Small towns in Oklahoma, like Sulphur, began cleanup efforts after severe weather, including tornadoes, flattened homes and buildings and killed four people, including an infant. The destructive outbreak of severe weather across the middle of the U.S. also caused injuries to at least 100 people, damaged a rural hospital, washed out roads, and knocked out power to over 40,000 customers. The town of Sulphur, with a population of about 5,000, experienced extensive destruction with buildings in the downtown area crumpled, cars and buses tossed around, and roofs of houses sheared off.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt expressed disbelief at the destruction he witnessed in Sulphur, stating that it seemed like every business downtown had been destroyed. Approximately 30 people were injured in the town, with some in a bar at the time the tornado struck. Hospitals across the state reported about 100 injuries, including individuals cut or struck by debris, as well as a tragic loss of an infant. President Joe Biden offered the full support of the federal government to Governor Stitt in response to the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma.
The tornado in Sulphur began in a city park before causing significant damage in the downtown area, flipping cars and ripping roofs off brick buildings. The devastation left the community wondering how to rebuild, with residents like Kelly Trussell, a lifelong Sulphur resident, feeling overwhelmed by the destruction. Parts of structures that remained standing had their windows and doors blown out. A search for victims was underway after one person was found dead inside a destroyed bar. The tornado also moved north, killing two people near Holdenville and one person near Marietta.
In addition to the tornado damage, heavy rains in Oklahoma led to dangerous flooding and water rescues. Rising lake levels outside Sulphur shut down the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, where a pedestrian bridge was wiped out by the storms. Governor Stitt declared a state of emergency in 12 counties due to the fallout from the severe weather. Residents who took shelter in the Sulphur High School gym recalled the frightening moments as the tornado passed overhead, with one person likening the sound to that of a helicopter.
The severe weather also affected other states, with a tornado in suburban Omaha, Nebraska, demolishing homes and businesses as it moved through farmland and subdivisions. Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska and Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa toured the damage and arranged assistance for affected communities. Formal damage assessments are ongoing in both states, with plans to seek federal help to aid in recovery efforts. The destructive outbreak of severe weather across the middle of the U.S. has left many communities reeling and facing long and challenging cleanup and recovery processes.
