Enid, Okla.– Strong tornado A tornado tore off roofs of buildings in Oklahoma on Thursday, toppled power poles and sent emergency crews to a rural community near Vance Air Force Base, officials said.
The confirmed tornado moved through parts of Enid, a city of about 50,000 people located near the state’s northern border, according to the National Weather Service. Video posted online shows a rapidly rotating column of air landing with total homes.
There were no immediate reports of deaths, and only minor injuries were reported hours after the tornado passed, according to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office. The authorities made house-to-house visits in some neighborhoods to check on residents.
Vance Air Force Base was affected by the hurricane, but the extent of the damage was not immediately clear. The base said in a social media post that officials are “currently conducting accountability measures to ensure the safety of all personnel and are held accountable.”
“Please join me in praying for the Enid community, which was severely impacted by tonight’s tornado,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt posted on social media.
Enid Police Department spokesman Cas Raines said there were initial reports of people trapped in homes and extensive damage. Garfield County includes Vance Air Force Base, which is about 80 miles (129 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City.