SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – The last few hours have been rough on South Padre Island as Hurricane Dolly ravaged the area.  Winds as high as 115 mph were recorded in the area, as well as intense rain.

The worst of the storm hit the island just after noon on Wednesday, with strong winds continuing for at least four hours.  The wind started to let up around 5 p.m., but even at that time it was still gusting at 50 mph.

The island sustained a lot of damage including the tops of cabanas being torn off and windows blowing out of buildings. The Radisson hotel lost an entire wall of sliding doors and windows. People staying in the hotel were forced to take refuge in the lobby during the worst of the storm.

“I watched the front doors go blasting in.  Yeah, man.  Boom!  Then the windows that go between them in the tower blow in.  Boom!" said one hotel refugee.

During the height of the storm, flying debris was everywhere.  Signs blew over, palm trees were ripped down to the bark, and glass was broken in building and in vehicles. 

Reports of injuries are still not confirmed, but one 17-year-old man was blown off the balcony of one of the hotels.  He was on the seventh floor at the time and is said to have a broken hip.

The tide is still about 300 feet closer than it was on Tuesday, but the worst of the storm is over.