At least four people, including a 4-month-old infant, have died after a severe tornado outbreak ravaged Oklahoma late Saturday night, with the towns of Sulphur and Holdenville being among the hardest hit areas in the state. As authorities continue to assess the damage, the death toll and injury count may rise, with Oklahoma Emergency Management officials reporting 100 injuries across the state due to the storms.
Governor Kevin Stitt, who held a news conference in Sulphur on Sunday, described the damage as the most extensive he has seen since taking office. "It seems like every business downtown has been destroyed now here in Sulphur," Stitt said. "It's definitely the most damage since I've been governor that I've seen."
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management confirmed that two deaths occurred in Holdenville, one near Marietta on Interstate 35, and a fourth in Sulphur. The 4-month-old victim in Holdenville was found after an overnight search and later pronounced dead at an area hospital.
KOCO 5 Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane reported that at least 27 tornadoes struck Oklahoma on Saturday, with that number expected to increase as damage surveys continue. The National Weather Service preliminarily rated the Sulphur and Marietta tornadoes as EF3, with the potential for higher ratings upon further investigation.
Aerial footage from Sky 5 revealed the extent of the destruction in Sulphur and Holdenville, with buildings completely destroyed and homes leveled. The Artesian Hotel in Sulphur reported damage to the south side of their building and loss of electricity, water, and gas mains, but no injuries to staff or guests were reported.
In response to the devastation, Governor Stitt issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 12 counties, including Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Hughes, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Payne, and Pontotoc. The order, which will remain in effect for 30 days, aims to assist and expedite relief efforts.
The American Red Cross has opened shelters to support those affected by the storms, with one at Crossway Church in Sulphur serving as a reunification center for people searching for loved ones. A second shelter is set to open on Sunday at Christ Community Church in Ardmore.
Oklahoma lawmakers have expressed their condolences and support for the affected communities. Representative Tom Cole stated, "My thoughts are with those who have been affected by or have suffered a loss as a result of the terrible tornadoes that swept through Oklahoma last night. I would also like to thank our first responders who have been on the ground responding so nobly."
Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, who spoke alongside Governor Stitt in Sulphur, offered his prayers and assured citizens that his office is available to provide guidance on accessing necessary resources throughout the cleanup and rebuilding process.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced the implementation of a full-scale response from the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to provide operational and academic support to all affected districts. The OSDE is offering waivers, extensions, and exemptions for testing and deadlines, as well as deploying additional staff to substitute for teachers who need to attend to personal losses.
As the recovery process begins, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has activated the Emergency Price Stabilization Act in the 12 impacted counties to protect citizens from unfair price hikes on essential goods and services. Drummond also warned against contractor fraud and urged citizens to report any suspected fraud to his office.
The severe weather threat continues Sunday, with nearly 47 million people at risk from east Texas northward into the upper Mississippi River Valley. Cities including Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wichita, Topeka, and the Kansas City metropolitan area could see strong tornadoes as storms push eastward across the southern Plains.
