City officials are dealing with tornado damage across the metro

Mayor David Holt, Police Chief Ron Bacy and Battalion Chief Scott Douglas held a news conference Sunday to address the tornado damage that struck neighborhoods across Oklahoma City. Officials say the situation continues and residents should remain vigilant as more storms could develop.

“This event is not necessarily over,” said Mayor Holt. “It’s November and people don’t always think about severe weather in November, but here we are.”

According to Holt, there are currently no confirmed deaths.

Holt praised Oklahoma City's emergency management team and residents working to support neighbors affected by the storm. Community members and organizations, including churches, have already begun mobilizing relief efforts. “

If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross for the recovery efforts, you can visit www.Redcross.org.donate and select your local Red Cross branch or text RED CROSS to 90999.

Police Chief Bacy urges caution and describes the damage

Police Chief Ron Bacy reiterated the mayor's call for continued caution. “This is the first round of storms, so please stay informed and be prepared to seek shelter if necessary,” Bacy said.

According to an initial damage assessment, 39 buildings were destroyed, 43 sustained major damage and 54 sustained minor damage. Bacy outlined the road closures that will remain in effect as crews work to clear debris and repair power lines, including areas from Southeast 89th at Sooner to Sooner Elementary and Southeast 44th from Triple X Road to Indian Meridian . “We ask people to stay away from these disaster areas to protect themselves and allow recovery efforts to proceed smoothly.”

Bacy thanked first responders for their quick response and added, “Oklahoma City is resilient. No matter what happens to us, we rise as a community.”

Fire Battalion Chief Scott Douglas on response and rescue efforts

Battalion Chief Scott Douglas of the Oklahoma City Fire Department provided a timeline of the fire department's response, which began shortly after 1 a.m. in hard-hit areas including Southeast 89th and Sooner Road and Southeast 44th and Triple X Road.

Douglas reported that eleven people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. “We had six hauls from Southeast 89th and Sooner and five from Southeast 44th and Triple X Road,” he said. Douglas noted that flash flooding posed additional challenges and left many vehicles stranded on the roads. “Fortunately, most people were able to reach the high ground on their own, but our team worked quickly to help those in need.”

Douglas explained that when warnings of another tornado emerged, firefighters took extra safety precautions while conducting primary and secondary searches in affected neighborhoods. “We are grateful we had new staff for the day shift, especially as we may have more weather this evening,” he added.

Local officials urged Oklahoma City residents to remain vigilant and closely monitor updates as they continue to assess the damage and prepare for possible further severe weather.