Devastating storms claimed the lives of at least nine people and caused widespread destruction across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas on Sunday. The severe weather demolished homes and even obliterated a truck stop where drivers sought refuge during this latest deadly event in the central United States.
Severe storms tore across three states over the weekend, leaving at least 11 dead along a wide trail of destruction. Officials reported seven deaths in Cooke County, Texas, near the Oklahoma border after a tornado ripped through the area Saturday night.
The storms caused damage in Oklahoma, resulting in injuries to guests at an outdoor wedding. Tens of thousands of residents were left without power across the region.
“It’s just a trail of debris left. The devastation is pretty severe,” Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington told The Associated Press.
Emergency responders transported several individuals to hospitals in Denton County, Texas, via ambulance and helicopter.
However, the exact severity of their injuries remains unclear. Among the fatalities in Texas were three family members discovered in a single home near the small community of Valley View.
In Arkansas, two fatalities were reported, one of whom was a 26-year-old woman discovered deceased outside a demolished home in Olvey—a small community within Boone County. Daniel Bolen, from the county’s Office of Emergency Management, provided this information.
In Benton County, Arkansas, an additional fatality was reported. Melody Kwok, the county’s communications director, confirmed that several other individuals sustained injuries, and emergency responders are actively handling incoming calls.
“We are still on search and rescue right now,” she said. “This is a very active situation.”
Mayes County, Oklahoma officials have verified two fatalities. However, specific information about the deceased individuals remains unavailable at this time, according to Mike Dunham, the county’s deputy director of emergency management.
Amidst a somber month of severe weather, tornadoes in Iowa claimed the lives of at least five individuals and caused injuries to dozens.
These lethal twisters emerged during an exceptionally challenging tornado season, exacerbated by the impact of climate change on storm severity worldwide. Notably, April witnessed the second-highest tornado count ever recorded in the country.
A tornado swept into Denton County, Texas, just north of Dallas, causing tractor-trailers to overturn and bringing traffic on Interstate 35 to a halt.
In response, a shelter was established in the rural town of Sanger. According to Sappington, approximately 60 to 80 individuals sought refuge inside a highway truck stop during the storm, but fortunately, there were no significant injuries.
As the sun rose, the extent of the destruction became painfully clear. From above, the aerial view captured numerous homes in disarray—some missing roofs, others reduced to mere debris. Startled residents emerged to find overturned vehicles and collapsed garages.
A few individuals paced anxiously, sifting through remnants of wood to assess the damage. Nearby, neighbors sat solemnly on the remnants of a once-standing home.
During the peak of the storms, over 24,000 residences and commercial establishments in Oklahoma experienced power outages, as reported by the state Office of Emergency Management.
Additionally, the agency documented significant destruction caused by baseball-sized hail and multiple injuries at an outdoor wedding taking place in rural Woods County.
As the storms swept through the region overnight, meteorologists and authorities urgently advised residents to seek shelter. The National Weather Service office in Norman posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
In Texas, the Denton Fire Department shared on social media that emergency teams near Dallas were attending to a marina where “multiple victims were reported trapped.”
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, impassable roads and fallen power lines prompted officials in the town of Claremore, near Tulsa, to declare via social media that the city was effectively “shut down” due to the extensive damage.
In recent weeks, tornado activity has been particularly intense in the Midwest. Iowa experienced significant devastation from a deadly twister that struck Greenfield. Additionally, other storms caused flooding and wind damage in various parts of the state.
The weather system responsible for the recent severe conditions was projected to shift eastward throughout the remainder of the Memorial Day weekend. This movement would result in rain that might cause a delay for the Indianapolis 500 auto race scheduled for Sunday in Indiana.
Additionally, more severe storms were anticipated in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky. Forecasters also warned of the risk of severe weather extending into North Carolina and Virginia on Monday.
ALSO READ | Tornado Ravages Sulphur And Oklahoma: At Least 4 Killed, Reported