Severe tornadoes in the southern Plains and in Oklahoma City have battered several homes and overturned many cars.
On Wednesday, May 6, at least 30 tornadoes were reported in the region; however, no deaths have been reported till now.
The Oklahoma City area is the worst affected area where a twister has destroyed many homes at Amber, Blanchard and Bridge Creek, all located southwest of Oklahoma City.
"We have damage reports, so we do strongly think there was a tornado on the south side of Oklahoma City," says Michael Scotten, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norman.
Scotten also revealed that the severe storms in the region flipped many vehicles on Interstate 35 and also affected power lines.
Many people have also been injured and Lara O'Leary, who is a spokesperson for Emergency Medical Services Authority, revealed that emergency workers transported about a dozen patients to hospitals. O'Leary did not reveal the extent of the injuries of the patients.
A zoo in Grady County, which is around 25 miles away from Oklahoma City, was also affected by a tornado. Initially, officials believed that the severe storms may have let wild animals loose. However, the zoo owner revealed that all animals, which included tigers, were safe and none of the animals escaped.
The heavy storms have also resulted in floods in many regions. The Oklahoma City has also issued a flood emergency for the first time in the city's history. Water rescues are also underway by emergency departments.
Meteorologists forecast that the region may be hit by more storms in the coming days.
"People just really need to stay weather aware, have a plan and understand that severe storms are possible across portions of the southern Plains almost daily through Saturday," says Jonathan Kurtz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
People at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City were evacuated in a tunnel twice for safety reasons.
Tornadoes have also destroyed about 10 to 15 homes in Nebraska. Nine tornadoes have also been reported in Kansas.
Flying debris pose the greatest danger during tornadoes. During a tornado, people should immediately move to the basement, safe room, storm cellar or the lowest level of the building to keep safe. People should stay away from doors and windows during a tornado.
Visit the Oklahoma City safety webpage to get more details about tornado and severe weather preparedness.
Also check out a short video about tornado safety.
Photo: Daniel Rodriguez | Flickr
