A series of tornadoes wreaked havoc across several central US states since Friday, leaving a trail of destruction and resulting in fatalities and injuries. Oklahoma was particularly hard hit, with a tornado tearing through the town of Holdenville late Saturday, claiming the lives of at least two individuals, including a child, and injuring four others. The severe weather also caused significant damage to homes, buildings, and infrastructure in the affected areas.
Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency in 12 counties in Oklahoma in response to the severe weather conditions. Rescue and recovery efforts were underway as crews worked to clear debris and assess the extent of the damage. Governor Stitt planned to visit Sulphur, another heavily impacted city in southern Oklahoma, where buildings were reduced to rubble.
Power outages affected tens of thousands of residents in Oklahoma and Texas, with more than 30,000 customers without power in Oklahoma alone. In Sulphur, reports indicated unspecified injuries and significant destruction, prompting authorities to advise people to stay away from the city to facilitate emergency response efforts.
The severe weather extended beyond Oklahoma, with Nebraska and Iowa also experiencing tornadoes that caused damage to homes, businesses, and communities. The tornadoes swept through suburban Omaha, Nebraska, and an Iowa town, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Fortunately, injuries in Omaha were reportedly minor, but extensive damage was observed, including demolished homes and businesses.
Governors Jim Pillen of Nebraska and Kim Reynolds of Iowa toured the affected areas, assessing the damage and arranging for assistance for impacted communities. Formal damage assessments are ongoing, with the states planning to seek federal assistance to aid in recovery efforts.
