Updated on: April 24, 2026 / CBS/AP
A powerful tornado tore through parts of Enid, Oklahoma, on Thursday, ripping roofs from buildings, destroying homes, knocking down power poles and prompting the closure of Vance Air Force Base.
The National Weather Service confirmed the twister moved across sections of Enid, a city of about 50,000 in Garfield County near the state’s northern border. Videos posted online showed a rapidly rotating column of air touching down and significant residential damage.
There were no immediate reports of fatalities and only minor injuries reported hours after the storm, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities conducted door-to-door checks in some neighborhoods. Overnight, the sheriff’s office reported on social media that its phone lines were down because of tornado damage and urged residents to call 911 for emergencies.
Enid Police Department spokesperson Cass Rains said there were early reports of people trapped in homes and widespread destruction. A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management confirmed some homes were destroyed.
Vance Air Force Base announced in a social media post that it would be closed “until further notice” while crews work on power and water restoration. The base instructed that only mission-essential personnel needed to report to support critical operations and utility restoration, and that all other personnel stay home and monitor official communication channels. Earlier, base officials said they were conducting accountability procedures to ensure personnel were safe and accounted for.
Local organizations opened shelters for those affected. Oakwood Christian Church in Enid offered its doors as a shelter Thursday night, according to local reports.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt posted on social media, asking residents to join him in praying for the Enid community, which he said had been severely impacted by the tornado.
