One dead, dozens injured as storm hits region

Tornadoes swept parts of Texas and Oklahoma on Friday, killing at least one person, injuring 20 others and leaving dozens of homes and buildings 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. Texarkana Gazette.

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

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said a search and rescue team and a generator are being deployed to the Idabel area.

“Prayers 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 most elected official, said: declared a disaster in the area, steps to obtain federal aid 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 west of Idabel and about 120 miles 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.

Parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana were at risk of severe winds, hail and tornadoes on Friday afternoon. National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center.

At least 10 million people in the area were put under tornado surveillance According to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Also issued a flash flood threat It spans northeastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, and parts of western Arkansas.

in Arkansasa college homecoming event was canceled and high school football games postponed due to the threat of severe weather.

Storms across the southern plains can produce thunderstorms that generate tornadoes. According to Accuweather.

Troy Kimmel, a lecturer in meteorology at the University of Texas, told the Austin American Statesman, “Not just a single tornado or two large hailstones, but all of the storm damage, including linear thunderstorm wind damage. There is a danger of thunderstorms,” ​​he said. Part of the USA TODAY network.

Storms can also cause power outages and cause property damage. In extreme cases, Accuweather said it could pose some risk to life.

Contributed by Associated Press