WATCH: Tornadoes Rip Through Texas, Oklahoma as Dozens Injured, States Assessing Damage

 

Authorities in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas are assessing damage after overnight tornadoes ripped through the states, leaving dozens injured and at least one dead.

The one death was confirmed out of McCurtain County in Oklahoma. Country emergency manager Cody McDaniel told Fox 23 that roads are closed and authorities are trying to access damaged areas where homes have been destroyed and power lines are down. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) announced through Twitter that Bryan, Choctaw, and Le Flore counties were also affected.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) tweeted ahead of the tornadoes that he was increasing his state’s emergency readiness level in anticipation of the coming damage.

Footage aired on Fox & Friends Weekend on Saturday showed leveled houses in North Texas where the tornadoes hit and authorities are similarly combing through the destruction. One video aired from Paris, Texas in Lamar County showed a massive tornado in the distance as someone watching says, “they’re getting here.” At least 50 homes were destroyed in the area, which borders Oklahoma. Two dozen people total have been reported as injured as a result of the tornadoes.

Preliminary reporting from the National Weather Service showed there were nine tornadoes that formed in Texas, four in Arkansas, and one in Oklahoma, CNN reported.

In the three states, tens of thousands remain without power as of Saturday, according to data from poweroutage.us.

Videos posted to social media highlight more of the damage brought by the tornadoes:

A video from Fox Weather out of Cason, Texas showed downed trees and vehicles and property completely destroyed as first responders search the area. Fox Weather aired other footage capturing the effects of the storms and also reported that winds hit 60mph on Friday afternoon in parts of Oklahoma and Texas and revealed there were even reports of one-inch hail in the same areas.

Watch above via Fox News

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Zachary Leeman covered pop culture and politics at outlets such as Breitbart, LifeZette, BizPac Review, HollywoodinToto, and others. He is the author of the novel Nigh. He joined Mediaite in 2022.