Multiple people injured after severe storms, possible tornadoes tear through Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Multiple people were injured after severe storms and reported tornadoes ripped through the Oklahoma City area early Sunday morning.
Emergency crews were working to assess the damages as the sun rose on Sunday. While the National Weather Service has not yet surveyed the area, Mike Morgan, chief meteorologist at Nexstar's KFOR, says there may have been as many as seven tornadoes that touched down in the early morning hours.
Sunday afternoon, authorities said 11 people had been taken to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening. Other minor injuries were reported, Oklahoma City Fire Department spokesman Scott Douglas told the Associated Press. Those people were able to independently receive treatment.
No fatalities have been reported as of 8 a.m. Sunday.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department reports several structures have sustained damage and stresses that there are downed power lines, traffic lights have been damaged, or are without power. There are also many trees down.
Heavy rainfall also impacted the area, with several vehicles impacted by flooding, according to officials.
Daniel and Cherry Haggard said they woke up to tornado damage, including a leaking roof and smashed windows.
"We were laying in bed and we heard this big noise and it sounded like a train was going by," Daniel told KFOR. "And then we heard this thumping and crashing against the house."
In the small town of Choctaw, just outside Oklahoma City, authorities said a tornado hit one neighborhood shortly after midnight. Firefighters and police officers went door to door to ask about injuries and officials opened an elementary gym as a shelter, according to the Choctaw Police Department.
“There is significant damage to homes in the area,” the department posted on Facebook.
KFOR also found severe damage in Harrah, about six miles east of Choctaw.
Thousands remain without power and temporary shelters were beginning to open for those impacted by the storms.
Parts of Oklahoma remained under risk for more heavy rainfall and thunderstorms later Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.