Multiple tornadoes rip through Oklahoma City area, thousands without power

Jack Aylmer

MULTIPLE TORNADOES RIPPED THROUGH THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA OVER THE WEEKEND, AT LEAST 11 PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND MUCH OF THE DAMAGE TO DOZENS OF HOMES IS STILL BEING ASSESSED.

OFFICIALS HAD ISSUED TORNADO WARNINGS EARLY SUNDAY, INCLUDING ONE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA’S NORMAN CAMPUS.

ONE OF THE TORNADOES APPEARS TO HAVE TOUCHED DOWN DIRECTLY IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WHERE MOST OF THE INJURIES OCCURRED. AUTHORITIES CONFIRM THAT THE INJURED ARE BEING TREATED FOR NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS BUSY RESCUING RESIDENTS, INCLUDING TWO ADULTS TRAPPED IN AN OVERTURNED MOBILE HOME AND SEVERAL OTHERS STRANDED IN THEIR CARS DUE TO FLASH FLOODING.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY 39 STRUCTURES WERE DESTROYED, 43 SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE, AND 54 HAD MINOR DAMAGE. GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR SIX COUNTIES AS ASSESSMENT EFFORTS CONTINUE.

METEOROLOGISTS WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAY BETWEEN SIX AND 12 TORNADOES MAY HAVE TOUCHED DOWN OVER A FOUR-HOUR PERIOD, STARTING AROUND 11 P.M. SATURDAY NIGHT.

BESIDES THE TORNADOES, THE REGION ALSO SAW FLASH FLOODING AND LARGE HAIL. A TORNADO THAT HIT SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA CITY HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS AN EF3, PACKING WIND SPEEDS OF UP TO 165 MILES PER HOUR..

THE NEARBY TOWN OF HARRAH ALSO REPORTED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, WITH SOME RESIDENTS TAKING REFUGE IN A LOCAL CASINO.

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS NOT OVER JUST YET.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS WARNED THAT MORE STORMS COULD HIT THE AREA. METEOROLOGISTS SAY TORNADO WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED FOR NOW, BUT SEVERE WEATHER REMAINS IN THE FORECAST FOR OKLAHOMA CITY.

Gov. Kevin Stitt

“WE’VE GOT MORE STORMS COMING..CELL PHONES”

Jack Aylmer

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ALSO REMINDED RESIDENTS THAT RED CROSS SHELTERS ARE OPEN AND THAT STATE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED.

THE STATE EMERGENCY CENTER REMAINS ACTIVATED.

FOR THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT VOTING, STITT ASSURED THAT POLLING STATIONS WILL BE OPEN ON ELECTION DAY, WITH POWER RESTORED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THIS SITUATION DEVELOPS.

FOR SAN I’M JACK AYLMER