At least 10 people were injured and approximately 40 homes damaged after six tornadoes swept through northern Oklahoma on Thursday, with no fatalities reported as of Friday.
The Garfield County emergency manager confirmed the injuries occurred in Enid’s Gray Ridge neighborhood, describing them as minor. No injuries were reported in Braman or Newkirk despite tornado activity in those areas. Enid Mayor David Mason said rescuers pulled residents from impacted areas following the storms.
Oklahoma Emergency Management officials reported that a large tornado struck Enid late Thursday, damaging or destroying roughly 40 homes. Sky 5 aerial footage showed widespread destruction in a neighborhood near Vance Air Force Base. The National Weather Service assigned a preliminary EF-4 rating to the Enid tornado, indicating winds between 166 and 200 mph.
KOCO 5’s Storm Command captured video of twin tornadoes forming near Braman as the storm lowered, two funnels merging before tracking across open land and weakening just short of the town. The Kay County Sheriff’s Office confirmed damage in the area despite the tornadoes not directly striking Braman. The same storm system dropped hailstones larger than baseballs across northern Oklahoma.
Kay County emergency managers reported power outages and damaged barns in Blackwell and Braman, even as Newkirk experienced minor wind damage and road flooding. Pawnee County Emergency Management noted flood damage on Highway 18 north of 5500 Road and south of U.S. 412. Damage assessment, debris removal and power restoration efforts are now underway across the affected counties.
For more on this story, see Tornado Warning: Oklahoma City Area – Updates Now.
The U.S. Small Business Administration will join state and local officials on Tuesday in Garfield County to conduct formal damage assessments. Residents are encouraged to report property damage at damage.ok.gov to help officials coordinate recovery and connect affected households with available resources.
Residents urged to document damage for state and federal aid
Officials stress that timely reporting through damage.ok.gov accelerates the flow of assistance, including potential eligibility for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The platform helps emergency managers prioritize search and recovery in the most severely impacted zones.
Cleanup begins as crews clear debris and restore power
Utility crews are working to re-energize grids knocked out by the tornadoes, while public works teams remove fallen trees and structural debris from roads. Volunteer organizations have begun distributing water, food, and cleaning supplies to displaced residents in Enid and surrounding towns.
Twin tornado formation highlights rare storm behavior
The merging of two tornadoes near Braman, captured by KOCO 5’s storm chase team, illustrates a uncommon but documented phenomenon where multiple vortices consolidate under specific wind shear conditions. Though the merged tornado weakened before reaching populated areas, it underscores the volatility of the storm system that produced the EF-4 in Enid.
Were there any fatalities reported from the tornadoes?
No fatalities have been reported as of Friday morning, according to Garfield County emergency management and state officials.
What assistance is available for homeowners and renters affected by the tornadoes?
Residents can report damage at damage.ok.gov to connect with state and local emergency management, and the U.S. Small Business Administration will conduct damage assessments in Garfield County on Tuesday to determine eligibility for low-interest disaster loans.
