A powerful tornado struck Enid, Oklahoma, damaging at least 40 homes and causing significant destruction across parts of the city. The confirmed tornado moved through Garfield County near the state’s northern border on Thursday evening.
Key Takeaways
A powerful tornado struck Enid, Oklahoma on Thursday evening causing significant damage across parts of the city. The confirmed tornado moved through Garfield County near the state’s northern border damaging at least 40 homes knocking down utility poles leaving power lines tangled with debris and stripping trees of their bark and limbs.
The storm caused severe damage in the Gray Ridge neighborhood on the south side of Enid, where homes were knocked down and roofs were ripped off buildings according to Los Angeles Times. Videos showed a rapidly rotating column of air touching down, along with totaled homes. Commercial buildings just south of the city were turned into piles of twisted metal, splintered wood, and insulation.
The tornado also knocked down utility poles, left power lines tangled with debris, and stripped trees of their bark and limbs. Neighboring counties reported some flooded roads and barn damage. Some roads and part of U.S. Interstate 81 were closed according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management as reported by Los Angeles Times. There were no immediate reports of fatalities, but there were minor injuries.
The tornado forced Vance Air Force Base to close until further notice due to ongoing power and water restoration efforts. All personnel assigned to the base have been accounted for with no injuries reported according to CBS News. Enid Mayor David Mason stated that local businesses offered equipment and labor, residents opened their doors, and supplies poured in.
The tornado injured at least 10 people according to UPI. Some residents were rescued from damaged areas by the mayor of Enid. The National Weather Service is expected to make an official determination after assessing the damage but meteorologists believe it could be a EF-4 or EF-5 tornado.
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