Thursday, May 7, 2015

Woman Killed in Oklahoma Identified; Residents of DeWitt, Nebraska, Evacuated Due to Flash Flooding

Sean Breslin
Published: May 7,2015




 
Flash flooding prompted the evacuation of residents of DeWitt, Nebraska, Thursday, after heavy rains pummeled the area Wednesday night and early the next morning.
Storms heavily affected other areas, as well. The worst of the storms appeared to have hit southwest of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson said about 10 homes were destroyed in Amber and 25 were destroyed in Bridge Creek.
One person has died as a result of the storms, according to Oklahoma City Police. Skylyna Stewart, 43,  drowned in her underground storm shelter near SE 164th and Midwest Blvd., according to News 9 Oklahoma. At least 12 people were injured in Oklahoma as a result of the storms, and as many as five of the injured are in critical condition. One person was injured during storms in Jewell County, Kansas, officials confirmed in a news release.
(MORE: Track Severe Weather As It Pushes Across the Plains)
While main interstates and highways were open for the morning rush hour, Oklahoma DOT warned drivers high water still covered some roads, and drivers should check www.dps.state.ok.us before heading out.
Teams with the National Weather Service are surveying the damage, and several tornadoes have been confirmed.
Here are the latest impacts on a state-by-state basis.

Kansas

One person sustained minor injuries and two homes were damaged or destroyed in Sedgwick County after a tornado hit the area, KAKE-TV reported. A survey crew from the National Weather Service studied the damage and determined the twister reached EF3 strength, packing winds as high as 150 mph.
An additional storm in Sedgwick damaged a feed lot, ethanol plant and at least four homes.
Lincoln County also reported storm damage, including downed trees and power lines and a damaged building, KAKE said.
(PHOTOS: Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes Strike the Plains)
Storm chasers captured stunning footage of the first tornado as it was in progress in a farm field in Lincoln County. No people were in the immediate path of the cell.
Ben McMillan, a storm chaser who was streaming the Lincoln County tornado, said he saw debris on the ground and in the air. He couldn't immediately confirm where it came from.
The National Weather Service reported the tornado damaged trees and outbuildings outside of Lincoln. However, the damage was not significant, and there were no injuries, the Lincoln County Sheriff told NBC.
Pictures on social media also showed the storm.
Another tornado was reported Wednesday evening in Ionia, Kansas.

Nebraska

Heavy rains also impacted Haymarket Park, a baseball and softball pavilion frequently used by University of Nebraska—Lincoln sports teams, which flooded Thursday, according to the Journal Star. The Huskers will play Purdue, most likely, in a different location over the weekend.
Residents of DeWitt, Nebraska, were evacuated Thursday after heavy rains Wednesday night and early Thursday morning caused flash flooding in the area.
Flooding inundated roads around the Lincoln metro area Wednesday night, KLKN-TV said. Those issues lasted into Thursday morning, as some roads remained completely under water.
Strong thunderstorm winds damaged a home south of Hebron. Several trees were also downed and sent careening through the air, KETV-TV reported. Flooding was also a cause for concern in Hebron Wednesday night.
An EF1 tornado was confirmed by an NWS survey crew near Roseland, located in Adams County.
A feed bin, barn and horse arena were reportedly blown away near the communities of Raymond and Malcolm, as well.
(MORE: 10 States Where Hail Damage Is Worst)
Resident Donna Vieselmeyer told KETV, "I've been watching down south, the tornadoes in Oklahoma, it's terrible. We're just very fortunate God was watching over us."
The Red Cross of Nebraska and Southwest Iowa dispatched emergency teams to Roseland to aid those affected by a tornado that caused minor injuries and damaged 10 to 15 homes. The extent of the damage is unknown at this time.

Oklahoma

A woman trapped under her home for approximately three hours was discovered by an Oklahoma Natural Gas employee Wednesday night, FOX 25 reported. The worker was in disbelief when he heard the cries for help and called Oklahoma City Police and the Oklahoma City Fire Department for help. The woman was sitting up and coherent as she was taken to a local hospital.
Residents are cleaning up after yet another round of tornadoes rushed through the Oklahoma City area Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has dispatched crews to survey damage and determine exactly how many tornadoes touched down during this event.
NWS Norman confirmed an EF1 tornado caused some of the damage in Norman Wednesday evening, according to a survey of the damage. Some of the wreckage left behind was due to straight-line winds, not a tornado, NWS also found.
The severe weather and subsequent flooding left several suburbs a mess, leading to multiple school closures in the area Thursday. News9.com reports Tuttle, Bridge Creek and Newcastle schools will be closed as residents recover from the round of reported tornadoes.
A confirmed tornado at least EF2 in strength hit a mobile home park in Oklahoma City, injuring 12 people, several of whom may be in critical condition, spokeswoman Laura O'Leary of the Emergency Medical Service Authority told The Weather Channel. Some are still missing, and rescuers are conducting a search operation.


Yikes. Really bad tornado damage in the Oklahoma City area. At least a dozen people are hurt. -- via @kfor

"This is a tremendous amount of damage," said Jim Cantore, storm tracker for The Weather Channel, as a news helicopter surveyed the damage to the trailer park from above Thursday morning.
Later in the evening, torrential, persistent rainfall became a life-threatening issue for many Oklahoma City residents. More than 7 inches of rain fell at Will Rogers World Airport, shattering the previous daily record of 2.61 inches. Other parts of the city reported upwards of 8 inches.
Gov. Mary Fallin signed a state of emergency Thursday morning for 12 hard-hit counties after flash flooding and multiple tornadoes swept across the state, leaving widespread damage, according to a separate News9.com report.
Interstates 35 and 240 and 44 were closed along various portions in south and southwestern Oklahoma City due to flooding Wednesday night, according to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Severe flooding inundated the municipal court, police department and Main Street in downtown Oklahoma City, as well, KOCO-TV reported.
Tiger Safari zoological park in Tuttle may have been hit Wednesday night by a possible tornado, raising fears in the town that the storm let several exotic animals loose, the Associated Press reported. However, all animals were accounted for by the end of the night.
A tornado touched down in Oklahoma City, flipping vehicles and downing power lines on I-35, News9.com reported. A motel and storage business on the interstate also sustained heavy damage.
(MORE: Flood Threat Expected to Continue Across the Plains)
Two people were injured in Moore, Oklahoma, after a weather-related accident on I-35, NewsOK.com reported. They were taken to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center for treatment.
Another person sustained a minor injury while entering or exiting an underground shelter, O'Leary told NewsOK. O'Leary noted the organization had crews standing by in case of additional injuries.
A water rescue was attempted in Norman, Oklahoma, Wednesday night on I-35, KOCO-TV reported.
The Oklahoma State Emergency Operations Center was activated Wednesday night as severe storms pounded the state and caused widespread destruction.
Nearly 20,000 customers remained without power in the Oklahoma City area at sunrise Thursday morning.
The Red Cross of Oklahoma mobilized volunteers in Oklahoma City to aid those affected by damaging tornadoes.

The organization plans to open a shelter in the Bridge Creek/Blanchard area, as well, KOKH said.
Tornadoes swept through the communities of Bridge Creek and Amber, causing "extensive" damage. Dale Thompson, Grady County Emergency Services director, told the Associated Press early estimates revealed about 10 homes were destroyed in Amber, and another 25 were destroyed or heavily damaged in Bridge Creek. No injuries were reported.
An NWS crew surveyed the damage in Bridge Creek and determined the tornado was an EF2 in their preliminary findings.
The Bridge Creek Fire Department was also reportedly hit by a tornado.
Additional damage was reported near the H.E. Bailey Turnpike and along Oklahoma State Highway 44, KFOR-TV reported. Severe damage was also reported between Bridge Creek and New Castle.
The Norman Hotel sustained heavy damage.
The Norman Regional Healthplex sustained damage during Wednesday's severe storms, as well, KOCO said.
A tornado emergency was issued for the communities of Moore, Bridge Creek and Newcastle, Oklahoma, Wednesday night.
Cars were flipped, houses damaged and electrical service largely interrupted after a tornado hit Verden, Oklahoma, according to local storm reports.
Will Rogers World Airport evacuated passengers, employees and visitors to underground pedestrian tunnels a second time Wednesday night due to safety concerns, NewsOK.com reported. People were evacuated earlier in the day, as well, while severe storms pounded the area. As of 11 p.m. EDT, the airport announced the cancelation of all remaining flights for the night.
University of Oklahoma students took cover after a tornado emergency was issued for the school's campus. Another emergency was issued for Norman.
The H.E. Bailey Turnpike was closed Wednesday as storms impacted the area, according to Oklahoma Turnpikes.
Tornadoes were spotted in Amber and Lahoma, Oklahoma, late Wednesday afternoon. Some damage was reported from the Amber tornado, however, the extent is unknown at this time.
Oklahoma City government offices announced early closures due to impending severe weather.
Two tornadoes were spotted in Caddo County, Oklahoma, Oklahoma's News 9 said. No damage was reported.
Severe storms prompted Oklahoma City Community College to cancel classes and close its campus Wednesday, News 9 reported.

South Dakota

Three people were injured when the roof of a community center collapsed in the midst of strong thunderstorm winds, local storm reports said.

Texas

Winds up to 80 mph heavily damaged trees and power lines in Woodson. Roofs and porches sustained some damage in the area, as well.
Hail up to the size of baseballs was reported in Texas during Wednesday's severe storms.
Meteorologists expect the severe weather threat to rise this week, bringing scattered storms with large hail, damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes each afternoon and evening in parts of the nation's heartland.
You can get full forecast details at the weather.com Severe Tracker page.
MORE: Tornado Outbreak Slams Great Plains - May 6, 2015

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