Oklahoma, Missouri Among Those Affected by Storms
Storms are moving east through Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois after major flooding in Oklahoma and Missouri. According to CBS News, St. Louis, Mo., is currently bracing for winds around 60 miles per hour, hail and possible tornadoes.
In Oklahoma and Missouri, rescue teams were kept busy as flood water trapped people in both their cars and homes.
Teams pulled at least 50 people from rising water as roads and homes were inundated with water, according to Reuters. Oklahoma Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Keli Cain said there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries. According to CBS News, more than 6 in. of rain fell in El Reno, Okla., a city right outside Oklahoma City.
“It’s real dangerous,” said Ross Reuter, a spokesman for Canadian County, according to Reuters. “Motorists get out into the swift water, thinking they can get across and it ends up being deeper than they think.”
Some parts of Oklahoma have received 6 to 8 in. of rain since Monday. The National Weather Service said that about 4 million people remain under a flash flood warning or watch in the state.
According to the service, a tornado touched down Tuesday near Tulsa International Airport. It was among more than two dozen that had caused damage in the region, according to Reuters.
“We have lots of reports of damage coming in. There is a lot of tree damage. Very large trees have been uprooted that are blocking roads and that have landed on houses,” said Sarah Corfidi, NWS meteorologist, according to Reuters.
The governor of Missouri has declared a state of emergency in the area. Gov. Mike Parson cited flash flooding, heavy rain, and hail, among the factors.
“Missouri is experiencing a very dangerous severe storm system with multiple threats that must be taken seriously,” Parson said in a written advisory, according to Reuters. “I urge all Missourians to closely follow their local weather forecasts, take storm warnings seriously, and quickly act to protect themselves and their families when necessary.”