One dead, dozens injured as tornado hits Oklahoma and Texas

POWDERLY, Texas — Tornado tore part of it Texas and Oklahoma On Friday, at least one person was killed, dozens were injured, and dozens of homes and buildings were left in ruins.

A tornado raged through McCarten County in southeastern Oklahoma. Cody McDaniel, the county’s emergency manager, did not immediately provide details, but confirmed one death.

Churches, medical centers, and schools fell apart in the small town of Idabel.

“The south and east sides of Idabel have been completely destroyed,” said McCarten County emergency management coordinator Stephen Carter. told the Texarkana Gazette.

Mr Carter told the newspaper that people were still locked up until late Friday.

Gov. Kevin Stitt said search and rescue teams and generators are being deployed to the Idabel area.

“Praying for the people of Oklahoma affected by today’s tornado,” Stitt tweeted.

The Oklahoma Emergency Management Agency’s Kelly Kane said at least three other counties were also hit by storms, causing flash floods in some areas.

Tornadoes have also been reported in Texas and Arkansas, with storm systems heading toward Louisiana, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials in Lamar County, Texas, said at least 50 homes were damaged or destroyed and 10 people were treated at one hospital, two of whom were seriously injured. No fatalities were reported immediately.

Judge Brandon Bell, the county’s top elected official, declared the area a disaster as a first step toward obtaining federal assistance and funding. At least 20 people were injured throughout the county, according to Bell’s declaration.

One of the hardest-hit communities was Powderley, about 45 miles (72 km) west of Idabel and about 120 miles (193 km) northeast of Dallas. Both Powderly and Idabel are near the Texas-Oklahoma border.

The tornado made landfall shortly after 4 p.m. and traveled north-northeast through the communities of Hopewell, Caviness, Beaver Creek, and Powderley, according to the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management Agency.

Powderly Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Johnson said: told the Paris News She didn’t realize someone had been killed, but she knew someone had been injured.

“It’s going to take a long time to clean this up, but the community has come together,” Johnson said.

The church opened the doors for the house to serve as a shelter for those affected.