A powerful tornado has swept through Enid, Oklahoma, leaving a trail of destruction that damaged homes, downed power lines and forced road closures, while emergency crews raced to assist affected residents.
The tornado struck Thursday, carving a path through parts of the city and nearby rural areas, according to the National Weather Service. Dramatic footage showed the fast-moving funnel cloud crossing highways and tearing through neighborhoods, with several homes reduced to rubble.
Despite the scale of destruction, authorities reported no immediate fatalities and only minor injuries. The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said officials were going door-to-door in impacted communities to check on residents and ensure no one was trapped.
Enid Mayor David Mason confirmed that some residents had to be rescued after being trapped inside their homes by debris. The hardest-hit area appeared to be the Gray Ridge neighborhood on the city’s south side, where multiple homes were either severely damaged or completely destroyed.
At Vance Air Force Base, fences and equipment were damaged by the storm, prompting officials to shut down operations temporarily due to ongoing power and water outages.
Residents described terrifying moments as the tornado struck. One mother recounted how her daughter took shelter in a bathtub just moments before the roof of their home was ripped away by the storm.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt urged support for the affected community, calling for prayers as recovery efforts begin.
Forecasters warn that more severe weather could hit the region, with additional storms expected across parts of Oklahoma in the coming days, raising concerns about further damage as cleanup operations continue.