Update: 4 dead after tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, State of Emergency declared

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Strong devastating and deadly storms moved through Oklahoma.

There are two confirmed deaths, a child and an adult male in Holdenville.

Several others were injured.

At least 17 tornadoes touched down in the state on Saturday.

That number could rise as the National Weather Service surveys the damaged area and works to confirm what caused the damage.

There is extensive damage reported in Sulphur and Holdenville.

Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a State of Emergency for 12 counties impacted by the storm, Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Hughes, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Payne, and Pontotoc counties.

“My prayers are with those who lost loved ones as tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma last night,” Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement.

Stitt toured some of the damage area today along with other state leaders.

Damage was also reported in Norman.

Damage was reported at Westheimer Airport and in other parts of the city.

There was also damage reported in Midwest City.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports the following roadways have been impacted by the storms and clean-up efforts.

Major damage is also reported in Marietta. The large Dollar Tree/Family Dollar distribution center on I-35 took a direct hook as reported when McIntyre Law Chopper 4 flew over the damage area Sunday morning.

So many in Sulphur and Holdenville are surveying the damage and making plans on what they will do next.

Updated information on highways from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. (as of 4:00 p.m. Sunday)

HUGHES COUNTY – OPEN

• All lanes of north and southbound SH-48 are open between SH-9E and US-270, near Holdenville due to severe weather clean-up

LOVE COUNTY

• Northbound I-35 is narrowed to one lane at mm 15, in Marietta. Southbound lanes are open, but drivers should be prepared for delays and intermittent lane closures as crews work to clear the area of debris

• All lanes of north and southbound US-77 are open south of Marietta following a closure due to severe weather clean-up

MCINTOSH COUNTY

• All lanes of US-266 are closed at N 4220 Rd., just east of Checotah, due to high water

MURRAY COUNTY

• All lanes of SH-7 are closed between W 9th St. and SH-1 in Sulphur due to severe weather clean-up.

• All lanes of US-177 are closed between Lawton Ave. and Denney Rd. in Sulphur due to severe weather clean-up

PITTSBURG COUNTY

• All lanes of north and southbound US-69B are open between SH-113 and McAlester following a closure due to high water

• All lanes of east and westbound SH-31 are closed between Friendship Rd. and Haywood Rd. due to high water

• All lanes of east and westbound SH-63 are closed between Crawley Rd. and Hopper Rd. due to high water

This is an update on all of the impacted areas from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management:

The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated due to impacts from recent severe weather. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) remains in contact with emergency managers across the state and is coordinating with agencies and organizations including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma National Guard, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Insurance Department, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, National Weather Service, Oklahoma American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

GOVERNOR STITT ISSUES STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR 12 COUNTIES

Governor Kevin Stitt issued a State of Emergency for Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Hughes, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Payne and Pontotoc counties this morning due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds, hail, and flooding that began on April 27.

The Executive Order also extends the temporary suspension of size and weight limits for oversized vehicles and equipment responding from out of state to assist with power restoration efforts. Waivers have been in place since Thursday, June 15 to ensure quick mobilization from out of state utility partners.

FATALITIES AND INJURIES

The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed three storm-related fatalities:

2 fatalities in Holdenville

1 fatality on Interstate 35 near Marietta

Governor Stitt announced a fourth fatality in Sulphur.

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 100 injuries have been reported by area hospitals:

25 Cut/Pierce

30 Falls

16 Struck By or Against

17 Transportation Related

12 Other

STATE SUPPORT

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security has coordinated numerous resource requests for search and rescue teams, operations support teams, and mass care.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol assisted with search and rescue, traffic control in numerous locations. Oklahoma Department of Transportation assisted with road closures and debris removal off roadways. Oklahoma Corporation Commission provided support for utility outages.

Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is available to help residents with issues they may have with their insurance claims. Contact OID at 800-522-0071 or visit their website at http://www.oid.ok.gov/after.

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality staff is out in the field checking on water/wastewater systems. There are some on backup power sources and are having no issues. One system is without power and has no backup power source, however they anticipate power restoration before they have issues.

MASS CARE

The American Red Cross of Oklahoma opened a shelter in Sulphur (Crossway First Baptist Church Sulphur, 2108 W. Broadway Ave.) last night with 25 residents staying overnight, and is opening another shelter in Ardmore today (Christ Community Church Ardmore, 2620 Mount Washington Road). Mass care and feeding responses are ongoing.

Oklahoma Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has two chainsaw teams in Morris and a mass feeding kitchen en route to Sulphur to provide at least 200 meals tonight. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)-trained chaplains are also available for affected residents and first responders.

The Salvation Army is providing first responders in Murray County with meals as of breakfast this morning. Meals for responders in Love County with start with dinner tonight. Each service will run until no longer needed. Emotional and spiritual care workers are also available. The Salvation Army is determining need for clean-up kits and other supplies tomorrow.

STORM REPORTS

Hughes County Emergency Management reports 14 homes are damaged or destroyed in Holdenville. All lanes of north and southbound SH-48 are closed between SH-9E and US-270, near Holdenville due to severe weather clean-up. Muscogee Creek Nation is assisting with debris clearing and searching for area of impact. Seminole and Seminole County Emergency Management and Fire and Sheriff are providing command support. Oklahoma City Task Force One was requested to respond Sunday for Search and Rescue support. Pottawatomie County drone team is assisting with damage assessments.

Love County Emergency Management reports damages in and around Marietta including damage to the Marietta Hospital. Hospital patients took shelter during the storms and no injuries in the hospital are reported. All lanes of southbound I-35 are now open and northbound I-35 is narrowed to one lane at mm 15 in Marietta following severe weather. Drivers should continue to use extra caution in the area and be prepared for delays or intermittent lane closures as crews work to clear debris from overnight severe weather. All lanes of north and southbound US-77 are closed south of Marietta due to severe weather clean-up.

McIntosh County: The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports all lanes of US-266 are closed at N 4220 Rd., just east of Checotah, due to high water.

Murray County Emergency Management reports significant damage in Sulphur and numerous injuries. All lanes of SH-7 and US-177 are closed in Sulphur due to severe weather clean-up.

Okfuskee County Emergency Management reports four properties with damage including three homes and one outbuilding.

Pittsburg County Emergency Management conducted three swift water rescues; one in the Hartshorne area, one on Hardy Springs Road, and one at New Baker Road. North and southbound US-69B are closed between SH-113 and McAlester due to high water. All lanes of east and westbound SH-31 are closed between New Baker Rd. and Haywood Rd. due to high water. All lanes of east and westbound SH-63 are closed between Crawley Rd. and Hopper Rd. due to high water.

Pontotoc County Emergency Management reports flooding in Ada and streetlights down on Arlington Street, as well as multiple roads washed out and trees across roads in SW Pontotoc County. Vehicles are stranded in the Byng area, and multiple other roads closed due to high water throughout the county.

Pottawatomie County Emergency Management reports seven structures damaged in Dale and unincorporated areas of Shawnee along with six vehicles damaged and numerous downed trees and power lines.

Wagoner County Emergency Management reports downed powerlines trapped occupants in cars in ditches or motels. Numerous damages to structures are reported including an apartment complex roof removed. Downed trees are causing access issues for responders.

POWER OUTAGES

Approximately 22,000 outages are reported statewide. Areas with the highest number of damages are Carter, Love, Johnston, Murray, and Hughes counties.

PRICE GOUGING STATUTE IN EFFECT

The state’s price gouging statute is now in effect. The Emergency Price Stabilization Act prohibits an increase of more than 10% for the price of goods and services after a declared emergency. The statute triggers automatically after the governor issues a state of emergency. The law allows the attorney general to pursue charges against individuals or businesses that engage in price gouging. For more information or to report a complaint, individuals can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit toll free at 833-681-1895.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond told residents to beware contractors who go door-to-door, demand upfront payment and use aggressive sales tactics. Agents from the OAG’s office will be visiting communities with storm damage to help prevent contractor fraud, and residents may report fraud to 1-833-681-1895 or consumerprotection@oag.ok.gov.

“My prayers go out to the citizens of Sulphur, all of Murray County and those across the State of Oklahoma affected by the severe weather this weekend. As our neighbors survey the damage and begin to rebuild, my office is available to provide individuals and businesses with guidance on how to access necessary resources. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can provide assistance throughout the cleanup and rebuilding process,” said OK House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka

This is a developing story, refresh often for updates.

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