Drone video shows Sulphur, Oklahoma, nearly unrecognizable after direct hit from tornado

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Drone video shows the catastrophic damage left behind in Sulphur, Oklahoma, by a tornado.

SULPHUR, Okla. – A downtown stretch of an Oklahoma community was wiped out during a tornado outbreak on Saturday night.

Widespread damage and at least two deaths have been reported after 16 reports of tornadoes across Oklahoma on Saturday. During the severe weather outbreak, the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, issued 59 Tornado Warnings on Saturday, the most issued in a signal day for the NWS office. 

Survey teams with the NWS in Norman have found at least EF-3 damage in Sulphur and Marietta, Oklahoma, based on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Further investigation is needed to determine if the preliminary rating will go higher or not. 

Gov. Kevin Stitt said at least one person died in Sulphur where a tornado caused widespread damage overnight.

Drone video and images from the ground show parts of West Muskogee Avenue in Sulphur are unrecognizable after a tornado tore through the area with local businesses, including restaurants, art boutiques and gift shops. 

MORE SEVERE WEATHER TO RAVAGE CENTRAL US ON SUNDAY AFTER SATURDAY NIGHT’S DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAK IN OKLAHOMA

“Definitely the most damage since I’ve been governor that I’ve seen,” Stitt said during a news conference Sunday in Sulphur. “I’ve seen a lot of damage. I’ve been around the state for, this is my sixth year, but what I saw in downtown Sulphur is unbelievable.”

FOX Weather’s Brandy Campbell reports on the destruction left behind in Sulphur, Oklahoma, after a deadly tornado outbreak.

The morning after the storm, the owners of the Mix Mercantile, a boutique selling clothing, home goods and more, found their business in a state of disaster. Owner Christy Morris shared the images below of what she found in the daylight. 

Images from Google Street Maps taken before Saturday show what the shopping and dining area looked like before the tornado tore the buildings apart.

An image on the left shows the view from Google Street View before the storm and the image on the right from Christy Morris, owner of The Mix Mercantile, shows the destruction after the tornado.

An image on the left shows the view from Google Street View before the storm, and the image on the right from Christy Morris, owner of The Mix Mercantile, shows the destruction after the tornado.

(Google Maps / Christy Morris)

From visuals from right after the tornado in the darkness, it’s hard to distinguish what used to be a building that housed a shop or another local business.

  • This image shows a car in front of debris that litters a street after a tornado in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

    This image shows a car in front of debris that litters a street after a tornado in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on Saturday, April 27, 2024. (@tarver_garrett / X)

  • This image shows buildings that received heavy damage after a tornado in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

    This image shows buildings that received heavy damage after a tornado in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on Saturday, April 27, 2024. (@tarver_garrett / X)

  • This image shows debris in a street after a tornado in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

    This image shows debris in a street after a tornado in Sulphur, Oklahoma, on Saturday, April 27, 2024. (@tarver_garrett / X)

  • Damages to the Mix Mercantile business in Sulphur, Oklahoma on April 28, 2024.

    Damages to the Mix Mercantile business in Sulphur, Oklahoma on April 28, 2024.  (Christy Morris/The Mix Mercantile)

  • Damages to the Mix Mercantile business in Sulphur, Oklahoma on April 28, 2024.

    Damages to the Mix Mercantile business in Sulphur, Oklahoma on April 28, 2024.  (Christy Morris/The Mix Mercantile)

  • Images from Christy Morris, owner of The Mix Mercantile, shows the destruction after the Sulphur, Oklahoma tornado on April 28, 2024.

    Images from Christy Morris, owner of The Mix Mercantile, shows the destruction after the Sulphur, Oklahoma tornado on April 28, 2024. (Christy Morris)

  • Images from Christy Morris, owner of The Mix Mercantile, shows the destruction after the Sulphur, Oklahoma tornado on April 28, 2024.

    Images from Christy Morris, owner of The Mix Mercantile, shows the destruction after the Sulphur, Oklahoma tornado on April 28, 2024. (Christy Morris)

  • Images from Christy Morris, owner of The Mix Mercantile, shows the destruction after the Sulphur, Oklahoma tornado on April 28, 2024. (Christy Morris)

  • An image on the left shows the view from Google Street View before the storm and the image on the right from Christy Morris, owner of The Mix Mercantile, shows the destruction after the tornado.

    An image on the left shows the view from Google Street View before the storm and the image on the right from Christy Morris, owner of The Mix Mercantile, shows the destruction after the tornado. (Google Maps/Christy )

  • Tornado damage to The Mix Mercantile business in downtown Sulphur, Oklahoma on April 28, 2024.

    Tornado damage to The Mix Mercantile business in downtown Sulphur, Oklahoma on April 28, 2024.  (Christy Morris)

After a weekend of severe weather outbreaks from Iowa to Texas, National Weather Service storm damage survey teams continue to assess the destruction in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. 

In Oklahoma, authorities have confirmed at least four deaths during the severe weather.

Numerous towns in Oklahoma, including Sulphur, Marietta, Ardmore, Holdenville, Mills Creek and Dickson, suffered significant damage from the severe weather outbreak.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Sitt declared a state of emergency for 12 counties impacted by severe weather.