Oklahoma tornado: 6 fatalities confirmed
Six people have died today as tornadoes ripped through the state.
Three were reported dead in Oklahoma County and three in Cleveland County.
One man in Oklahoma County died after a recreational vehicle rolled onto him, County Emergency Manager David Barnes said. A child died from flying debris near a Love's Store at Interstate 40 and Choctaw Road. Another person died after having a heart attack while entering a storm shelter.
Acting State Emergency Manager Jerry Lojka said three people died near the community of Stella at SE 149th Street and Peebly Road in Cleveland County.
Lojka said 57 storm-related injuries have been reported.
Damage assessments continue to mount statewide from tornadoes, large hail and high winds.
Metro damage
Tornadoes that ripped through the Oklahoma City metro area tossed cars off highways, flipped mobile homes and left several subdivisions heavily damaged.
Between 40 and 50 homes were destroyed with another 30 to 40 damaged, Emergency Management Spokesman Jerry Lojka.
Fire department officials are going from structure to structure to check on residents in the area between Indian Meridian and Westminster roads south of SE 59.
The National Weather Service in Norman reported a funnel cloud that touched town east of the building along Highway 9.
The weather service said the tornado grew in strength and size and caused significant damage near the Norman area.
Televised footage showed a tornado blowing cars off the roadway on Highway 9 near Norman.
Heavy damage has been reported east of Oklahoma City in the Choctaw area near Interstate 40, as well, with multiple trees and power lines down. The Interstate was shut down for more than an hour.
Five injured people were taken to the Moore Medical Center, spokeswoman Brenda Finkle said. More ambulances have been dispatched from Normal Regional Hospital to the east part of town, she said.
"They're having a hard time getting there because the damage is significant," she said.
Shortly before 5 p.m. two storm spotters reported a tornado north of Red Rock in Noble County, with reports of debris in the air.
Tornadoes hit Wakita
It's unknown how many tornadoes actually
He said he saw about five funnel clouds near State Highway 11A.
"For a while it looked like they would make one big one," Bellin said.
Hail knocked out windows of homes and caused roof damage. Fences also were blown over.
"Some of it looked like two baseballs stuck together," Bellin said.
A Wakita fire truck lost its windshield to the large hail, he said.
Bellin said power lines were blown down from south of Wakita east to Medford along State Highway 11. Utility crews are responding to repair the damage.
At 3:56 p.m. a large tornado was spotted on the ground four miles north of Medford in Grant County, according to the National Weather Service.
Multiple spotters and tornado chasers reported that a tornado briefly
Grant County dispatchers said they received numerous reports of significant damage, including downed trees and power lines.
Janet Frisk, dispatcher in Alfalfa County, said baseball-sized hail broke out a number of windows in buildings and cars in Cherokee. She said the storm moved out of Alfalfa County as of 3:45 p.m.
Power outages
At 11:45 p.m. OG&E reported about 26,860 customers without service, with about 20,200 of those in the Oklahoma City metro area.
Public Services Company in Oklahoma reported about 2,600 customers without power.
Other municipal electric companies have also reported power outages.
Shelters
The American Red Cross has opened three shelters, spokeswoman Kyla Campbell said.
One shelter was opened at the Harrah Church. That center is a family reunification center for those who were separated in the storm.
Another was opened at Tecumseh City Hall.
A third shelter has opened at the Cromwell Fire Department.
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