Video shows shocking Texas, Oklahoma tornado outbreak and aftermath
According to reporting by the Associated Press, at least 50 homes in Lamar County were damaged or destroyed and at least 10 people were being treated at hospitals, two were being treated with critical injuries. Powderly, Texas, which sits at the state’s border with Oklahoma was reportedly hit hard.
The Lamar County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management said a tornado touched down just after 4 p.m. and traveled north-northeast through the communities of Hopewell, Caviness, Beaver Creek, Paris and Powderly. Video shows a tornado southwest of New Boston.
Idabel, which is about 45 miles west of Powderly in Oklahoma, suffered “total devastation” on the east and south sides of the town, the Texarkana Gazette reported. The Associated Press reported that a church, medical center and school were “torn apart,” noting that people were still trapped late Friday. Tornados were also reported in Arkansas.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated state emergency response resources on Thursday, November 3, in anticipation of the severe weather. Abbott had not publicly responded to the devastation at the time of writing. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt toured Idabel on Saturday morning asking for prayers for all those affected by the tornadoes.
The National Weather Service said that preliminary storm surveys are expected through the weekend, with two teams surveying damage in Lamar and Henderson counties today and a teams in Hopkins County tomorrow.
Videos and photos of the tornadoes across the region and aftermath are shocking.
Scenes of devastation are visible in all directions along Lamar County Road 35940, west of State Highway 271, after a massive tornado hit the area, causing extensive damage and destroying an unknown number of homes, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Powderly, Texas. (Jeff Forward/The Paris News via AP)
Jeff Forward/AP
Scenes of devastation are visible in all directions along Lamar County Road 35940, west of State Highway 271, after a massive tornado hit the area, causing extensive damage and destroying an unknown number of homes, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Powderly, Texas. (Jeff Forward/The Paris News via AP)
Jeff Forward/AP
This partially destroyed home was among the scenes of devastation visible in all directions along Lamar County Road 35940, west of State Highway 271, after a massive tornado hit the area, causing extensive damage and destroying an unknown number of homes, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Powderly, Texas. (Jeff Forward/The Paris News via AP)
Jeff Forward/AP
Scenes of devastation are visible in all directions along Lamar County Road 35940, west of State Highway 271, after a massive tornado hit the area, causing extensive damage and destroying an unknown number of homes, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Powderly, Texas. (Jeff Forward/The Paris News via AP)
Jeff Forward/AP
Scenes of devastation are visible in all directions along Lamar County Road 35940, west of State Highway 271, after a massive tornado hit the area, causing extensive damage and destroying an unknown number of homes, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Powderly, Texas. (Jeff Forward/The Paris News via AP)
Jeff Forward/AP
Willie Meeds walks from a relative’s home after helping turn off the houses water main after a tornado hit in Powderly, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero/AP
Fred Davis talks to his daughter on a cell phone as he describes the damage to his home after a tornado hit in Powderly, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Davis said he built his home in 1981 and has insurance but said the decision to rebuild is up to his children. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero/AP
Scenes of devastation are visible in all directions along Lamar County Road 35940, west of State Highway 271, after a massive tornado hit the area, causing extensive damage and destroying an unknown number of homes, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022 in Powderly, Texas. (Jeff Forward/The Paris News via AP)
Jeff Forward/AP
Sydnie Dooley finds family photos in what was once her living room after a tornado hit in Powderly, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Dooley said she and her husband moved in six months ago and do not have insurance to cover the storm damage. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero/AP
Nathan Dooley, right, and his wife Sydnie Dooley look for items to salvage after a tornado hit in Powderly, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero/AP
A man looks out of a broken window from a home that was destroyed by a tornado in Powderly, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero/AP
Sydnie Dooley walks through what was once her living room while looking for items to salvage after a tornado hit in Powderly, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Dooley said she and her husband moved in six months ago and do not have insurance to cover the storm damage. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero/AP
Fred Davis wipes his face as he describes building his home and the damage after a tornado hit in Powderly, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero/AP
Shawn Weems, left, helps her daughter Sydnie Dooley salvage items from Dooley’s home after a tornado hit in Powderly, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
LM Otero/AP
Affected residents can make reports of hail, damaging wind, flooding, and tornadoes to the National Weather Service.
