A massive tornado hit a trailer home park in the southern area of Oklahoma City, injuring at least twelve people, two of them critically, according to local media outlets.
"Crews are searching the areas now, going door-to-door looking for victims in need of assistance," Oklahoma City Police Department Captain Dee Patty said.
Tigers and other animals managed to briefly escape from an exotic wildlife park after another tornado battered the city of Tuttle, located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Oklahoma City; the animals were recaptured without further incident, according to the Grady County Sheriff’s Office.
I got a time lapse video of the Norman supercell/tornado from the 6th floor of the NWC. Stay safe! #okwx pic.twitter.com/Y2BZ7zwb2q
— Andrew Dzambo (@AndrewDzambo) 6 мая 2015
A flash flood emergency was declared for the first time in history in Oklahoma City, where torrential rains caused power outages, home damage and road closures. More than 28,000 people were left without electricity due to the bad weather.
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin is due to tour the state's hard hit areas later on Thursday, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
A spate of multiple tornadoes was also reported in Kansas and Nebraska, where the situation remains complicated because of severe weather.
Short video from the tornado earlier today in Lincoln Co, KS #kswx pic.twitter.com/yAqav7C6Gr
— Matt Unruh (@UnruhMatt) 6 мая 2015
In Kansas, tornadoes ripped apart homes, uprooted trees and downed power lines, with large hail pummeling parts of the state. No major damage was reported.
Nebraska was also hard hit by massive hail, strong winds and isolated tornadoes, which are expected to finally give way to showers, according to weather forecasters.
