Storms in Oklahoma cause injuries to 11 individuals and power outages for thousands

November 4, 2024

Updated: November 4, 2024

OKLAHOMA CITY — In ⁢the early hours of Sunday, Oklahoma was hit by a series of⁤ severe storms and tornadoes. The violent weather caused extensive⁣ damage, flipping cars, tearing roofs⁣ off buildings, and leaving a significant number of homes and ‍businesses without electricity. ⁢The storms resulted‌ in numerous injuries, with 11 ⁢people ‍needing hospital treatment, according⁢ to local authorities.

The ‌majority of⁤ the destruction occurred in and around Oklahoma City, the state’s capital, but‌ damage was also reported in various other parts of the state. The storms ‍triggered tornado ⁤warnings ‍that stretched south to the Arkansas state line. Heavy rainfall⁢ led to ‍flash flooding in some areas, and ⁤a house⁤ fire caused by a lightning strike was⁢ also reported.

Over 99,000⁤ homes and businesses in Oklahoma were left without power due to the⁢ overnight storms. By ‌late Sunday ‌afternoon, power had been restored to most, leaving approximately 24,000 still without electricity. Thankfully, no fatalities were‍ reported.

Richard Thompson, the forecast chief for the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center ⁣in Oklahoma, ‍estimated that six or‌ more tornadoes struck the state overnight. He also warned⁤ residents to prepare ⁤for more ⁣heavy rain ⁣and potential severe weather ⁤through Monday.

“We’re not done with it yet,” Thompson⁣ cautioned.

A tornado watch was in ⁤effect ‌until ‌8 p.m. ⁣Sunday for much of‍ central and southeast Oklahoma.‌ Other areas were under thunderstorm‌ or flood watches.

In the town of Choctaw, located ⁣east ⁣of Oklahoma City, emergency services personnel conducted door-to-door checks on Sunday morning‍ to assess injuries.

“A whole neighborhood in ⁣Choctaw was flattened,” Mayor Chad Allcox told the Associated Press. He added that the debris was obstructing search and ⁤rescue efforts. “Power lines are down everywhere… many roads are blocked, making ‌them impassable. Huge trees are obstructing roadways.”

Scott Douglas,⁢ a spokesman for the Oklahoma City Fire Department,⁢ told the AP that the⁣ heavy rain and ongoing threat of tornadoes in the early‍ morning darkness made initial search and rescue efforts challenging. He recounted a first sweep of the hardest-hit areas around 1:30 a.m.

“It ⁣was ⁣pouring down.⁢ We were trying to sweep the area with ‍another potential tornado on the way,” he said. “So that ⁢was always⁢ in the back of our minds.”

Emergency workers had to rescue ⁢two people from an overturned mobile home, ⁣including a woman who was injured when an air conditioner fell ⁣on her leg, Douglas said.

The extent of the⁣ damage became clear as the day broke. Local ⁢TV footage showed power lines down, homes ⁤stripped⁤ of their walls, cars⁤ overturned, and ‌streets‍ littered with ‌debris.

Douglas reported that 11 people ⁣were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. ‍”There were some other minor injuries,‍ some⁢ walking wounded, who were going⁢ to seek ‍treatment‍ on⁤ their own,” Douglas ⁤said.

Mayor Allcox credited early weather warnings and tornado sirens⁣ with likely saving lives.

A few shelters, including ‍one set up ‍at a casino by the American ‍Red Cross, were made available ⁤for residents who were displaced or⁣ without power, according to the ‌Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

The Oklahoma Heart Hospital South also suffered damage, state health officials ‌reported.

At the University of Oklahoma,⁢ officials urged students and staff to seek ‌shelter and move to the lowest floor as storms approached the campus after midnight. The National Weather Service office ‍in Norman also ⁣issued urgent ⁤warnings, posting on social media: “If you’re in the path of this storm, take‍ cover immediately!”

Parts of⁤ Oklahoma remained at risk ‍for‌ more heavy rainfall and thunderstorms later Sunday.