Tornado – At least one person is killed by a tornado that swept through parts of Texas and Oklahoma on Friday, injuring at least 20 others, and destroying dozens of homes and buildings.
In the southeast of Oklahoma, McCarten County was struck by a tornado. The county emergency manager, Cody McDaniel, confirmed one death but did not immediately provide additional information.
The Texarkana Gazette was informed by the emergency management coordinator for McCarten County Stephen Carter that “the south and east sides of Idabel have been destroyed.”
As of Friday night, people were still locked up, Carter informed the newspaper.
Gov. Kevin Stitt said search and salvage groups and generators are being sent to the Idabel region.
Stitt tweeted, “Praying for the people of Oklahoma affected by today’s tornado.”
According to Kelly Kane of the Oklahoma Emergency Management Agency, the storms also affected at least three additional counties, resulting in flash flooding in some locations.
The National Weather Service reports that tornadoes have also been reported in Texas and Arkansas, and that storm systems are moving toward Louisiana.
Ten people were treated at a hospital, two of whom were seriously injured, according to Lamar County, Texas, authorities.
The county’s top elected official, Judge Brandon Bell, declared the area a disaster as a first step toward obtaining federal assistance and funding. According to Bell’s statement, at least 20 people were injured throughout the county.
One of the hardest-hit networks was Powderly, around 45 miles (72 km) west of Idabel and around 120 miles (193 km) upper east of Dallas. The Texas-Oklahoma border is close to Powderly and Idabel.
According to the Lamar County Emergency Management Agency and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, the tornado made landfall shortly after 4 p.m.It passed through the towns of Hopewell, Cabiness, Beaver Creek, and Powdery on its way from the north to the northeast.
The Powderly Volunteer Fire Department’s chief, Randi Johnson, told the Paris News that she was aware of injuries but not of any deaths.
Johnson stated, “The community has come together, but it’s going to take a long time to clean this up.”
The house was made available to the affected individuals after the church opened its doors.
