Families in Enid, Oklahoma began cleaning up Friday (local time) after a powerful storm spawned at least one violent tornado, the AP reported. The spiral tore through the area, damaging dozens of homes, moving buildings off their foundations and tearing bark from trees.
Despite the wreckage, no one was killed, but minor injuries were reported. Many people waited out the storm in basements and others heeded evacuation notices. At least 40 houses were reportedly damaged and minor damage occurred at a nearby air force base.
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But the most extensive damage was reported in Enid, a city of about 50,000 near Oklahoma’s northern border in Garfield County, where a tornado was confirmed, according to the National Weather Service. The video showed a rapidly rotating column of air touching the ground along with totaled houses.
The survivors seek shelter in the cellars
A few people hid in the cellars. Justin Hunt of Enid, who headed to his parents’ house amid reports that a tornado was near, took shelter in their basement. He later told the AP: “Especially in Oklahoma, we have great meteorologists.”
Hunt said he had hidden in that basement about 30 times before, but nothing like this had ever happened. Usually he comes out and everything is fine, but this time when he emerged, his parents’ house was badly damaged, with broken windows, a collapsed garage door and a badly damaged roof.
While basements are not typical in Oklahoma due to the red clay soil and elevated water tables that make them increasingly difficult and expensive to install, many homes in the state have storm cellars or safe rooms with reinforced concrete walls where people can take shelter during tornadoes.
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The storm causes widespread destruction
The storm caused widespread destruction in the area, where commercial buildings south of the city were reduced to piles of twisted metal, splintered wood and insulation by strong winds that pushed the buildings completely off their concrete foundations.
The tornado tore down utility poles and left power lines covered in huge pieces of debris. The report indicates that part of the metal roof was torn off the house and trees were stripped of bark and branches.
Rescue teams go door to door
In Enid, emergency crews, including police, fire and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, conducted multiple house searches and rescued trapped residents, Mayor David Mason said.
Mason said some of the worst damage occurred in Gray Ridge, a neighborhood on the city’s south side where homes were demolished. “The support from our community has been remarkable. Businesses have offered equipment and labor, residents have opened their doors and supplies have already poured in,” Mason wrote online. “That’s Enid in tough times – we keep showing up for each other.
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Possibly worse weather?
The AP, citing the weather service, said more bad storms were likely Friday night in south central and southeast Oklahoma. Strong to severe thunderstorms are likely to develop Saturday, including in Enid.
Other states were also battered by the storm. In Kearney, Missouri, north of Kansas City, officials reported downed trees, debris blocking roads and damage to homes after the system moved into Thursday night. According to a social media post, there were no injuries. Crews began cleaning the roads as early as Friday and were expected to continue cleaning throughout the day.
