Over the weekend, a series of powerful tornadoes wreaked havoc across the U.S. Southern Plains, resulting in the tragic loss of at least five lives, including a four-month-old baby. The severe weather also left scores injured and caused widespread damage in Oklahoma, one of the hardest-hit states.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a disaster emergency on Sunday, enabling the release of additional funds to support first responders and recovery efforts. \"Definitely the most damage since I've been governor,\" Stitt remarked in Sulphur, where the impact was felt most intensely.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued storm warnings affecting more than 47 million people, stretching from East Texas through Illinois and Wisconsin. According to the NWS, 38 tornadoes touched down in the region, with the most devastating storms passing through Central Oklahoma on Saturday into early Sunday morning, extending into northwest Texas, western Missouri, and Kansas.
Emergency services reported around 100 injuries, and numerous structures were either destroyed or damaged, including a hospital in Marietta where fortunately no injuries were reported. Power outages affected over 25,000 homes in Texas and more than 19,000 in Oklahoma as of Sunday afternoon.
In response to the widespread destruction, U.S. President Joe Biden declared a major disaster for the affected areas, including severe winter storms in Washington and Kansas, to facilitate federal assistance for ongoing recovery operations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
