Tornadoes Flat Areas of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, Leaving 2 Dead and Dozens Injured

Several tornadoes have ripped across three states, causing death and destruction in their wake. The most affected areas include Dallas, Texas, and northeastern Texas, as well as northwest Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma.

According to the Associated Press, there are two reported casualties so far. The first is a 90-year-old man from Idabel, Oklahoma. His death was confirmed by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. The man's body was found inside his home in the Pickens area of McCurtain County.

Meanwhile, the second death came in northeastern Texas. According to The Guardian, it was reported by a Morris County official, though no further details have been released as of writing.

State of Emergency Declared in Oklahoma While Texas Assesses Damage

The damage seems to be the biggest in Oklahoma where Governor Stitt declared a state of emergency for McCurtain County, where Idabel is located, as well as nearby Bryan, Choctaw, and LeFlore counties.

Over 100 homes and businesses were damaged in Idabel, Oklahoma due to the tornadoes, with the amount ranging from minor damage to totally destroyed.

As the tornadoes ripped through the state, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol also reported the drowning of a 6-year-old girl. However, it was not clear if this was attributed to the storm. The Oklahoma medical examiner will be investigating the matter. The girl was with a 43-year-old man, who was also reported missing after their vehicle was swept by water off a bridge near Stilwell, Oklahoma.

With the State of Emergency declaration, Oklahoma will receive federal assistance and funding, as well as clear the way for state agencies to make disaster recovery-related purchases without any limits on bidding requirements.

"There was total destruction on the south and east sides of Idabel," said Steven Carter, a local Oklahoma emergency management coordinator.

Over in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott stated that damage assessments and recovery efforts are underway in the areas affected by the tornadoes. He stated that he has "deployed all available resources to help respond and recover."

In Lamar County, Texas, a disaster was declared, with at least two dozen people injured across the country.

Multiple Tornadoes Formed in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center revealed that Texas had the most tornadoes form, with nine. Meanwhile, four tornadoes formed in Arkansas, and only one in Oklahoma. However, that one tornado in Oklahoma was the one that caused the most damage.

The storm has also caused record rainfall in Dallas, as over three inches of rain was recorded at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, breaking the previous record of 1.77 inches in 1956.

There were also power outages reported, with almost 40,000 homes and businesses without power in Texas, most of which are located in the northeastern portion of the Lone Star state. Most of the power outages are caused by the storm. Another 5,000 homes were reported without power in Oklahoma.

A tornado watch has also been issued for various areas, including southeast Texas, northwest Louisiana, western Arkansas, and extreme southeast Oklahoma. In addition to the heavy rainfall and tornadoes, damaging wind gusts and large hail are also reported to be possible, according to the Weather Channel.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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