A 4-month-old infant is among the at least four fatalities that resulted from a series of tornadoes that devastated central Oklahoma overnight, according to authorities and police.
Numerous tornadoes were reported to have made landfall over a large area of Oklahoma on Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.
The two cities of Sulphur and Marietta were struck by storms classified as at least EF3, which means they were powerful tornadoes with speeds between 136 and 165 mph. Some of the storms have not yet been measured.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reported two fatalities in Holdenville and one in each of Marietta and Sulphur during a storm update on Sunday afternoon. According to reports, a 4-month-old infant was among the fatalities in Holdenville.
Another 100 people have reportedly reported injuries to nearby hospitals, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Following a news conference tour of the severely damaged Sulphur, Governor Kevin Stitt informed media that this was the “most damage” he had seen since taking office in 2019.
“What I saw downtown Sulphur is unbelievable,” he stated.
“I just haven’t seen this much destruction from my time as governor.”
All around the state, houses, businesses, and infrastructure suffered damage or were completely destroyed. Debris clogged the highways. Tress was taken down. Power lines broke.
43,000 outages were recorded statewide, with the biggest numbers found in Tulsa, Carter, Murray, Love, Hughes, Pontotoc, and Seminole counties, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
Without indicating the number of those reported missing, officials stated that search and rescue operations are still underway.
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Twelve counties had a state of emergency proclaimed by Stitt previously.
“Due to impacts from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, hail, and flooding beginning April 27, 2024, including extensive damage to power lines and infrastructure, it is necessary to assist and expedite all efforts of relief,” Stitt stated in the declaration of a state of emergency.
“My prayers are with those who lost loved ones as tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma last night. Thank you to Oklahoma Emergency Management and those who have worked through the night to keep Oklahomans safe and have worked to clear debris and assess damage,” Stitt stated in a separate statement regarding the tornadoes.
According to the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, the American Red Cross established a shelter at Crossway Church in Sulphur, a structure that further functioned as a location for storm victims to be reunited with their relatives.
Usually lasting one month, a state of emergency makes state funding accessible for relief and cleanup. In the areas of the state most affected, a number of important roadways are still closed while workers attempt to clear debris.
The tornadoes in Oklahoma The most recent tornado to hit the Midwest since last week and into the weekend occurred on Saturday night.
Friday was the biggest day of the year for tornado activity so far, with the Weather Service receiving reports of at least 60 tornadoes in five states. Authorities issued a warning, stating that millions of people in a region spanning from Michigan to Texas would see more severe weather.
