By Rich McKay, Reuters
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on Sunday declared a disaster emergency for the state (file image). Photo: ALEX WONG / Getty Images via AFP
At least four people died, including a four-month-old baby, and scores were injured in Oklahoma this weekend after dozens of twisters swept the US Southern Plains, while weather alerts on Sunday put more than 7 million Americans under tornado warnings.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on Sunday declared a disaster emergency for the state, freeing up more money for first responders and recovery operations.
"Definitely the most damage since I've been governor," Stitt said in Sulphur, one of the hardest-hit communities, on Sunday afternoon as he provided an update on fatalities and damage. Stitt began his first term as governor in 2019.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency had offered the assistance of the federal government, Stitt added.
Storm warnings for high winds, heavy rain and hail also were issued by the National Weather Service on Sunday for more than 47 million people stretching from East Texas north through Illinois and Wisconsin.
The NWS reported 38 possible twisters hit the area and that the worst of the storms rolled through Central Oklahoma on Saturday into early Sunday morning, spreading into northwest Texas, western Missouri and Kansas.
Earlier on Sunday, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reported more than 30 people injured by tornadoes, which destroyed or damaged dozens of homes.
The agency said it would not complete damage assessments until storms have fully cleared the area. More than 20,000 customers in Oklahoma were without power as of Sunday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us.
- Reuters
