Sulphur, Oklahoma – A devastating tornado outbreak overnight in Oklahoma has claimed at least three lives, including that of an infant. As severe storms continue to threaten the region, there have been reports of multiple large and extremely dangerous tornadoes touching down simultaneously across parts of the state, as confirmed by the National Weather Service.
The fatalities occurred in Holdenville and near Marietta on I-35, according to Keli Cain, public affairs director for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Governor Kevin Stitt has declared an emergency disaster, and he plans to survey the storm damage in the Murray County town of Sulphur and Holdenville.
Reports of injuries, property damage, flooding, and downed power lines and trees have emerged from several counties in Oklahoma, with the extent of the damage still being assessed early Sunday. The city of Sulphur, located about 80 miles south of Oklahoma City, bore the brunt of the impact with injuries reported and at least two large tornadoes hitting overnight.
As the storms continue to wreak havoc, nearly 47 million people across east Texas and the upper Mississippi River Valley are at risk for severe weather on Sunday. Cities like Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Wichita are on high alert for strong tornadoes as the storms move across the southern Plains.
In addition to the tornadoes, heavy rainfall has been forecasted, which could exacerbate the already life-threatening situation. Flash flood warnings are in effect in Texas, including in Dallas, Johnson, Parker, and Tarrant counties, with several inches of rain already fallen in the region. The Storm Prediction Center has raised the severe storm threat level for eastern Texas to southern Missouri, urging residents to stay vigilant.
As the situation unfolds, the National Weather Service has warned of the potential for intense rainfall leading to flash flooding across the affected areas. The unsettled weather is expected to persist throughout the midsection of the country into Monday, with communities in Nebraska and Iowa grappling with the aftermath of the destructive storms.
The impact of the tornado outbreak can be seen in the widespread damage caused to homes and buildings, with reports of flattened structures and debris strewn across the affected areas. Despite the devastation, residents and officials are coming together to support one another and begin the process of rebuilding their communities.