Oklahoma Storm & Tornado Update: 5 Killed, Devastated Oklahoma Likely To Face More Storms
Less than 24 hours after storm generated tornados devastated Oklahoma killing five people in the process, forecasters have warned that Oklahoma might face another round of severe storm on Tuesday.
The National Weather Service warned the citizens in the northern, western and southern Oklahoma to be prepared to face severe weather in the afternoon and evening on Tuesday.
Rescue operations are on at war scale in the areas most affected by the storm which on Monday ravaged Oklahoma leaving five people dead and at least 10 critically injured.
Full details of the damage as estimated by the officials would be given on Tuesday meanwhile plans are being charted out to deal with the destruction caused in the tornado hit areas. Trees, houses, utility poles , none could withstand the onslaught of the tornados and were blown to dust .
In a statement released to the press, Oklahoma City Police Chief, William City said that , “ Until daylight returns most of those neighborhoods are going to be locked down …. No one’s going to be allowed to enter into there, including the owners of the homes. That’s for their own safety.” “ We will re-evaluate that in the morning and determine exactly when and where we can allow people to go back into their homes”, he added.
Oklahoma City Fire Chief Keith Bryant said that rescue operations were going on in a 30 square mile area on Monday night looking for the survivors and rescue workers were clearing away the snapped power lines and other potentially dangerous substances.
Voicing his concern and expressing solidarity with the victims of the storm Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said, “ This was a significant storm and a deadly storm .”
Of the five people dead, three died in Cleveland County, just west of Tecumseh , while the other two perished in the Oklahoma according to Albert Ashwood, Director of Oklahoma Emergency Management.
According to the emergency management department at least 10 people were being treated for critical and serious injuries suffered during the storm while more than 40 people were treated for minor injuries across the state . The storm left at least 40 houses completely destroyed while more than 108 houses were damaged, said the emergency management department.
Video footages received from across the state show homes being destroyed, trees uprooted poles downed and the streets littered with the debris of the fallen houses.
One of the many reports coming from all parts of Oklahoma states that a truck stop, east of Oklahoma City, was brought to the ground as it took a direct hit from the tornado. This was confirmed by a spokeswoman for Love’s Travel Stops and County Stores.
Few motorists had stopped at the truck stop to seek shelter from the oncoming storm but were caught offguard when the tornado struck the stop blowing away its roof and overturning tractor trailers, said spokeswoman Christina Dukeman.
The power situation in the storm affected areas is very bad. More than 65000 homes and businesses are without any access to electricity throughout the state according to emergency management officials. About 15000 of this is in Norman, the worst affected area in the storm, according to the Oklahoma Gas And Electric .
The Red Cross has sprung into action and has set up three shelters on Monday night and is keeping an eye over the situation.
Another problem faced by the officials and people is the prospect of making do with a very less quantity of water as the Lake Draper Water Treatment Plant, which provides about half of Oklahoma City's water, was also without power Monday night
.
A ban has been put on outside watering by the City officials, taking in view the power outage might continue for a few days.
City Manager Jim Couch said, "It's unknown when that power will be restored. Major transmission lines in the area have been damaged."
