Officials are going door to door to assess damage after a deadly tornado ripped through Oklahoma late Saturday night.
See the blue ball in the circled area? That is debris being lifted as radar confirmed a tornado hitting the south side of El Reno, OK. pic.twitter.com/qesdgd8FE9
— Marc Weinberg (@MarcWeinbergWX) May 26, 2019
Multiple people have been injured after the tornado touched down in El Reno and tore through a mobile home park, Fire Chief Kent Lagaly told CNN.
Two fatalities have since been confirmed by local authorities and police late Saturday night.
El Reno saying they continue to look for trapped survivors. Asking public to please stay away to avoid confusion and let emergency crews work. #okwx
— Mireya Garcia (@mireya_g) May 26, 2019
Lagaly said that authorities had been going door to door to see if people needed help.
A hotel next to the mobile home park also suffered serious damage, Lagaly said.
Oklahoma City’s KWTV-TV reported that a hotel in the community had been “leveled” be the deadly tornado.
I’m in El Reno. I was just in a tornado. I’m ok but the hotel across the street from us was leveled. Victims are being pulled from the rubble @NEWS9 pic.twitter.com/IjZI3Jcvgk
— Aaron Brilbeck (@AaronBrilbeck9) May 26, 2019
Thirty-four people were in the American Budget Value Inn, according to CNN affiliate KFOR. First responders are working to get people out.
@4sightAerial view of tornado damage in El Reno trailer park behind the American Budget Value Inn @kfor Appears to be at least an EF2 according to our storm tracker @F5Video pic.twitter.com/nKxCxZMrmT
— TARA (@TCBLUME) May 26, 2019
The hotel American Budget in El Reno after the earlier tornado that came through town. @OKCFOX pic.twitter.com/guakWanf2E
— Anthony West (@antdwest) May 26, 2019
Half of the roof is missing from this home in El Reno. @OKCFOX pic.twitter.com/kkbIoGpDxq
— Anthony West (@antdwest) May 26, 2019
The Mayor Matt White told a press conference that the scene at the mobile part was “horrific.”
“We ask you to pray for us, pray for the first responders. The main thing is we have to stick together. I know people want to help—we want your help,” he said.
He asked people not to tie up 911 at this time as the rescue effort was not over yet.
Mayor Matt White: “Our community is very resilient to this. We ask you to pray for us, pray for the first responders…the main thing is we have to stick together. I know people want to help. We want your help.” Just asks for time to assess, says daylight will help @kfor pic.twitter.com/Tj6vDKB0jR
— Lili Zheng (@lilizhengTV) May 26, 2019
Severe weather is not expected through the rest of Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Norman.
1:00 AM Update – strong storms producing very heavy rain continue to move east across central Oklahoma. Widespread severe weather is not expected this morning. pic.twitter.com/FVJyy3KYKb
— NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) May 26, 2019
With reporting by CNN.
