'Worst I've Seen Since I've Been Governor': 4 Killed In Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak, State Of Emergency Declared

Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a state of emergency declaration for 12 counties across Oklahoma.

This comes after dozens of reported tornadoes swept through the state on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of four people, authorities report.

STATE OF EMERGENCY EXPANDED (4/30/2024)

The Governor’s State of Emergency has been updated to include additional counties and to include storms that occurred beginning April 25 and continuing. Counties included are as follows: Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Hughes, Johnston, Kay, Lincoln, Love, Murray, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, and Wagoner. The Executive Order also extends the temporary suspension of size and weight limits for oversized vehicles and equipment responding from out of state to assist with power restoration efforts. 

The declaration was issued after storms spawned multiple tornadoes across Oklahoma on Saturday, from the mid-morning hours through overnight hours into Sunday. It suspends the rules for "size and weight permits of oversized vehicles transporting materials and supplies critical to recovery efforts, emergency relief, and power restoration," according to a press release issued Sunday morning.

Related Coverage

1. 1 Dead, At Least 20 Injured In Sulphur After Tornado Damages Town
2. Devastation Seen In Sulphur Following Saturday Storms



The declaration lasts for 30 days.