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World & Nation

Fierce storms, tornadoes hit Oklahoma; state of emergency declared

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Storm damage at the River Oaks Mobile Home Park in Sand Springs, Okla., on March 26. The first batch of severe weather in this year’s tornado season devastated the mobile home park, as storms across the area damaged buildings, tore off roofs and left debris strewn across roads.  (Tom Gilbert / Associated Press)
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A tree limb inside a tornado-damaged home in the River Oaks Estates mobile home park in Sand Springs, Okla., on March 26.  (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
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Firefighter Donny McMasters walks through the tornado-damaged River Oaks Estate mobile home park in Sand Springs, Okla., on March 26.  (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
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Storm damage at the River Oaks Mobile Home Park in Sand Springs, Okla., on March 26.   (Tom Gilbert / Associated Press)
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This frame taken from video provided by Brenton Leete shows a funnel cloud in Sand Springs, Okla., on March 25.   (Brenton Leete / Associated Press)
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An Instagram photo shows the funnel cloud of a tornado reaching the ground as a storm approaches Sand Springs, Okla., on March 25.  (Alix Chin / EPA)
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An aerial photo shows storm damage to the Aim High Academy building, where the roof collapsed on March 25 in Sand Springs, Okla.   (Tom Gilbert / Associated Press)
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People survey storm damage in Sand Springs, Okla., on March 25.   (Joey Johnson / AP)
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Debris litters the area after a storm damaged homes in Sand Springs, Okla., on March 25.   (Matt Barnard / Associated Press)
By Sarah ParviniStaff Writer 
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Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency for 25 counties on Thursday after severe storms tore through the state with fierce straight-line winds and tornadoes that killed one person, injured others and destroyed buildings.

“Last night’s storms led to widespread damage throughout a large portion of the state,” Fallin said in a statement. “I appreciate the ongoing work of our first responders who have been working through the night to assist those in need.”

Storms destroyed buildings, tore off roofs and ravaged a mobile home park in a suburb of Tulsa, according to the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.

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Some 80,000 Oklahoma residents were left without power Wednesday evening, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said. By Thursday morning, that number dropped to about 15,000, according to department spokeswoman Keli Cain.

Tornadoes hit throughout the state, as well as in Arkansas. One small tornado swept through the suburb of Moore in Oklahoma City, Cain said, where 24 people died in a tornado in 2013.

For more national news, follow me on Twitter: @ParviniParlance

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Sarah Parvini

Sarah Parvini was a reporter at the Los Angeles Times from 2014 to 2024. She most recently covered the video game industry and previously wrote about California’s diverse communities, with a focus on the state’s shifting demographics. She was part of the team that won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the San Bernardino terrorist attack, as well as a member of the investigative unit that uncovered scandals at USC’s medical school. The child of immigrants, she speaks fluent Persian and conversational Spanish.

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