This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
On April 22, 2020, a series of devastating tornadoes tore through Oklahoma and Texas, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
According to Robert Chaney, the emergency management director for Marshall County, Oklahoma, one person was killed when a violent tornado struck the area at around 5 p.m.
The tornado, which was part of a larger storm system that moved through the region, caused widespread damage, including the destruction of two factories, J & I Manufacturing and Oklahoma Steel & Wire.
‘The winds were so strong that a number of cars were “balled up from the force of the tornado,” and one was “up in a tree,”’ Mr. Chaney said.
At the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Madill, Oklahoma, the pastor was in a safe room when the tornado hit, but the church sustained significant damage, including a gas leak that prevented rescue teams from accessing the area.
‘Because of downed power lines and a gas leak, we can’t get close enough to see the damage tonight,’ said Diane Clay, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
Despite the challenges, rescue teams were working to search for injured people and provide aid to those affected by the tornadoes.
‘Everybody is taking the basic precautions that we can,’ said Mr. Chaney. ‘But basically everybody is working.’
Across the state line in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott reported widespread damage from severe weather, including a tornado that landed in several communities in Polk County.
‘My office, the Texas Division of Emergency Management and other state agencies are working with local officials to provide immediate support to the areas devastated by this tornado,’ Mr. Abbott said.
