Severe thunderstorms and high winds wreaked havoc in Oklahoma on Saturday night, leaving at least four people dead, including an infant, and injuring many others. The destructive storms also destroyed homes and caused chaos across the state, with more than two dozen tornadoes reported overnight.
The cities of Sulphur, Holdenville, and Ardmore were hit particularly hard by the series of tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma. The Weather Service confirmed the devastation caused by the storms, with Keli Cain, the public affairs director for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, reporting three storm-related fatalities.
Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma announced a fourth fatality in Sulphur and declared a state of emergency for 12 counties. Shelters and emergency kitchens were opened to assist displaced residents, while search-and-rescue efforts were coordinated by local officials.
The aftermath of the storms was described as “devastating” by Governor Stitt, who toured Sulphur and witnessed the destruction firsthand. Businesses in downtown Sulphur were damaged or leveled, with cars impaled by flying debris.
The severe weather in Oklahoma came on the heels of tornadoes that tore through parts of Nebraska and Iowa, leveling dozens of homes and causing widespread damage. Nearly 1.9 million people in three states faced an “enhanced” risk of severe weather on Sunday, with threats of wind damage, large hail, and tornadoes.
The National Weather Service warned of heavy rains moving east into the Mississippi Valley, affecting Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The region experienced nearly 30 tornadoes between Saturday afternoon and early Sunday, highlighting the destructive power of the severe storms.
