Baby among 5 people killed as a swarm of tornadoes hits heartland: Officials

Severe Storms Cause Multiple Tornadoes and Deaths in the Heartland

At least five deaths, including one of a 4-month-old child in Oklahoma, were confirmed Sunday from a severe storm that swept through the heartland, spawning multiple tornadoes across four states, including a powerful pair of twisters that touched down in Nebraska, officials said.

Deaths and Injuries

1. Emergency officials in Hughes County, Oklahoma, reported four deaths in storms that struck Holdenville. One person died from storm-related injuries at a sports bar in Sulphur that was hit by a tornado.
2. At least 30 people were injured in Sulphur, including 20 who were at the sports bar.
3. Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt confirmed at least four deaths in his state. One person was reported dead in Marietta, Oklahoma, and two people were killed in Ada, Oklahoma.

State of Emergency

• A state of emergency was declared in 12 Oklahoma counties.

Preliminary Tornado Assessments

• The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, announced a preliminary determination of “at least” an EF3 tornado in Sulphur and also “at least” an EF3 in Marietta.

Federal Support

• President Joe Biden spoke to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on Sunday, offering the “full support of the federal government” after the fatal tornadoes.

Emergency Declaration

• Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen issued an emergency declaration for Douglas, Lancaster, and Washington Counties, making them eligible to receive assistance funding through the state for recovery.

Impact in Minden, Iowa

A man who was injured and hospitalized when a tornado hit Minden, Iowa, on Friday, has also died, his family confirmed Sunday to Omaha, Nebraska, ABC affiliate KETV.

Tornado Damage in Minden

• A tornado tore through Minden in Pottawattamie County, destroying 40 to 50 homes, or about half the town.
• Three people were injured in the tornado.

Emergency Policies Activated

• Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds toured the devastated town on Sunday and activated emergency policies.

Continued Threat and Warnings

As communities were left reeling from the devastating twisters, a new tornado watch was issued Sunday afternoon for portions of eastern Texas just as two funnel clouds were confirmed near Rosebud and Freestone, Texas, officials said. The tornado watch will be in effect until 9 p.m. CT.

Severe Weather Outlook

• More than 22 million people are under a threat of violent storms Sunday in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois.

Damage and Recovery Efforts

Holdenville, a town of about 6,000 people 77 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, was left reeling after a violent tornado touched down near the city late Saturday amid a statewide tornado outbreak.

Search and Assessment

• A search for victims and an assessment of damage was launched Saturday night after storms passed through the area.

Personal Losses

• A Holdenville family reported losing their home in the storm, and a relative remained hospitalized.
• The baby who died in Holdenville was found in a damaged home after a search by emergency personnel.

Support and Gratitude

• Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt expressed condolences and gratitude to emergency management teams for their efforts in keeping Oklahomans safe and assisting with recovery.

Additional Tornadoes and Damage

A destructive tornado also hit Sulphur, Oklahoma, in Murray County, destroying buildings and scattering debris for miles. At least four other people were injured in Sulphur, including three with major injuries.

Businesses and Homes Affected

• Several businesses in Sulphur were damaged, with one having a collapsed roof and others with broken windows.
• Many homes and cars were destroyed or damaged in the downtown area.

Property Damage and Rebuilding Challenges

• Business owner Julie Cox tearfully expressed the extent of damage to her boutique and the challenges of rebuilding without insurance.

Tornado Outbreak and Assessments

Tornadoes were reported across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska. Preliminary information suggests that there were nearly 120 tornado reports in the last two days.

Continuing Assessments

• SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

  1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 1: No Poverty – The article mentions that several homes were destroyed, indicating potential economic impacts on affected individuals and communities.
  • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The article reports on the deaths and injuries caused by the severe storms, highlighting the impact on people’s health and well-being.
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The article mentions the destruction of buildings and homes in various locations, indicating the need for resilient and sustainable infrastructure in affected communities.
  • SDG 13: Climate Action – The article discusses the severe weather outbreak, including tornadoes and storms, which can be linked to climate change and the need for climate action.

  2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • SDG 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters.
  • SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
  • SDG 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
  • SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

  3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • Number of deaths and injuries caused by severe storms and tornadoes.
  • Extent of damage to buildings, homes, and infrastructure.
  • Number of people affected by severe weather events.
  • Economic losses caused by disasters.

  Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  SDGs	Targets	Indicators
  SDG 1: No Poverty	1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters.	– Number of deaths and injuries caused by severe storms and tornadoes. – Extent of damage to buildings, homes, and infrastructure.
  SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.	– Number of deaths and injuries caused by severe storms and tornadoes.
  SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.	– Number of deaths and injuries caused by severe storms and tornadoes. – Extent of damage to buildings, homes, and infrastructure. – Number of people affected by severe weather events. – Economic losses caused by disasters.
  SDG 13: Climate Action	13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.	– Number of deaths and injuries caused by severe storms and tornadoes. – Extent of damage to buildings, homes, and infrastructure.

  Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.

  Fuente: abcnews.go.com

   

  

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