Tornadoes Tear Through Northern Oklahoma, Injuring Dozens and Damaging Vance Air Force Base
A destructive tornado ripped through Enid, Oklahoma on the evening of April 23, 2026, levelling homes in the Gray Ridge neighbourhood, knocking out power across the city, and forcing Vance Air Force Base to shut down until further notice. Between 10 and 15 people were injured, though no fatalities were reported in Enid.
What Happened
The National Weather Service confirmed a strong tornado moved across parts of Enid shortly after 8 p.m. local time, with a second tornado confirmed at 8:40 p.m. on the city's southeastern side. Videos shared online showed rapidly rotating columns of air and levelled structures in the Gray Ridge area, where piles of rubble replaced what had been standing homes.
A separate tornado also touched down near Braman in Kay County around 7:30 p.m., knocking out power to the town and preventing tornado sirens from activating — a development that alarmed emergency managers and residents alike.
Emergency Response
Local police, the Enid Fire Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol launched multiple search-and-rescue operations, pulling some residents from debris-filled homes. The Enid Police Department reported its phone lines were down due to tornado damage and urged residents to call 911 for emergencies. The city asked the public to stay away from the Gray Ridge area to allow emergency and utility crews clear access.
Vance Air Force Base, located in Enid, closed and instructed only mission-essential personnel to report for duty while power and water restoration efforts were under way. The base conducted accountability procedures to confirm all personnel were safe.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt expressed support for the Enid community and said his office would assist in assessing damage and determining what resources were needed. The Oakwood Christian Church opened as a shelter for displaced residents.
Why It Matters
The April 23 tornadoes are the latest in an active severe weather season for Oklahoma. In early March 2026, two people were killed by a tornado near Fairview — the nation's first tornado fatalities of the year. Forecasters warned of additional strong to severe thunderstorms possible through the weekend across south-central and southeast Oklahoma, keeping emergency managers on high alert.
The damage to Vance Air Force Base, a key US Air Force pilot training installation, adds a national security dimension to the disaster and is expected to require significant federal resources for repair.
What's Next
Damage assessment teams were expected to survey the affected areas on April 24. Governor Stitt's office indicated it would work with federal agencies to determine whether a federal disaster declaration was warranted. Residents in the region were urged to monitor National Weather Service forecasts closely as additional storm threats remained in the outlook for the coming days.
