HOLDENVILLE, Okla. – A devastating tornado struck several Oklahoma cities Saturday during an outbreak of severe weather, devastating dozens of homes and buildings and causing power outages to tens of thousands of power companies. At least two people were killed and several others injured. client.
Two deaths were reported in Holdenville. FOX 25 in Oklahoma City reported. Infants are also among the dead.
of Oklahoma State Emergency Management Agency (OEM) said 14 homes were damaged or destroyed in Holdenville and Highway 9 was closed due to debris in the road.
Additionally, Oklahoma City Task Force 1 was on scene Sunday to provide search and rescue assistance.
Significant damage was reported throughout the region, including Marietta, where damage was reported to Marietta Hospital.
The OEM said hospitalized patients were evacuated during the extreme weather, but no injuries were reported there.
The storm also forced the closure of Interstate 35 North at the Texas border after overturning vehicles and throwing power lines onto the road.
OEM said the Chickasaw Nation is providing assistance in responding to the Marietta storm.
Murray County Emergency Management said significant damage was also found in the town of Sulfur, with numerous injuries reported.
OEM said search and rescue operations are underway there, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) is responding to the Woodruff Avenue Apartments, where tornado damage was reported.
At least four structures were damaged in northwest Newkirk, Kay County, and numerous trees and power lines were downed by the storm.
Two weather-related crashes were also reported, and heavy rains caused several roads in the area to flood.
Cotton County was also hit hard by the severe weather, with OEM saying three to five homes were damaged there.
Approximately 43,000 customers lost power due to the storm, with the highest number of outages in Tulsa, Carter, Murray, Love, Hughes, Pontoc and Seminole counties, OEM said.
State of emergency declared in 12 counties in Oklahoma
Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma Presidential order declared a state of emergency on Sunday morning. Saturday’s severe weather affected Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Hughes, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Murray, Okfuskie, Oklahoma, Payne and Pontotoc counties.
“A state of disaster emergency is hereby declared in the state of Oklahoma due to severe storms, tornadoes, direct winds, hail, and flooding that threaten the lives and property of the citizens of this state and the peace, health, and safety of the nation,” the executive order said. It was written in
This executive order will remain in effect for the next 30 days.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has been in contact with Governor Stitt and said the department stands ready to assist affected areas as needed.
Hospital and nursing home damaged in Marietta, Oklahoma
Love County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post A tornado struck the Marietta area, reportedly destroying several buildings and downing power lines “in all sorts of locations.”
“Please stay off the roads and stay home as we are experiencing severe traffic congestion and problems for our crews responding to this disaster,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Again, please stay home and stay off the roads.”
The sheriff’s office said significant damage was reported to parts of a Dollar Tree warehouse, Homeland, Dollar General, a nursing home and a hospital.
“There has been significant damage to our town, and all responders are out searching homes and businesses,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “This is a natural disaster and it will take some time for power to be restored and clean-up to be completed, so please be patient.”
The sheriff’s office said all hospitalized patients have been removed from the area and officials are working to remove the last few people from the affected nursing home.
Investigation team investigating damage
The National Weather Service office in Norman said at least 20 tornadoes appeared to be reported within the forecast area Saturday.
Forecasters said the numbers are preliminary and could be higher or lower than 20.
Four teams were sent across the region to assess damage in Marietta, Ardmore and Sulphur, as well as Holdenville, Dibble and Norman.
NWS told X.previously said on Twitter that additional areas would soon be surveyed in communities west of Oklahoma City and some southwest locations in Texas.
