Enid, Oklahoma, was struck Thursday night by an EF-4 tornado that damaged homes across parts of the city but did not result in deaths, according to officials and the National Weather Service. The storm ripped through the area for about 30 to 40 minutes, leaving smashed windows and badly damaged roofs as residents assessed what survived.
Raeann Hunt, a resident of the community, said she scrambled to a concrete storm shelter as the tornado bore down. Hunt described thinking, “It is headed right for us,” after she looked outside and saw the storm approaching, and she later said the noise included roaring, metal striking the door, and glass breaking. After the tornado passed, she and others emerged unscathed, but they found windows smashed out and the roof badly damaged in the one-story brick home.
The National Weather Service said the tornado hit the Enid area and extended across a path about 9 miles long, while reaching about 500 yards across at its widest point. Rick Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the storm’s estimated winds ranged from 170 to 175 mph, and that it was classified as an EF-4.
For that span, officials said at least 40 homes were damaged, including some structures blown off their foundations. Only minor injuries were reported, and Enid residents said preparedness helped limit harm: Justin Hunt described local awareness of sheltering strategies and weather alerts, saying residents have “a plan” and typically either shelter in an interior room near the center of a home or “get underground.”
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said during a news conference Friday that the state was thankful there were no fatalities. Stitt said, “Usually when we come to a neighborhood that’s been hit this bad, there’s one or two deaths,” adding that “We’re just so thankful there wasn’t a loss of life.”
In the aftermath, police and fire departments and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol conducted multiple home searches for possible trapped residents, Enid Mayor David Mason said Friday. Mason posted online that “Supplies have poured in already,” and he said, “This is who Enid is in challenging moments — we continue to show up for one another,” as volunteers and residents began clearing debris.
Damage also affected commercial buildings just south of the city, where winds pushed structures off concrete foundations and left twisted metal, splintered wood, and insulation behind. The tornado knocked down utility poles, wrapped power lines around large debris, and ripped part of a home’s metal roof, while other houses showed damage such as peeled-away wall sections revealing the interior.
Meteorologists described the storm system that produced the tornado and said images showed a debris-laden tornado typical of higher-end events. Mark Fox, the meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service’s office in Norman, said the violent motion can lift dirt and debris and that “If you start seeing things like this, you know it’s a violent tornado,” describing how debris spreads around the circulation.
Authorities also reported damage near Vance Air Force Base, about 80 miles north of Oklahoma City, where fences and some equipment were knocked down. The base said it was closed until further notice “due to ongoing power and water restoration efforts,” and 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs Chief Ashley D. Hendricks said in an email Friday that everyone assigned to the base had been accounted for and that no injuries were reported.
Looking ahead, the National Weather Service said more storms were possible through Friday night across south-central and southeast Oklahoma, and it forecast strong to severe thunderstorms expected to develop Saturday, including in the Enid area. In other parts of the country, officials reported separate severe-weather impacts in Missouri, including downed trees, debris blocking roadways, and damage to homes, with no injuries reported in that area.