HOLDENVILLE, Okla. – At least four 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.
Two deaths were reported in the city of Holdenville, and FOX 25 in Oklahoma City reports an infant is among the dead.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt reported two additional deaths during a news conference Sunday – one in Marietta and another in Sulphur.
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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.
“Definitely the most damage since I’ve been governor that I’ve seen,” Stitt said during a news conference Sunday in Sulphur. “I’ve seen a lot of damage. I’ve been around the state for, this is my sixth year, but what I saw in downtown Sulphur is unbelievable.”
Officials said damage consistent with at least an EF-3 tornado has been found in Sulphur.
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. Less than 10,000 power outages were reported by Sunday evening, according to PowerOutage.us.
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State of emergency declared in 12 Oklahoma counties
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 Stitt and said the department stands ready to support the affected region if necessary.
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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.”
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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.
Officials have rated the Marietta twister as at least an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
5th storm-related death reported in Iowa
An Iowa man who died after a tornado hit the town of Minden on Friday has become the fifth fatality reported as part of the dayslong tornado outbreak that has ravaged the central U.S.
According to local media, family members said the man was trapped in his basement after the massive twister ripped through the town about 30 miles northeast of Omaha, Nebraska. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries Saturday.
