Search and rescue crews worked through the night after tornadoes injured at least 10.
Enid, Oklahoma, woke up Friday morning to a landscape transformed by destruction. Homes sat roofless or reduced to rubble. Power lines were down across neighborhoods. Emergency vehicles lined blocked-off roads as crews continued search-and-rescue operations that had stretched well past midnight. What began Thursday evening as a tornado watch for 17 counties ended with one of the most damaging storm nights northern Oklahoma had seen in years.
The National Weather Service confirmed a strong tornado touched down on the south side of Enid at 8:21 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 23, moving in the direction of Fairmont. The tornado remained on the ground for more than 40 minutes before weakening. A separate twister had already struck Braman, a small town near the Kansas border along Interstate 35, around 7:20 p.m., where two funnels were observed merging into a single vortex before hitting the town directly.
At least 10 injured in Garfield County
The Garfield County emergency manager confirmed at least 10 people sustained injuries, described as minor, following the tornadoes. Local broadcaster KOCO-TV, an ABC News affiliate, reported emergency crews conducting active search-and-rescue operations across the county as multiple residents were reported trapped inside damaged homes. Garfield County Sheriff Cory Rink confirmed those reports Thursday night. No fatalities had been confirmed in Garfield County as of early Friday morning.
Enid Mayor David Mason addressed residents late Thursday, confirming no severe injuries and noting that crews had completed a preliminary search of affected areas. A secondary, more thorough search was scheduled to begin in the early morning hours of Friday. Mason urged residents to remain patient as crews worked to clear access routes and assess the full scope of damage.
Grayridge neighborhood devastated
The Grayridge neighborhood on the south side of Enid absorbed some of the heaviest damage. Footage from the scene showed homes with rooftops stripped away, walls collapsed inward, and trees uprooted across streets. One structure near Mitchell Boulevard and East Fox Drive was described by News 9 reporters on the ground as completely destroyed.
The City of Enid asked residents to stay clear of the Grayridge area, explaining that open roads were needed for utility crews, heavy equipment, and emergency responders still working the area. Enid police and fire departments coordinated all response efforts on the ground. Former Enid emergency management director Mike Honigsberg told KOCO-TV that the south side of the city had been leveled, adding that the true extent of the damage would likely not be fully understood until daylight on Friday.
Vance Air Force Base assessing damage
Vance Air Force Base in Garfield County was also impacted. Base leadership confirmed the tornado’s effects in a statement, saying accountability procedures were underway to ensure all personnel were safe. The statement added that leadership was assessing the installation to determine the extent of damage to facilities and infrastructure. No further details on personnel status or structural losses had been released as of early Friday.
Shelters open, hospitals on alert
The American Red Cross opened an evacuation center in Enid Thursday night for displaced residents. Oakwood Christian Church on North Oakwood Road also opened its doors as a shelter. Enid-area hospitals called in extra staff to handle incoming injuries, with News 9 crews reporting increased activity at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt spoke directly with Enid officials Thursday night and pledged ongoing support as the city works through damage assessment. He urged all Oklahomans to remain weather-aware, as additional storms were still tracking across the state into Friday morning.
The severe weather threat was expected to diminish for the Oklahoma City metro area by Friday afternoon, with forecasters tracking the storm system east. The focus now shifts to Enid, where a community faces the slower, harder work of figuring out what was lost and what comes next.