Tornado Fatalities From Last Night Have Risen To Nine

Via The Blaze:

UPDATE 11:00 a.m. ET — The medical examiner says the death toll has risen to nine, the Associated Press and NBC News report.

UPDATE 9:00 a.m. ET — via AP:

Emergency officials were preparing to survey tornado damage Saturday morning following the second major fatal storm to strike the Oklahoma City metropolitan area in several days.

The storm toppled cars and left commuters trapped on an interstate highway as it bore down during Friday’s evening rush. Law enforcement officers and Red Cross damage assessment workers planned to head after dawn to areas in the city and its suburbs hit by what the National Weather Service reported were “several” tornadoes that rolled in from the prairie.

UPDATE 12:25 a.m. ET — Five people have been killed in the storm system that tore through the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, according to the medical examiner’s office. The system spawned a handful of tornadoes and sent tens of thousands scrambling for shelter, CNN reports.

A mother and baby were reportedly killed near Union City. Another person died at El Reno, the first city struck by the storm, said Amy Elliott, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner. Circumstances involving the other two deaths weren’t immediately known.

About 50 people were hurt, five critically, hospital officials said.

A tornado forms near Banner Road and Praire Circle in El Reno, Okla. on Friday, May 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

UPDATE 12:10 p.m. ET — Tornado warnings were lifted in the region late Friday night, the Associated Press reports.

UPDATE 12:00 a.m. ET — Seriously incredible storm chaser video reportedly taken in Union City, Okla. WATCH.

UPDATE 11:55 p.m. ET — The Weather Channel Tornado Hunt team reports there are several people at the hospital in Chickasha, Okla. Some were getting treatment for cuts/broken ribs, but all are OK.

The Weather Channel Tornado Hunt team is at a hospital in Chickasha, OK. Some are getting treatment for cuts/broken ribs, but all are OK.

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UPDATE 10:55 p.m. ET — Via AP:

At least three tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma, including one in Tulsa, and two more hit Arkansas on Thursday as a powerful storm system moved through the middle of the country. At least nine people were injured.

The National Weather Service confirmed at least one tornado touched down Thursday night in the Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow. Because it was dark out, it was difficult to determine the extent of the damage, said meteorologist Pete Snyder with the weather service’s Tulsa office. However, the tornado did not appear to be a top-of-the-scale twister like the deadly one in suburban Oklahoma City last week.

UPDATE 10:38 p.m. ET – KFOR-TV reports 75,000 people are currently without power in the Oklahoma City area. Officials are urging people to stay off the roads.

UPDATE 10:00 p.m. ET – Via AP:

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Betsy Randolph said troopers found the bodies of a woman and an infant near their vehicle. Randolph said it’s not known if the woman was driving into the storm when it hit around 7 p.m. Friday.

Emergency officials reported numerous injuries were reported in the area along I-40, and Randolph said there were toppled and wrecked cars littering the area. Troopers requested a number of ambulances at I-40 near Yukon, west of Oklahoma City.Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord camps around those who love Him, and He delivers them."

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