PAWNEE, Okla. – A strong storm swept through parts of Oklahoma, overturning several recreational vehicles and downing trees and power lines, authorities said. One death was reported.
The city of Pawnee urged residents to stay in their homes while emergency crews identified affected areas and worked to restore power following Thursday night’s storm.
“There is significant damage, multiple road closures and emergency crews throughout the city,” the city wrote online late Thursday.
One person died in an overturned mobile home, Pawnee County Sheriff Darrin Varnell said. He said others were damaged and people “lost virtually everything they owned in a matter of seconds.”
The National Weather Service in Tulsa reported wind gusts of up to 116 km/h and hailstones the size of golf balls.
“At this point, we’re not sure if it was straight-line wind damage or a tornado,” said meteorologist Mark Plate in the Tulsa office on Friday morning. “We’ll have to send out survey teams today to assess the damage.”
Pawnee public schools were closed Friday due to storm damage. Homecoming events on Thursday night were canceled due to the weather.
Pawnee, with about 1,900 inhabitants, is located in northeastern Oklahoma, about 60 miles west of Tulsa.
