On Saturday evening, a series of tornadoes swept through Oklahoma, causing multiple fatalities and extensive damage. The storms, which involved dozens of tornadoes, claimed the lives of at least four people, including a young infant, and injured hundreds more. Over 20,000 residents were left without electricity in the aftermath of the storms, highlighting the widespread damage inflicted. The small town of Sulphur, Oklahoma (population: 5,000), suffered significant devastation. One of the tornadoes tore through the downtown area, severely damaging buildings, overturning vehicles, and stripping roofs from homes across a large swath of the town. In response to the crisis, Oklahoma’s governor declared a state of emergency across 12 counties to coordinate recovery efforts and aid affected communities. Rescue operations were promptly initiated, focusing on debris removal and assessing the extent of the storm’s impact, especially in areas where power lines were downed. The outbreak of tornadoes began the previous day near Lincoln, Nebraska. An industrial building in Lancaster County was severely damaged when a tornado struck, collapsing the structure while 70 people were inside. Fortunately, emergency responses were swift, and although some individuals were initially trapped, all were safely evacuated. Three injuries were reported, but none were life-threatening. As the storms progressed, they moved towards Omaha, Nebraska, potentially spawning one or two tornadoes along the way. These tornadoes caused damage indicative of an EF3 classification, with wind speeds estimated between 135 to 165 mph, according to Chris Franks, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Omaha. The Elkhorn neighborhood in western Omaha, part of a larger metropolitan area home to nearly a million people, was among the areas hardest hit.
Tornadoes Devastate Oklahoma and Nebraska, Causing Fatalities and Destruction
