At least four people died, including a four-month-old baby, in Oklahoma this weekend, after dozens of twisters swept the U.S. Southern Plains. The White House said, President Joe Biden has pledged federal support for Oklahoma as well as other states hit by severe storms.

Oklahoma

Deadly tornadoes swept through Oklahoma over the weekend, resulting in the tragic loss of at least four lives, including that of a four-month-old baby. The disaster was part of a larger series of twisters that affected the U.S. Southern Plains, bringing widespread destruction and prompting federal intervention.

The impact of the storm system led to significant damage across affected areas, with eyewitness videos capturing the aftermath of the tornadoes. One such video showed the fear and chaos experienced by individuals caught in a gas station during the height of the storm. In addition to the human toll, the severe weather conditions caused extensive power outages, leaving more than 20,000 households without electricity as of Sunday evening, as reported by officials.

The devastation included destroyed buildings, structures, fallen trees, and damaged roads. In response to the crisis, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a disaster emergency, which allows for the allocation of more resources to first responders and recovery efforts. Speaking from Sulphur, one of the hardest-hit areas south of Oklahoma City, Governor Stitt described the damage as unprecedented during his tenure since 2019.

The White House has announced that President Joe Biden has pledged full federal support to Oklahoma and other states affected by the severe storms. In addition to the support for Oklahoma, President Biden declared a major disaster in the state of Kansas and the state of Washington, offering federal assistance to manage the aftermath of severe winter storms. The National Weather Service issued further warnings for high winds, heavy rain, and hail for a broad swath of the U.S., affecting over 47 million people across several states from east Texas north through Illinois and Wisconsin.



Deadly tornadoes rip through Oklahoma

Deadly storms ripped through parts of Oklahoma over the weekend, killing several people, including a four-month-old baby. Eyewitness video captured the destruction after dozens of twisters swept the U.S. Southern Plains. Another video was taken by a person caught in a gas station during a powerful storm, the fear audible in his voice. The severe weather caused blackouts, with more than 20,000 households still without power as of Sunday evening, according to officials. Images showed destroyed buildings and structures, as well as fallen trees and damaged roads. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on Sunday declared a disaster emergency for the state, freeing up more money for first responders and recovery operations. Speaking from one of the hardest-hit areas called Sulphur, south of the state capital Oklahoma City, Stitt said it was definitely the most damage he's seen since taking office in 2019. The White House said in a statement, President Joe Biden has offered the state full federal government support. Biden on Sunday also declared a major disaster and announced federal assistance over the severe winter storms that pounded Oklahoma's northern neighbor, Kansas, as well as the state of Washington in the Pacific Northwest. The National Weather Service issued warnings on Sunday for high winds, heavy rain and hail for more than 47 million people stretching from east Texas north through Illinois and Wisconsin.

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