OKLAHOMA CITY — Many residents across the southern Plains were left to riffle through their rubble after violent weather struck Tornado Alley.
Wednesday's storms included more than four dozen reported tornadoes, causing damage in Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska and Kansas. Most twisters remained in rural areas, but a pair of storms struck the Oklahoma City area three hours apart. Heavy rains accompanying the twisters swamped the region, too, and one woman drowned after a storm shelter filled with water. Several people were injured.
The storms ripped apart homes, stripped siding and roofs from buildings and overturned cars.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency for a dozen hard-hit counties.
Forecasters say more bad weather is possible in the same area Friday and Saturday. The likelihood of another round of storms so soon left some wondering whether they should wait to start cleaning up.
