Devastating tornadoes tore through several Oklahoma cities on a Saturday, resulting in at least two deaths and multiple injuries. One of the fatalities reported was an infant in the city of Holdenville. The storms caused significant damage to homes and buildings, with 14 homes being damaged or destroyed in Holdenville alone. In Marietta, damage was reported at the Marietta Hospital, where patients had to seek shelter during the extreme weather.
The storms also affected Sulphur, where significant damage was found, and numerous injuries were reported. Search and rescue operations were ongoing in the area, with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol responding to locations with tornado damage. Other areas impacted by the severe weather included Newkirk in Kay County, where at least four structures were damaged, and Cotton County, where three to five homes were damaged. Multiple trees and power lines were brought down due to the effects of the storms.
The severe weather resulted in around 43,000 customers being left without power, with Tulsa, Carter, Murray, Love, Hughes, Pontotoc, and Seminole counties being the most affected. In response to the damage caused by the storms, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency in 12 counties. This executive order will remain in effect for the next 30 days, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell expressed readiness to provide support to the affected region if necessary.
In Marietta, the tornado destroyed several buildings, including a nursing home and part of a hospital. The Love County Sheriff’s Office urged people to stay home and off the roads to avoid congestion and issues for responders. The sheriff’s department reported that all hospital patients were transferred from the area, and crews were working to evacuate the last few people from the damaged nursing home. Survey teams were dispatched to investigate the damage caused by the storms in different communities.
The National Weather Service office in Norman reported that approximately 20 tornadoes were identified in its forecast area on Saturday, with survey teams investigating different locations for damage assessment. Additional areas were set to be surveyed, and the number of tornadoes reported was still preliminary. The damage caused by the storms prompted the closure of Interstate 35 North at the Texas state line due to overturned vehicles and power lines. The Chickasaw Nation and Oklahoma City Task Force One were among the responders providing support in the affected areas.
