Full Breakdown
Oklahoma Tornado Hits Enid and Vance Air Force Base
4/26/2026, 1:29:36 AM
Tornado Impact and Damage
On the night of April 23 2026, a tornado touched down in Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma, at 8:21 p.m., per the National Weather Service. The funnel crossed south Enid toward Fairmont, remained on the ground for 30–40 minutes, and struck Vance Air Force Base, knocking down utility poles and damaging structures. Surveys recorded damage to 40 homes, with Gray Ridge reporting 40 + homes destroyed or reduced to rubble and commercial loss. Officials reported no fatalities; minor injuries numbered ten to fifteen, including one leg injury. Power and water at the base were disrupted, prompting a temporary closure.
Official Responses
Mayor David Mason thanked residents and businesses for help and highlighted search-and-rescue by city police, fire crews, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Governor Kevin Stitt pledged support, urged weather awareness, and offered prayers for Enid and Vance Air Force Base. Ashley D. Hendricks, chief of the 71st Flying Training Wing, said all base personnel were accounted for and described damage assessments and utility restoration. Keli Cain of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management confirmed ten-to-fifteen injuries and no deaths.
Community Accounts
Residents described the tornado as “a massive funnel ripping through the town.” Dave Lamerton salvaged his son’s woodworking shop amid twisted metal; Amy Kuntz instructed her daughter to hide in a bathtub before the roof collapsed. Volunteers from Kansas and local businesses supplied equipment and labor, and shelters opened at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center and Oakwood Christian Church. Video by Kurt Young and Carolyn Bowling captured the tornado’s path through homes and Vance Air Force Base.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on injuries, citing ten minor injuries, ten-to-fifteen injuries, and a single leg-injury case. Home loss figures vary between “at least 40” damaged homes and “40 + homes destroyed” in Gray Ridge, with no total confirmed. Tornado duration is reported as 30 minutes in one account and about 40 minutes in another. All reports agree no fatalities, but precise casualty verification remains pending.
Verbatim Quotes
“The support from our community has been remarkable. Local businesses have offered equipment and labor, residents have opened their doors, and supplies have poured in already,” — David Mason, Mayor of Enid
“In a statement on Facebook, Stitt said, “Please join me in praying for the Enid community, which has been severely impacted by tonight’s tornado.” — Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma
“As of 0730, all Vance AFB-assigned personnel have been accounted for, and there are no reported injuries.” — Ashley D. Hendricks, 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs Chief
“Keli Cain of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security said Friday morning that no deaths had been reported, but between 10 and 15 people were injured.” — Keli Cain, Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Outlook and Recovery
The National Weather Service warned of more severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes across south-central Oklahoma through Saturday. Vance Air Force Base stays closed pending power and water restoration, with only mission-essential staff on site. Local shelters remain open, and the Red Cross has activated its Disaster Distress Helpline. Officials expect debris-clearance after search-and-rescue sweeps and are coordinating long-term rebuilding assistance.
