A night of devastation struck several Oklahoma counties Sunday with reports of severe structural damage, highway closures, power outages, injuries and at least one death. So far, there have been 35 reports of tornadoes overnight.
Twenty-seven million people remain at risk of severe weather through Sunday, including gusty winds, hail, potential flooding and more tornadoes.
Saturday’s severe weather came less than 36 hours after more than 100 tornadoes destroyed homes and buildings in six states on Friday, with Nebraska and Iowa hardest hit, officials said. That’s what it means.
The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, confirmed late Saturday that multiple tornadoes had touched down in the area. That included one near Davenport and multiple tornadoes in the Sulfur area, a small town of about 5,000 people 130 miles south of Oklahoma City. Looks like it took the biggest hit.
After several days of severe weather, more than 170 storms were reported on Saturday. Storms are expected to continue Sunday from southern Missouri to southeastern Texas.
Flash flooding is also a concern for 18 million people from Kansas City to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Some flood warnings are expected to remain in place until tomorrow.
Footage posted on social media early Sunday morning showed extensive damage across Sulfur, including fallen trees and scattered bricks and wooden beams. Buildings in the downtown area sustained significant structural damage, including windows blown out and walls missing. Others appeared flattened and reduced to rubble.
According to the Department of Emergency Management, initial reports from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol indicate that some residents were injured, but the exact number of people and the extent of their injuries are not yet clear.
The Oklahoma Red Cross made the announcement early Sunday morning. open a shelter Sulfur is in contact with officials in more than a dozen counties to address the immediate needs of affected residents.
In neighboring Hughes County, authorities reported four people were injured, one person was killed and several buildings were damaged or destroyed as a tornado struck the west side late Saturday.
Homes and other structures were also damaged in communities in Garfield, Grant, Kay, Payne and several other Oklahoma counties, officials said.
National Weather Service in Norman differenceID As of 1:25 a.m. local time Sunday, several tornado warnings have been lifted, but the threat of flash flooding remains.
Bruce Tholen, a meteorologist with the bureau’s Norman office, said teams will be deployed to the Marietta and Sulfur areas, but other teams may be sent to other locations throughout the week.
“We know there are other affected locations, but based on travel time and other factors, they will probably be investigated in the next few days, not today,” Toren said. Told. “The area we cover is quite large compared to other forecasting offices, so it can take up to four hours to get there and back. I know, but I’m trying to figure out where to go.” Today. ”
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company announced early Sunday that about 28,000 customers were without service due to the storm, primarily in southern Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation warned Early Sunday morning, Interstate 35 in Love County was closed in both directions for storm damage cleanup. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order Sunday declaring a state of disaster emergency.
Oklahoma City has over 30 million people. Dallas; Wichita, Kansas. Omaha, Nebraska. Milwaukee; and Madison, Wisconsin; We had bad weather on Saturday.
The severe weather comes as parts of Nebraska and Iowa are still reeling from damage from two tornadoes that hit the region.
Omaha Mayor Gene Stothert said Saturday that no deaths were reported and there were relatively few minor injuries.
Despite extensive damage to some residents’ homes, including those of three Omaha firefighters and two police chiefs, officials said Saturday they were thankful the situation had not gotten worse. did.
Stothert said at an afternoon news conference that he plans to sign a state of emergency declaration that will give residents access to state and federal recovery aid.
She acknowledged that the National Weather Service and local news outlets warned the public about the tornado.
“I would like to thank our local weather forecasters for their clear and accurate warnings,” she said. “I truly feel that with this early warning, you have prevented many injuries and possibly deaths.”
Lindsey Hughes, health director for Douglas County, which includes Omaha, said in an email that fewer than 20 people had minor injuries. They were treated at a medical facility and have now been released.
“It’s just a miracle,” Hughes said at a news conference.
The National Weather Service conducted an assessment of two tornadoes that struck the Omaha area Friday afternoon. One of them started in the Lincoln area and reached western Douglas County, NWS meteorologist Chris Franks said at a news conference.
He said it had been rated at a “solid” EF3 on the 0 to 5 scale used by federal forecasters. An EF3 tornado produces sustained winds of 136 to 165 miles per hour and can remove exterior walls and move homes from their foundations.
A tornado with a preliminary rating of EF2 struck Omaha Eppley Airfield Friday afternoon, Franks said. An EF2 tornado can produce sustained winds of 111 to 135 miles per hour and can partially tear off roofs and shatter windows.
Tornado activity was also reported in neighboring Iowa. Franks said an estimated 80 tornadoes were reported Friday in Douglas County and neighboring communities in Nebraska and Iowa.
A tornado is believed to be responsible for derailing a train and overturning a semi-truck in Lancaster County, Nebraska, according to a National Weather Service memo about Friday’s vortex.
Omaha Police Lt. Neil Bonacci said hundreds of homes were damaged, primarily in the Elkhorn neighborhood on the city’s west side.
“We can definitely see the path of the tornado,” Bonacci said.
Omaha Fire Chief Kathy Bosman said police and firefighters went door-to-door to help residents and search for possible trapping.
“We will comb through the site, which is a pile of rubble, we will also look into the basement, we will try to find the victims and make sure that everyone who needs help is rescued,” Bosman said.
Elkhorn resident Pat Woods told The Associated Press that she and her husband evacuated and could hear the tornado “coming through.”
“When we came up, the fence was gone, and we looked to the northwest and the whole neighborhood was gone,” he said.
His wife, Kim Woods, said their northern neighborhood was “pretty flat.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declared a state of disaster emergency for Pottawattamie County after a video posted on social media showed part of Minden, about 30 miles northeast of Omaha, completely flattened.
Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jeff Schulen said at a news conference Friday night that 40 to 50 homes were “completely destroyed.” Two injuries were reported, one of which was “quite serious, but not life-threatening,” he told reporters.
“It’s very dangerous right now. We’ve closed off access to the city to anyone who doesn’t live here,” he said, adding, “50% of the town has been severely damaged, and other places have suffered minor damage.” “There has been damage,” he said.
About 40 homes were damaged in nearby Shelby County, county emergency coordinator Alex Rondo said. He said authorities were investigating the destruction and there were no reports of fatalities.
The National Weather Service office surveyed the damage ahead of more severe weather expected Saturday.
The service reported 106 tornadoes Friday in Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Kansas and Missouri. Another tornado was reported Friday morning in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma was also affected by unstable air and thunderstorms moving eastward Friday, but the service did not report any confirmed tornadoes in the state.
The National Weather Service’s preliminary assessment of Friday’s tornadoes included two that formed near Waco, Texas, one believed to have an EF2 strength and the other an EF1 (86 to 110 mph). Miles).
