A devastating tornado outbreak swept across the Midwest and Great Plains over the weekend, leaving at least five people dead and more than 100 others injured in Oklahoma, Iowa, and Nebraska. The National Weather Service confirmed at least 47 tornadoes ranging from EF-0 to EF-3 during the outbreak.
In Oklahoma, four deaths were reported in Holdenville, Sulphur, and Marietta. One of the fatalities was an infant in Hughes County. The governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt, declared a state of emergency in 12 counties due to the damage caused by the tornadoes and severe weather.
In Iowa, at least one person died in Minden when they were trapped in their basement during the tornado outbreak. Another death was reported in Elkhorn, Nebraska. The mayors of both towns expressed their condolences and urged residents to stay safe as recovery efforts continued.
Despite the destruction and uncertainty, residents of affected communities came together to help each other. In Sulphur, Oklahoma, Anita Hicks helped a woman she knew get out of her house and clear away trees. The home was 120 years old but managed to save two lives during the tornado.
The Chickasaw Telephone Co. building took a hit in downtown Sulphur, but neither Anita nor the two people she helped were hurt. In Holdenville, Oklahoma, a Dollar Tree distribution center was also damaged during the storms.
As of now, survey teams from the National Weather Service are still out in full force looking at the damage left behind by these tornadoes. The death toll may continue to rise as more information becomes available.
The Midwest and Great Plains were not the only regions affected by severe weather over the weekend. Thunderstorms developed in the Mississippi Valley to the Gulf Coast on Sunday and into Monday, bringing risks including hail, gusty winds, and flash flooding.
