Severe weather, including several tornadoes, struck Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas overnight, resulting in significant destruction and loss of life. At least 11 people have been confirmed dead, among them children. The storm caused extensive damage, particularly in rural
In Cooke County, Texas, five people were killed, including two children aged 2 and 5. The destruction in this area was particularly severe, with Sheriff Ray Sappington describing the scene as “a trail of debris” and highlighting the difficulty of accessing the affected regions due to downed power lines and trees. Three family members were found dead in one home near Valley View, and search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing for at least two other children reported missing.The AP Travel Center near Valley View, Texas, was also severely impacted, with 60 to 80 people reported injured during the storm. Sheriff Sappington detailed the extensive efforts required to reach and assist the victims amidst the widespread damage .
The severe weather that ravaged Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas also caused significant damage near the town of Sanger, Texas. A suspected tornado overturned tractor-trailer trucks and motorhomes, damaged homes, and brought down power lines and trees throughout the area. Dawn Cobb, a spokesperson for Denton County, Texas, detailed in a news release that deputies were dispatched to multiple locations, including homes and RV trailer parks, to respond to the widespread damage and assist affected residents.In the city of Denton, approximately 37 miles north of Fort Worth, emergency personnel were actively engaged in rescue operations. The Denton Fire Department reported on X (formerly Twitter) that they were responding to a marina with multiple victims, some of whom were reportedly trapped. The extensive damage and resulting emergency situations highlight the storm’s devastating impact on the region.
The severe weather that caused destruction in Texas also impacted Oklahoma, resulting in additional fatalities and widespread damage. In Mayes County, Oklahoma, officials confirmed two deaths, though further details about the deceased were not immediately available, according to Mike Dunham, the county’s deputy director of emergency management.
In Rogers County, Oklahoma, a possible tornado caused significant damage. The city of Claremore, located about 28 miles east of Tulsa, was heavily affected. Police reported that the city was effectively “shut down” due to extensive storm damage, which included downed power lines, trees, and blocked roads. Officials indicated that the damage is severe and that power outages are expected to last for an extended period, impacting much of the city’s infrastructure and residents.
The severe weather that swept across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas has resulted in further fatalities and extensive damage. In Arkansas, at least two people were reported killed. A 26-year-old woman was found dead outside a destroyed home in Olvey, Boone County, as confirmed by the county’s Office of Emergency Management. Another fatality occurred in Benton County, where multiple injuries were also reported, according to Melody Kwok, a county communications director.
Widespread power outages have affected numerous states. Poweroutage.us reported approximately 118,000 homes and businesses in Missouri, 19,000 in Kansas, more than 61,000 in Texas, 107,000 in Arkansas, and 7,000 in Oklahoma were without power on Sunday afternoon. Major outages were also reported in Tennessee and Kentucky as the storm continued moving east.
The threat of severe weather persists through Memorial Day weekend. Meteorologists warn that storms on Sunday are capable of producing several tornadoes, including long-track tornadoes that could carve paths of destruction for 25 miles or more with wind gusts in some of the more powerful storms could reach or exceed Category 1 hurricane force, which is 74 mph, posing a significant risk through Monday.
