It has been a deadly night in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management confirms at least 9 killed in Long Grove (Carter County) and 25-50 injuries from a tornadoes that move through southern Oklahoma. Apparently the tornado struck a mobile home park and search and rescue teams were sent. There were also reports of baseball sized hail.
The damage video we showed tonight out of Edmond is incredible. OG & E reported 29,000 lost power. There are many homeless tonight and we will have a lot more video to show Wednesday on the tornado damage in the OKC area. One of the touchdowns there hit just 2 miles south of where I lived when I was a weatherman at the NBC station there.
For our area, we had a tornado warning issued around 4:30pm for Osage and Pawnee county. The storm sat near Pawnee for quite a while. The Fire Dept. there reported that 3 miles south of Pawnee two barns were completely destroyed. Law Enforcement also reported a two mobile homes were overturned.
That same storm finally moved NE and Washington county. The largest hail report I saw tonight was in Wynona, in Osage county, the hail was estimated at 2.75" in diameter. That is the size of a baseball!
I always get concerned when storms strike before 5pm. That is when some children are home alone. Please make sure your kids know what to do if a tornado warning is issued for your area. On a calm day, sit down and talk to them about the "safe place" at your home.
Have a practice drill and do not scare them. Tell them it is rare, but sometimes we do have severe weather, and this is what to do to be safe.
I want you to know that storms can occur ANY time of year. Make sure you and your family are ready!