Officials confirmed that on Sunday, at least five fatalities were recorded, including that of a 4-month-old child in Oklahoma, following a severe storm that swept through the heartland, spawning multiple tornadoes across four states, with a notable pair touching down in Nebraska.
4-Month-Old Baby Among the Casualties of the Storms
Emergency responders in Hughes County, Oklahoma, disclosed that the baby was among the four people who lost their lives in storms that hit Holdenville.
Additionally, one person succumbed to storm-related wounds at a sports bar in Sulphur hit by a tornado, with at least 30 people wounded in Sulphur, including 20 at the sports bar.
Governor J. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma verified on Sunday afternoon that at least four people were killed in the storms that hit his state, with one death reported in Marietta, Oklahoma, and two in Ada, Oklahoma.
A state of emergency was announced in 12 Oklahoma counties. The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, declared a preparatory determination of "at least" EF3 tornadoes in Sulphur and Marietta.
President Joe Biden talked with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on Sunday, extending the "full support of the federal government" after Saturday's deadly tornadoes.
Governor Jim Pillen released an emergency announcement for Douglas, Lancaster, and Washington Counties. Furthermore, a man wounded during a tornado in Minden, Iowa, on Friday died, as verified by his family in Omaha, Nebraska on Sunday.
New Tornado Watch Issued for Eastern Texas
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds went around the devastated town of Minden on Sunday and immediately started emergency policies. As communities grappled with the aftermath, a new tornado watch was issued for portions of eastern Texas on Sunday afternoon, coinciding with the confirmation of two funnel clouds near Rosebud and Freestone, Texas.
The tornado watch will remain in effect until 9 p.m. CT. Sunday marked the third day of severe weather outbreaks across the heartland states, affecting over 22 million people in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois.
Holdenville, a town approximately 77 miles southeast of Oklahoma City with a population of about 6,000, was left devastated after a violent tornado touched down late Saturday amid a statewide tornado outbreak. Search and assessment efforts were launched Saturday night by Hughes County Emergency Management officials.
A Holdenville family informed that a relative lost their house in the storm and remained in the hospital on Sunday. Emergency crews searched the damaged Holdenville home for the child before finding the baby, who was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to the Hughes County emergency manager.
Governor Kevin Stitt expressed condolences and gratitude towards those involved in response efforts. Additionally, a destructive tornado hit Sulphur, Oklahoma, in Murray County, causing significant damage to buildings and injuring at least four other individuals, including three with major injuries.
A crew in Sulphur observed several damaged businesses and vehicles. Sulphur business owner Julie Cox expressed devastation over the destruction of her business, Pamper Me Boutique, and uncertainty about rebuilding, having let her insurance lapse due to economic challenges.