Tornado hits city in Oklahoma amid severe weather outbreak - BERITAJA

A tornado struck the Oklahoma metropolis of Enid connected Thursday arsenic terrible storms swept done respective states, officials said.

The metropolis of Enid, a metropolis of about 50,000, successful the northcentral portion of the state, said first responders were conducting emergency operations successful the Grayridge area.

"At this clip location are nary reports of fatalities, and only insignificant injuries are being reported," the Garfield County Sheriff's Office said successful a statement. "First responders are continuing secondary searches of locations impacted by the tornado."

Gov. Kevin Stitt said he has spoken to metropolis leaders. Vance Air Force Base, which is connected the southwestern portion of Enid, said it was assessing the grade of harm there.

"Please subordinate maine successful praying for the Enid community, which has been severely impacted by tonight’s tornado," Stitt said connected X.

"My prayers are pinch everyone connected Vance Air Force Base and the surrounding neighborhood, and I americium asking God to bring treatment and comfortableness successful the days ahead," he said.

The National Weather Service for the region said that a confirmed tornado was moving crossed acold southeastern parts of Enid astatine 8:40 p.m.

A tornado emergency had been declared for parts of the metropolis and the surrounding area, and the region had been nether a tornado watch until 11 p.m.

"Residents are powerfully urged to enactment distant from the Grayridge area astatine this time," the metropolis of Enid said successful a statement. "Keeping roadways clear is captious truthful emergency crews, inferior teams, and dense instrumentality could safely entree affected locations arsenic quickly arsenic possible."

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said that the Red Cross was staged connected the westbound broadside of the Chisholm Trail Expo Center Thursday nighttime for anyone needing assistance.

Video recorded successful the area showed a ample acheronian chimney unreality rubbing the ground.

Justin Parrish, who lives successful Enid and owns a towing institution there, said that he was amazed by the size of the storm.

"It sewage calm and I went retired and was shocked," he said. “Luckily it did not deed us.”

Chance Jones, a drummer for stone set Hinder, besides recorded video of the tornado, arsenic he was extracurricular of a edifice successful Enid.

"We were about to get connected our bus! This was crazy," Jones said.

Enid is about 65 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.

Vance Air Force Base said it was assessing the harm from the tornado, which "impacted" the base.

"We are presently conducting accountability procedures to guarantee each unit are safe and accounted for," it said.

Tornadoes person been reported successful Oklahoma, Iowa and Kansas connected Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Damaging hail, including about the size of tennis balls, has besides been reported.

In Kay County, Oklahoma, northeast of Enid, Sheriff Steve Kelley said that trees and powerfulness lines were torn down, and that 1 location and barns were among the structures damaged.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said that he and his woman were urging everyone to beryllium safe.

"Cindy and I are praying for each Oklahomans successful harm’s measurement coming arsenic terrible storms, damaging winds, and tornadoes move crossed our state," he said connected societal media.