Tornadoes cause widespread damage in Oklahoma, three deaths

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McClain County Emergency Management verifies a third fatality following the tornado that occurred Wednesday evening.

Update Midnight

Shawnee Police are urging people to avoid the streets due to excessive traffic, as emergency response teams are facing difficulties accessing critical locations.

KFOR broadcasting will recommence at 4:00 a.M. On Thursday.

UPDATE: 11:39 P.M.

The Deputies of McClain County have verified a second death in Cole, Oklahoma.

Bethel, Dibble, Earlsboro, and Shawnee Educational Institutions have all decided to cancel classes for Thursday.

UPDATE: 11:35 P.M.

As per the students, Oklahoma Baptist University incurred significant harm during the tempest.

UPDATE: 11:30 P.M.

Authorities report significant destruction to the Shawnee Mall.

UPDATE: 11:18 P.M.

The McClain Co. Sheriff’s Office indicates that there is a potential for additional fatalities, considering the extent of damage witnessed by Cole. They also anticipate a potential rise in the number of injuries.

UPDATE: 11:05 PM

As per the Sheriff’s Office of McClain County, there has been at least one confirmed death in Cole, Oklahoma.

UPDATE: 10:58 P.M.

The tornado alert for Prague has ended.

UPDATE: 10:57 P.M.

Tomorrow, Bethel Schools will be closed because of the damage caused by the storm.

UPDATE: 10:37 P.M.

Hundreds of first responders are conducting searches of homes in Cole, Oklahoma, according to statements made by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Foster and McClain Co. Deputies.

The number of individuals impacted remains undisclosed, however, authorities confirm that injuries have been reported. First responders are persistently combing through the affected regions, and the devastation caused by the tornadoes is significant.

Contact 405-955-4600 for any non-urgent matters. Authorities state that the Red Cross reunion and housing location will be situated at Washington Highschool on 202 East Kerby Street in Cole.

The portion of State Highway 74 stretching from State Highway 74 to State Highway 76, along with the section from May 280th to 260th, are presently not reachable.

Sheriffs from McClain County advise avoiding the vicinity.

UPDATE: 10:27 P.M.

Current reports indicate that Cole, Shawnee, Etowah, and Chickasha have experienced damage. Additionally, damage has been reported at Bethel public schools and Oklahoma Baptist University.

UPDATE: 10:13 P.M.

According to officials, the tornado warning for Pottawatomie has been extended and now includes Lincoln County has been extended to 10:45 p.M.

UPDATE: 9:57 P.M.

Authorities report that the eastbound lanes of I-40 are closed heading towards Shawnee.

UPDATE: 9:52 P.M.

According to the Emergency Management Department of Oklahoma, the State Homeland and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated at 10 a.M. This morning to monitor severe weather threats and wildland fire.

  • We do not possess a precise tally of the quantity of residences or establishments that sustained damage, however, we acknowledge that there was substantial harm.
  • Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OK-TF1) was called upon and dispatched to aid in any search and rescue requirements for Cole.
  • The area staging was originally established at Blanchard in Meridian & 260th. We have reports that the Post Command will be located on the north side of Washington, at the intersection of 74 HWY and 24 HWY.
  • The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (ODEMHS) has not received reports on the impacts of livestock. The Department of Agriculture and the Oklahoma Forestry Service are coordinating with the First Responders in managing large animals.
  • According to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, there are currently 20,081 customers experiencing a power outage across the state.
  • ODEMHS has not received any additional inquiries for any of the remaining storms in the region.

    • UPDATE: 9:44 P.M.

    Shawnee residents are advised by 4Warn’s Mike Morgan to quickly and securely find a safe location as the region is transitioning into a powerful tornado.

    UPDATE: 9:22 P.M.

    According to Sheriff McClain County, residents have reported being trapped in their underground shelters due to high winds that have blown mailboxes away and caused emergency crews to use GPS to find addresses.

    According to Natalie Clydesdale from KFOR, two people in Cole sought refuge from the storm in a sewer opening and luckily, they both came out without any injuries.

    UPDATE: 9:03 P.M.

    The facility is demolished at Scissortail Silos Event Center in Cole, Oklahoma, where KFOR teams are assessing the destruction. Several residences have also been affected by the damage.

    UPDATE: 8:27 P.M.

    Damage has been reported in Cole, Oklahoma, where numerous buildings have been demolished.

    Latest update: 8:08 p.M.

    Helicopter Pilot Mason Dunn reports that he thinks there have been two twisters.

    Update 8:06 p.m.

    KFOR’s 4WarnMe Storm Chasers and McIntyre Law Chopper 4 managed to capture a massive tornado.

    ORIGINAL STORY:

    OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)– A Tornado Watch is in place for a large portion of central Oklahoma until 11:00 p.M.

    Massive hail could be a component of the extreme weather moving across the state.

    There is a possibility of hail that is about the size of a quarter to a golf ball.

    There are a few electricity disruptions being reported.

    Please frequently revisit for the latest updates.