure the organization has funds to provide immediate relief when disaster strikes.

Six people were killed and as many as 100 others were injured in Granbury as at least 10 tornadoes moved through North Texas Wednesday night.

NBC 5 preempted primetime programming on NBC to bring important information to Dallas-Fort Worth viewers about severe weather moving through the area.

Unfortunately, due to existing programming commitments, Wednesday’s airings of "Dateline NBC," "Law & Order: SVU" and "Chicago Fire" will not be repeated in the near future. The programs may repeat on the NBC network schedule in future weeks.

Viewers who wish to see the missed programs can watch them online for free.

Click here for "Dateline NBC" (May 15 Episode 'Behind Closed Doors')

Click here for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (May 15 Episode 'Brief Interlude')

Click here for "Chicago Fire" (May 15 Episode 'Let Her Go')

The National Weather Service said the preliminary storm estimate for Wednesday night's tornado in Granbury was an EF-4, based on the Enhanced Fujita tornado damage scale. That means the storm carried wind speeds of 166 mph to 200 mph.

Seven people are still unaccounted for in Granbury.

A 10-year-old boy recalls how he survived the EF-4 tornado that damaged numerous homes in Granbury.

One of those homes came crashing down around Joseph Youngblood, 10, who huddled with his friend's family inside their bathroom - the only room in the house not ripped from its foundation.

An outbreak of as many as 16 tornadoes slammed through several small communities Wednesday night, killing six and injuring more than 100. 

The tornadoes, based on preliminary information from the National Weather Service, are believed to have touched down in the following locations. They are not listed in the order in which they developed.

1. Belcherville/Northern Montague County (EF-0)
The National Weather Service says this tornado was reported by storm spotters one mile west of Belcherville and had estimated peak wind speeds of 80 mph.  This tornado was ¼ mile in length and about 50 yards wide.

2. Lake Amon G. Carter/Montague County (EF-1)
Rated an EF-1, the National Weather Service says the estimated peak wind was 100 mph. One injury was reported as a result of the storm. NWS survey crews found five homes damaged, one home was destroyed. Additionally, significant tree damage was reported. This tornado was ½ mile in length and about 200 yards wide.

3. Alvord/Wise County (EF-0)
The National Weather Service says this tornado was reported by storm spotters and residents and occurred over open land, damaging only trees. Peak winds were estimated at 80 mph. This tornado was 1/10 mile in length and about 25 yards wide.

4. Millsap/Parker County (EF-1)
Rated an EF-1, National Weather Service survey crews found five homes significantly damaged by the tornado and trees damaged. The estimated peak wind was 100 mph. This tornado was 1.5 miles in length and about 400 yards wide.

5. Granbury/Hood County (EF-4)
Rated an EF-4, six people were killed in the storm and dozens more injured. National Weather Service survey crews found homes wiped from their foundations. The storm was half a mile wide and was on the ground for nearly three miles.  Estimated peak winds from this tornado were 180 mph.

6. Pecan Plantation/Hood County (EF-1)
Rated an EF-1, National Weather Service survey crews found an additional path of damage that is separate from the Granbury tornado. The estimated peak wind was 90 mph. This tornado was 2 miles in length and about 300 yards wide.

7. West of Annetta/Parker County (EF-0)
The National Weather Service says this EF-0 tornado left significant damage along Tin Top Road, in an area southwest of Annetta and northwest of Cresson. Trees, mobile homes and barns were destroyed. Peak wind speeds were estimated to be 80 mph. This tornado was 1.5 miles in length and about 100 yards wide.

8. Cleburne/Johnson County (EF-3)
The National Weather Service survey crews estimate the peak wind was 140 mph for this EF-3 tornado. The NWS said the tornado was a mile wide and stayed on the ground for 8 and a half miles. Dozens of homes were damaged.

9. ESE Cleburne/Johnson County (EF-0)
Rated an EF-0, National Weather Service survey crews found an additional path of damage that is separate from the EF-3 tornado that hit Cleburne. This tornado mostly damaged trees, though five manufactured homes did suffer roof damage. The estimated peak wind was 85 mph. This tornado was 1 mile in length and about 1 mile wide.

10. Mills County (EF-0)
The National Weather Service says this tornado was reported by storm spotters.  Peak wind estimates are 80 mph. This tornado was ¼ mile in length and about 50 yards wide.  More information on this tornado is still being gathered, as of Friday afternoon.

11. & 12. North of Evant/Western Hamilton County (EF-0)
The National Weather Service says video footage showed two tornadoes occurred simultaneously approximately two miles north of Evant in Western Hamilton County.  This tornadoes were both ¼ mile in length and about 25 yards wide. Peak wind speeds were approximately 85 mph.

13. Ennis/Ellis County (EF-1)
Rated an EF-1, National Weather Service survey crews found significant damage in Ennis and say the tornado was on the ground for approximately six miles starting west of Interstate 45 and crossed the highway south of Ennis Avenue.  The swath was about 400 yards wide. The estimated peak wind was 90 mph. Local officials say 17 homes were damaged, four of which were uninhabitable. Fifty five businesses were damaged, 20 of those suffered severe damage.

14. Southeast of Mineral Wells/Palo Pinto County (EF-0)
The brief EF-0 tornado started and ended about three and half miles south-southeast of Mineral Wells at approximately 6:41 p.m. Off-duty NWS meteorologists photographed the tornado, which is separate from the Millsap tornado. No damage has been reported so far.  This tornado was ½  mile in length and about 50 yards wide with estimated peak wind speeds of 85 mph.

15. East of Millsap/Parker County (EF-0)
An EF-0 tornado was photographed by off-duty NWS meteorologists about three miles east of Millsap. It is also separate from the Millsap tornado. No damage has been reported so far. This tornado was ½ mile in length and about 50 yards wide with estimated peak wind speeds of 80 mph.

16. Nocona Lake/Montague County
Storm spotters reported this tornado near Nocona Lake in Montague County. Some damage was reported, but additional details were not immediately available.

NWS officials said the first tornado was reported to have occurred at 5:38 p.m. in Montague County and the last was at about 9:45 p.m. southeast of Cleburne.

Tornado victims in Granbury hope Gov. Rick Perry will help them rebuild their lives after his scheduled tour of the devastation Friday.

"We were showing each other our different size hail," said Natalie Tort.

Natalie, her husband Anthony, and 11-year-old son Mateo, were comparing samples of golf ball-sized hail Wednesday night when they heard the tornado sirens at their home in the Rancho Brazos Estates neighborhood.

"We went into the closet and put blankets and pillows on our heads," said Mateo Tort.

The tornado, which officials later rated as an EF-4 with winds up to 200 mph, tore through the subdivision.

"It just all started crashing down around us.  It seemed like forever.  It just sounded like a train coming through our living room," said Natalie Tort.

"All you see is this big funnel, and you look up at it and terror comes over you," said Anthony Tort.

The family survived and emerged to the devastation.  "I was sad.  Everything was gone," said Mateo Tort.

Their home has damage, but the walls are still standing.  Natalie Tort feels some guilt knowing that so many of their neighbors are not as lucky.

"I was shocked at the people around us, and how we were still OK.  That makes me feel bad, for feeling bad for myself when other people don't have anything anymore," she said.

Everyone is just waiting to get home to see if anything can be salvaged.

The Torts said many neighbors are now homeless and will need a hand from the governor to pick up the pieces.

"Hopefully he can see the devastation.  Hopefully he can start cleaning up and show us we need help here at home," Anthony Tort said.

The Tort's home was built by Habitat for Humanity, like half of their subdivision.  The family said they did the work once and plan to rebuild again.
 

As the tornado roared toward their home outside Granbury Wednesday night, all five members of the Zapata family raced to the bathtub.

"I couldn't stop screaming or crying,” said 18-year-old Ana, the oldest sibling.

Ana, her parents and two brothers, Noe, 7, and Ezequiel, 12, huddled together.

But first, with seconds to spare, father Paul Zapata grabbed a mattress to cover them.

"Once I put the first mattress over them, I was like, this isn't enough,” he said.

So he dragged in a second mattress, and jumped in the tub too.

"And then we started praying,” Ana said.

They sang a prayer in Spanish.

"Dios esta aqui. Tan cierto como el aire…”

The prayer translates to: God is here, as sure as the air.

“That's the way we calm down,” said mother Ruth Zapata. “We felt like he was right there."

And then, it happened.

"I heard glass breaking,” Ana said.

Paul Zapata said what happened next was incredible.

"Feeling the walls shake and the tub under you is feeling like it is going to lift up anytime,” Paul Zapata recalled.

"I started more crying, screaming,” Ana said.

"The mattresses felt like they were trying to leave us. But no, we  kept holding,” Ruth Zapata said.

Somehow, they held on as the twister ripped their house apart.

"And then it's over and we're okay and we're thankful that we're alive because in that moment, I thought we were goners. I thought it was going to take us.” Ruth Zapata said.

Many of their neighbors were hurt – some killed. But the Zapatas made it out of that bathtub, without a scratch.

"Thank God we're here, we're alive,” Paul Zapata said.

Now in a Red Cross shelter, with barely the clothes on their backs, they say they're overwhelmed by the support.

"Strangers have called. I'd like to thank each and every one of you all,” Paul Zapata said. “Thank you."

In an instant, one family’s lives were changed forever.

"We're not going to forget this,” Ruth Zapata said. “We're not going to forget what God did for us in that moment. And I even told my son, my 7-year-old and 12-year-old, don't. Because God gave us another chance to live."

The National Weather Service says the deadly tornadoes that ripped through Granbury and Cleburne Wednesday, were an EF-4 and an EF-3, respectively.

Granbury's EF-4 between tornado had wind speeds between 160 and 200 mph while Cleburne's EF-3 had wind speeds between 136 mph and 165 mph.

The EF rating determines the strength of a tornado by assessing the damage caused.  From the damage,  the wind speeds and EF-rating are determined. The highest rating on the EF scale is an EF-5.

Preliminary estimates suggest as many as 10 tornadoes touched down across North Texas Wednesday night in Hood, Johnson and Ellis counties.

Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds said he hoped the death toll from the tornado would hold at six, with as many as 100 people injured and 250 people left homeless in Hood County.  Additionally, seven people remain missing after the storm.

In Cleburne, the NWS said the most significant damage occurred east of Lake Cleburne.

At this time, officials are determining ratings and confirmations of other tornadoes, including whether damage done in Ellis County was the result of a tornado or straight-line winds.

As the NWS releases more information regarding the strength of Wednesday night's tornadoes, it will be added to this page.

Residents and electrical crews spent Thursday cleaning up and restoring power in Cleburne as homeowners feel lucky to be alive.

Homes along the roadway are missing entire sections the day after an estimated EF-3 tornado hit three neighborhoods in the Johnson County city.

At a news conference on Thursday, Mayor Scott Cain says the tornado reached speeds of 140 mph and National Weather Service says it had a path 8.5 miles in length.

While damage at Country Club and Hyde Park Drive is significant to some homes, many others only suffered roof or tree damage. 

In one subdivision, near Lake Pat Cleburne, every home is missing some part of its roof.

"We ran inside and got into the kitchen right behind the counters and about that time it hit," said Cleburne resident Jeff Dugger.

Dugger's roof and parts of his second floor are gone, but his wife, kids and dog are all fine. They survived the experience in the kitchen.

"Too early to tell if we're going to need builders or bulldozers," Dugger said.

Dugger says they knew the storm was coming. He says it hit for about seven seconds before lifting. Dugger says his family almost started to get up when it hit a second time for what he said felt "like an eternity." In reality, it was about 15 seconds of swirling glass and falling insulation.

"The house couldn't take much more, we knew when we got covered in insulation that our roof was gone," Dugger said.

Dugger's home is one of more than 600 damaged homes, according to Mayor Scott Cain. 

Cain described 30 of the homes as dramatically damaged. No deaths or serious injuries have been reported in Cleburne – only nine people were treated for minor injuries.

Cain says it's the worst natural disaster to hit his town during his lifetime.

"The amount of damage in the Winchester Edition when I first got there was a bit overwhelming to take it all in," Cain said at a news conference.

Cain and other local leaders credit the National Weather Service and media outlets for spreading word of the storms and preventing any major injuries or loss of life.

"It's hard to look around the neighborhood and think we're lucky," Dugger said. "But everybody, every house here, is shaking their heads here with a smile saying, 'we're lucky.' We're lucky folks."

A curfew is in place for the impacted areas from dusk until dawn. Numerous police agencies are only allowing residents into the damaged areas. Cain issued a strong warning for anyone trying to loot items.

Cleburne leaders and residents have also expressed concerned about the devastation to the west in Granbury and Hood County.

An EF-1 tornado near Amon Carter Lake south of Bowie destroyed a home and a country club and damaged four other homes.

Roy Chapmond said he saw the tornado barreling down on his home at about dinnertime. He and his wife took cover in an interior bathroom.

"The roof just went off, and the walls just collapsed, and we were just standing there -- not a scratch," he said. "You didn't have time to be scared; it was over in like 30 seconds."

The National Weather Service on Thursday said the twister was an EF-1 tornado with winds of up to 100 mph.

Neighbors say they saw it travel from the lake to the Chapmond home, tearing up trees and homes along the way. Most of the homes only had roof and siding damage, Chapmond's house, which he built less than a year ago, was a total loss.

He and his wife said their insurance agent informed them that the damage to their house and classic car collection would be covered.

"They're going to put us up until our home's rebuilt, over and above our insurance. Everything's taken care of," Chapmond said.

But he and his wife made it out OK, which is the real reason to smile, he said.

"Thank God. We love the Lord, and we'll be fine," he said.

The Top O The Lake Country Club's main building was also destroyed in the storm.

"This storm kind of came up unexpectedly," country club owner Greg Underwood said.

Club staff had just closed up for the day and left when the storm ripped the back and roof of the clubhouse completely off, uprooted a giant tree in the back and tore up the golf course.

"It would cost probably $850,000 to $900,000 to replace it, and I don't have that much insurance on it," said Underwood, while looking at the clubhouse.

He said he doesn't know what they will do to replace the building but said the club would clean up the golf course in time for a charity tournament this weekend.

"The golf course is going to continue in the end -- we're confident about that," he said.

The Montague County sheriff says he believes as many as three tornadoes hit the county Wednesday night. He said there also was roof and tree damage near Nocona and rural damage near Belcherville that didn't affect any homes.

No major injuries were reported in the county.

The Humane Society of North Texas and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are lending a hand to help those impacted by Wednesday night's devastating twisters.

Working in partnership with Hood County Animal Control, the HSNT has a team on the ground going door-to-door to rescue trapped animals and return them to their families.

The HSNT said Thursday afternoon they have already rescued about 50 dogs and cats, though more are feared missing.

Volunteers are accepting donations for dog food, cat food and cat litter at their location in Fort Worth at 1840 E. Lancaster Avenue.  Cash donations are being accepted as well.

Animals that were up for adoption in Hood County are being moved to Fort Worth to clear space at shelters in the county.

In Ellis County, the SPCA of Texas has transferred 12 dogs from the Ellis County SPCA to their McKinney facility to make room for animals affected by the storm.  The facility has plenty of room for cats, but was near capacity for dogs before the storm hit.

Officials with the city of Ennis released a map Thursday showing the approximate track of a tornado that touched down in the town Wednesday night.

In the map, the tornado is plotted as moving from the southwest to the northeast, first touching down along Ennis Avenue west of Spur 437/Clay Street.

The tornado then moved along Ennis Avenue, on a northeasterly course, while spreading as far south of Ennis Avenue by as much as four blocks.

The tornado eventually crossed Interstate 45 and headed northeast toward more open farm land.

City officials said Thursday afternoon that damage estimates classified the tornado as an EF-1, with wind speeds between 86-110 mph.

As many as 13 tornadoes are believed to have touched down in North Texas Wednesday night.  One of those, which touched down in Granbury and killed six people, has been rated an EF-4 by the National Weather Service.

The overwhelming process of cleaning up after Wednesday night's tornado in Granbury is underway.

In the hardest hit areas, it's still not safe for people to return to their neighborhood. Meanwhile, utility crews are working to repair downed power lines.

"It was huge, absolutely huge," said neighbor Shawn Hanna.  Hanna had been heading home and watched as the massive tornado tore through Granbury.

"We were driving in it and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, it's going to hit the house.' It was on top of the house and he's like, 'We've got to get the dog," said Hanna.

Their house survived with minor damage, but just a quarter mile down the road homes are seriously damaged or destroyed.

"These two houses are the only ones on the road that didn't get effected that we can see.  Everything on down, that we can see, are pretty much up in the trees," Hanna said.

In trying to escape from the twister, Hanna discovered the chaos as people scrambled in the Rancho Brazos subdivision where several of the homes were built through Habitat for Humanity for low income families.

"It was really, really bad.  We out ran it, thank goodness.  But, we were first on the scene at Rancho Brazos.  We were looking for people, hollering for their kids," Hanna recalls.

Hanna said several retirees live in the nearby De Cordova Ranch subdivision where some large homes are leveled.

Seven people are still missing in the aftermath. 

"They're still looking for people we know.  The elderly mom, running around trying to find her friend," Hanna said.

Volunteers are rallying any way they can and are meeting at First United Methodist Church at 301 Loop 567.  People who want to lend a hand should meet on the Loop side and look for the CERT trailer. 
"It's a tight-knit community.  Everyone knows everyone.  We'll all come together.  It's what we do," said Hanna.

Crews are searching through the devastation for other victims and working to identify those who have died.

The sheriff said until the area is safe, residents will not be able to return home.

Texas politicians and other notables sent their messages of support for victims of deadly tornadoes that broke out in Hood, Johnson, and Ellis counties Wednesday night.

Governor Rick Perry released the following statement:
“I’m deeply saddened by the deaths caused by yesterday’s horrific storms. The State Operations Center has been monitoring this situation since yesterday afternoon and continues to assist locals with any unmet needs they may have. I commend our first responders, who do everything in their power to minimize the damage and care for the wounded. The thoughts of 26 million Texans are with those suffering today, along with our prayers for a quick and full recovery for those still hospitalized, and for this community as a whole.”

Congressman Marc Veasey released the following statement:
“My thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to those affected by the tornadoes in Granbury and Cleburne last night.  Tragically, the tornadoes took numerous lives, and many have been injured and have had their homes damaged or destroyed.  Let us keep Johnson and Hood Counties – part  of the North Texas community – in our thoughts and prayers.  And let us thank the first-response teams that have been working around the clock to help those affected by this horrible tragedy.”

Texas Senator Ted Cruz Tweeted his message of support:

My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by tonight's tornado in Granbury, their friends & family, & all the first responders.

— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) May 16, 2013

Texas Representative Jeb Hensarling also Tweeted a message of support:

This morning, my thoughts & prayers are with my fellow Texans who were impacted by last night's devastating storm. #GodBlessTexas

— Jeb Hensarling (@RepHensarling) May 16, 2013

Senator John Cornyn released the following message of support:
“Sandy and I were deeply saddened to learn of the destruction and loss of life in North Texas. We join all Texans in praying for the injured and grieving. All of Texas stands with the communities who now undoubtedly will come together to rebuild in the wake of the damage.”

A North Texas county sheriff says seven people remain unaccounted for after a massive EF-4 tornado claimed six lives.

Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds on Thursday said emergency responders are searching parts of Granbury left devastated.

Deeds said authorities are working to identify the six adults who died in Wednesday night's twister in Granbury, about 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

Deeds earlier said 14 people were missing but half were later found with family or friends. Deeds said he hopes that will be the case for the other seven missing people.

He said 37 people were treated at a Granbury hospital and of those, 15 were transported to Fort Worth-area hospitals and 19 were treated and released. The sheriff said three people remain Thursday at Lake Granbury Medical Center.

Earl McCoy was asleep when a tornado — one of 16 to tear through North Texas Wednesday night — arrived in Ennis.

He was awoken, not by screaming wind or blaring sirens, but by a drip of water that fell from his ceiling — his only warning of what was to come.

A moment later, the ceiling collapsed. "I jumped up and went to the door and then that fell," McCoy said, pointing to another section of the ceiling. "To be sound asleep, and this piece falls on top of me, and this piece falls right beside me ... it was unreal."

Elizabeth Tovar of Granbury, the hardest-hit area of North Texas, rode out the storm in her tub.

"We were all, like, hugging in the bathtub and that's when it started happening. I heard glass shattering and I knew my house was going," Tovar said. "We looked up and … the whole ceiling was gone."

Three tornadoes that touched down drilled through Hood County around 8 p.m., leaving six dead, seven missing and 250 people homeless, Sheriff Roger Deeds said.

All of the fatalities were in the Rancho Brazos neighborhood, built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers over the last five years.

"Some were found in houses. Some were found around houses," Deeds said. "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."

The search for survivors, and the dead, began last night at the scene, which Deeds described as "a war zone."

NBC 5 DFW's Scott Gordon, who was in Granbury after the storm hit, said that residents in the area appeared to be "dazed." He said there were not enough stretchers to go around and that children were carried out as driving rain hammered down.

Back in Ennis, Donna Summer was expressing her gratitude for the police and firefighters who checked on her throughout the night. She was working a late shift at a local restaurant when the winds picked up.

"Sounded like a low, whirring, whir noise, like a train. A small train," she said. "I just stayed inside and prayed a lot. Didn't want to get outside. I was afraid to see if we had a town left."

After the power cut out, she said the only lights were those from police and fire vehicles outside.

"About every hour they'd come by and check on me ... make sure the boogeyman don't get me."

Further west in Cleburne, where a mile-wide tornado was reported Wednesday night, Shari East was still processing what she went through.

"I have nightmares about tornadoes every year, and now I lived through one."

East said she heard warning sirens for a few minutes before the storm was upon her.

"It just kind of hit out of nowhere. You could hear it. My husband made us all get in the bathtub and put mattresses over us. He wouldn't get in the bathtub because there wasn't enough room."

East had been on the phone with her daughter, who lives across town, when the call cut off.

"Scary. Never been so scared in my life," she said, adding that she was "amazed that we all lived through it."

The mayor of Cleburne said it's a miracle that no one was killed in his town when the tornado touched down Wednesday night.

Seven people were rushed to the hospital with minor injuries, with mostly minor injuries like scrapes and cuts from broken glass. No one was seriously injured.

NBC 5 talked to the Alaniz family, who lives on the hardest hit street in the town, Country Club Road. Dozens of houses along that street are damaged.

"I wanted it to be over, wanted to make sure my kids were OK," said Melanie Alaniz, a mother of two.

When the storm intensified, Alaniz grabbed her husband, her 11-year-old daughter, 14-year-old son and their three dogs and ran into a small interior closet.

"I'm just thankful. I know this probably is one of the worst [homes] and I'm just so happy everyone's OK," Alaniz said.

Their ears popped in the closet, Alaniz said. They cried. They prayed. And they survived.

When asked how to make sense of the devastation, Alaniz replied: "I don't know. You're going to make me cry. I don't know, somebody was watching over us," she said.

Devastation is all around Cleburne. Trailers are slammed against garages. Windows are shattered. Roofs are ripped apart. Powerlines are snapped in half.

"I thought we were going to die. It was scary," said neighbor Jaime Riffel.

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 as many as 100 people injured and 250 people left homeless in Hood County.

"It's definitely a nightmare," he said.

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.

Deeds said three tornadoes have been reported. The twisters damaged areas three miles east of Granbury that have about 110 homes, he said.

"Most all of that is heavy damage," he said.

Deeds said the storm intensified at about 7:30 p.m., and reports of rotation came in at about 8 p.m.

"It was horrible. ... The house started shaking," one witness said. "We were in a closet. You could hear it -- it sounded like a train going off. It was scary."

He said his house was fine but "everyone else's was horrible."

Another witness described it as being "like hell."

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. People searching for family members are asked to call 817-579-2888.

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.

NBC 5's Scott Gordon said people with minor injuries could be seen helping people with more serious injuries when he arrived on the scene Wednesday night.

Gordon reported "widespread damage," saying he saw houses blown to pieces. He said he had not seen the worst-hit areas.

Witnesses said homes in the area were leveled.

"There's nothing left," one man said.

A triage center was set up at Davis and Canyon roads, and school buses were called in to help transport people. Deeds said 250 people in total were taken away from the damaged areas.

The American Red Cross has opened two shelters -- First Christian Church of Granbury at 2109 West U.S. Route 377 and Granbury First United Methodist Church at 301 Loop 567.

People with questions about the tornado in Hood County can call 682-498-8010.

Schools will be open on Thursday, Deeds said.

The tornado was part of a system of severe thunderstorms that spawned several tornadoes across North Texas and dropped large hail in some areas. According to preliminary reports, there were 10 tornadoes in North Texas on Wednesday night.

Injuries are reported in Cleburne, where a mile-wide tornado was reported Wednesday night, NBC 5's Omar Villafranca reported.

Downed trees and power outages were also reported in Cleburne, which was declared a disaster area early Thursday morning.

City officials said most of Cleburne was without power as of 3 a.m. The water plant in the city is running on emergency power, City Manager Rick Holden said.

The plant is running at full capacity.

Damage was reported at Gerard Elementary School and Smith Middle School, but the extent of the damage was not immediately known. Wheat Middle School and Cleburne High School have also reportedly sustained water damage. State troopers cordoned off part of the area near the school.

School district officials have canceled school for all campuses on Thursday.

Homes near the school were damaged, Villafranca reported, but no solid numbers were available early Thursday morning.

Gas drilling wells near the area around Gerard Elementary School were damaged in the storm, Holden said. Chesapeake Energy, which operates the wells, arrived to secure the facilities.

A Johnson County constable confirmed that there were injuries. Ambulances were spotted leaving the area.

Storm spotters reported seeing a mile-wide tornado five miles northwest of Rio Vista at 9:19 p.m.

Heavy damage was reported in Cleburne a short time later, but it was unclear what had caused the damage. In addition to the tornado, Cleburne also also saw heavy winds of 75 mph to 85 mph winds.

Keaton Taylor, the assistant manager of a Home Depot in Cleburne, said there is a lot of damage in the area. The store is staying open all night for people who need supplies or shelter.

There were also reports of another tornado in Hood County at about the same time.

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 up to the size of grapefruit pelted the area around Mineral Wells on Wednesday evening, but police dispatcher reported only minor damage.

An EF-1 tornado struck Ennis at about midnight during Wednesday night's tornado outbreak.

Several buildings suffered serious damage in downtown Ennis, including buildings in the historic district. Some buildings suffered roof and structure damage.

The National Weather Service said the tornado, which had an estimated peak wind of 90 mph, was on the ground for about six miles. It started west of Interstate 45 and crossed the highway south of Ennis Avenue.

Officials with the city of Ennis released a map Thursday showing the approximate track of the tornado.

The local Dairy Queen sustained significant damage. The air-conditioning unit on top of the building was thrown into the next-door parking lot.

With the electricity out, the owner gave away the restaurant's ice cream.

"We were giving free Dilly Bars and everything; they were melting this afternoon," Joey Pratt said. "So we were in traffic; I had guys out there giving away ice cream, so we did some good PR work this afternoon."

One minor injury was reported from cuts to a person's arm and head as a result of broken glass.

Damage to residential areas ranges from minor to moderate and included damage from fallen trees.

NBC 5's Amanda Guerra contributed to this report.