HOLDENVILLE, Okla. – At least two people were killed, and several others were injured Saturday when devastating tornadoes tore through several Oklahoma cities during a severe weather outbreak that caused catastrophic damage to numerous homes and buildings and knocked out power to tens of thousands of utility customers.

The two deaths were reported in the city of Holdenville, and FOX 25 in Oklahoma City reports an infant is among the dead.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) said 14 homes were damaged or destroyed in Holdenville, and Highway 9 had been blocked due to debris in the roadway.

In addition, Oklahoma City Task Force One was responding to the area on Sunday to provide search and rescue support.

Significant damage was reported across the region, including in Marietta, where damage was reported to Marietta Hospital.

The OEM said hospital patients took shelter during the extreme weather, and no injuries had been reported there.

The storms also forced the closure of Interstate 35 North at the Texas state line because of overturned vehicles and power lines that were thrown across the roadway.

The OEM said the Chickasaw Nation was providing support for the storm response in Marietta.

Murray County Emergency Management said significant damage was also found in the town of Sulphur, and numerous injuries have been reported.

The OEM said search and rescue operations were ongoing there, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) was responding to apartments on Woodruff Blvd, where tornado damage was reported.

At least four structures were damaged northwest of Newkirk in Kay County, with numerous trees and power lines being brought down due to the effects of the storms.

Two weather-related crashes were also reported, and heavy rain led to flooding on several roads in the area.

Cotton County was also hit hard by the severe weather, and the OEM said three to five homes were damaged there.

About 43,000 customers were left without power as a result of the storms, with the highest number of outages being reported in Tulsa, Carter, Murray, Love, Hughes, Pontotoc and Seminole counties, according to the OEM.

State of emergency declared in 12 Oklahoma counties

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order on Sunday morning declaring a state of emergency in Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Hughes, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Payne and Pontotoc counties because of the damage left behind in the wake of the severe weather on Saturday.

“There is hereby a declared a disaster emergency caused by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, hail and flooding in the State of Oklahoma that threatens the lives and property of the people of this State and the public’s peace, health and safety,” the executive order read.

The executive order will remain in effect for the next 30 days.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said she was in contact with Gov. Stitt and said the department stands ready to support the affected region if necessary.

Hospital, nursing home damaged in Marietta, Oklahoma

The Love County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that a tornado was reported in the Marietta area that destroyed several buildings and brought down power lines “everywhere.”

“Please stay home and off the roads as it’s causing severe congestion and issues for responders working this disaster,” the sheriff’s office pleaded. “Again, please stay home and off the roadways.”

The sheriff’s office said significant damage was reported to a Dollar Tree warehouse, Homeland, Dollar General, a nursing home and part of a hospital.

“There is heavy damage to our town and we have every responder out checking homes, businesses, etc.,” the sheriff’s office said. “Please be patient as this is a natural disaster and will take time to restore power and get things in some sort of order before cleanup.”

The sheriff’s department said all hospital patients were moved from the area, and crews were working to remove the last few people from the nursing home that was damaged.

Survey teams investigating damage

The National Weather Service office in Norman said it appeared as though at least 20 tornadoes were reported in its forecast area on Saturday.

Forecasters said that number is preliminary and could be higher or lower than 20.

Four teams have been sent out across the area to investigate damage in communities such as Marietta, Ardmore and Sulphur, as well as Holdenville, Dibble and Norman.

The NWS said on X, formerly Twitter, that additional areas would be surveyed soon in communities to the west of Oklahoma City, as well as locations to the southwest into portions of Texas.

The Oklahoma City Asian District is supporting marathon runners through their Dragon Way.

Sunday, April 28th 2024, 7:37 am

By:

News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY –

The Oklahoma City Asian District is supporting marathon runners through their Dragon Way.

This year’s theme is Dragon Ball Z, and supporters are sporting Goku-style hats.

News 9’s Tevis Hillis is reporting from the cheer zone.

CNN
 — 

A tornado outbreak in Oklahoma overnight prompted calls to take cover as the threat of severe tornado-spawning storms continued Sunday from Missouri to Texas, where more twisters, heavy rain and large hail are possible.

Multiple large and extremely dangerous tornadoes were reported on the ground simultaneously overnight across parts of Oklahoma, according to the National Weather Service.

There were reports of injuries, property damage, flooding and downed power lines and trees across several counties, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

Sulphur, over 80 miles south-southeast of Oklahoma City, saw injuries and impacts from at least two large tornadoes overnight as a flood warning was issued for the city, according to the weather service.

“A large and extremely dangerous tornado was located south of Sulphur, moving north at 35 mph. First responders need to prepare for additional tornado impacts immediately!!!” the weather service in Norman warned.

The weather service reported two tornadoes crossing Highway 9 between Goldsby and Blanchard at the same time late Saturday, as well as a sighting just east of Tinker Air Force Base. And as a tornado headed towards Norman, the University of Oklahoma warned students and staff to “Seek shelter NOW inside the building you are in. Move to lowest floor/interior room.”

Nearly 47 million people are at risk for severe weather Sunday from east Texas northward into the upper Mississippi River Valley as communities in Nebraska and Iowa survey the destruction the storms have already left behind.

Cities including Dallas and Austin in Texas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa in Oklahoma, Wichita and Topeka in Kansas and the Kansas City metropolitan area could see strong tornadoes as storms push eastward across the southern Plains.

More than 7 million people are under tornado watches early Sunday, stretching more than 800 miles from Texas to southern Wisconsin. The watch areas are due to expire between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. CT.

Oklahoma’s emergency operations center was activated Saturday, according to a Facebook post from Gov. Kevin Stitt. “Stay weather aware and know where you’ll take shelter if a severe storm threatens your area,” he told residents.

In addition to the tornadoes, storms are bringing heavy rainfall that could exacerbate the life-threatening situation.

Unsettled weather is expected to continue across the midsection of the country into Monday.

“In addition to the severe weather, intense rainfall rates are expected to accompany these thunderstorms at times, leading to a moderate to locally high potential of flash flooding,” the National Weather Service said.

Storms fueled dozens of tornado reports across at least six states Friday and Saturday, with images of flattened homes and debris covering communities seen in communities in Nebraska and Iowa.

Tornadoes wreak havoc in Nebraska and Iowa

Omaha resident Jason Sunday and his family had just been in their new Elkhorn home 30 days when a tornado hit like a “freight train,” he told CNN affiliate KETV.

As the tornado approached Friday, he sought cover in his home.

“We were in the downstairs bathtub, and it was just like the movie said, it was like a freight train,” Sunday told KETV. “And you knew the roof was coming off because that was a loud pop and sucking motion. It was pretty scary.”

The tornado caused heavy damage to the family’s new home, and now they’re faced with having to rebuild.

“We’re thankful to be alive. We’re very thankful,” Sunday said.

Like Sunday, many residents throughout Omaha and Nebraska are similarly grappling with intense damage to their homes after multiple reported tornadoes touched down Friday.

Elkhorn in Omaha, Nebraska, is one of the hardest-hit communities. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen told reporters Saturday it is a miracle there were no deaths.

“Nebraskans are no strangers to severe weather and, as they have countless times before, Nebraskans will help Nebraskans to rebuild,” the governor said in a post on X.

One of the tornadoes to hit Douglas County had a preliminary rating of EF-3 with winds topping 135 mph, according to Chris Franks with the National Weather Service. The other, which hit Omaha’s airport, appeared to be an EF-2, he added.

On the outskirts of Lincoln, Nebraska, a tornado tore the roofs off homes and crossed part of I-80 as it cut through. Multiple cars of a train derailed near Waverly after it was struck by a tornado, according to a railway spokesperson.

In Iowa’s Pottawattamie County, roughly 120 homes and businesses were damaged, county emergency management officials said.

A large tornado was reported in the small city of Minden in Pottawattamie County, according to the National Weather Service. Footage obtained by CNN shows the devastation of mangled structures and widespread debris.

There were nearly 80 tornado reports Friday alone across at least five states, many of which have been confirmed by the weather service or through footage from storm chasers.