Tornado damages homes near Enid Air Force Base, no deaths reported

A tornado tore through homes south of Enid and passed close to Vance Air Force Base, exposing how quickly a severe storm can hit both a residential neighborhood and a strategic military installation in the same path. Officials said the storm struck Thursday evening, near 8:15 p.m. CDT, with extensive damage reported around the Enid airport and the Gray Ridge neighborhood.

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said deputies launched search-and-rescue operations after people were trapped under debris. Officials said everyone was believed to be able to communicate while crews worked to reach them, and emergency responders were in the early stages of extracting residents from damaged homes. At the same time, authorities told people to stay away from southeast Enid so responders could get into the hardest-hit areas.

Local reporting described flattened homes and debris scattered across the neighborhood, underscoring how narrow the margin can be between a near miss and a major disaster. Although the tornado passed near or over Vance Air Force Base, later reports said the installation did not sustain major damage. That distinction matters in a region where the same storm can threaten family neighborhoods, airport property and military infrastructure in a matter of minutes.

Officials also moved to widen the response. Resources were being brought in from Logan County and Kingfisher County as crews continued working the scene. Gov. Kevin Stitt said he had spoken with Enid’s local leaders and would keep working with them to assess damage and identify needs. His office framed the priority as damage assessment and immediate support for residents and local agencies still sorting through the wreckage.

A later update from the Garfield County emergency manager said at least 10 people were injured in the Gray Ridge neighborhood, and the injuries were minor. No fatalities were reported. The updated count came after initial reports said there were no immediate injuries, reflecting how rapidly information can change in the hours after a tornado strikes.

The storm was one of multiple tornadoes confirmed in Oklahoma that day, including another that appeared near Braman around 7:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. For Enid, the immediate challenge remained access, rescue and recovery, with damaged homes, blocked streets and a community trying to account for what the tornado left behind.