Straight-line winds gusting up to 45 mph caused widespread damage Thursday in the Texarkana area, uprooting trees, snapping power lines and leaving many neighborhoods in the dark.

SWEPCO officials said about 8,000 customers were without electricity and they were not sure when it would be restored.

Meanwhile, crews worked throughout the night to clear area roadways of debris and remove trees from housetops.

“This is awful. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Flo Foster of Dallas, who was driving westbound on Interstate 30 when the storm hit. “ I could...