Enid Tornado Leaves Dozens of Homes Destroyed Near Vance Air Force Base
A violent tornado struck near Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2026, destroying nearly 40 homes and forcing the base to close.
State emergency official Keli Cain reported 10 to 15 injuries and no deaths. Enid Mayor David Mason said residents were trapped by debris and had to be rescued, with severe damage in the Gray Ridge neighborhood. Vance Air Force Base said it is closed until further notice while crews restore power and water, and that only mission-essential personnel should report as all base personnel are accounted for. Local churches opened shelters, and the Garfield County Sheriff's Office said phone lines were down overnight and urged residents to call 911 for emergencies.
The episode traces back to an unusually active 2026 tornado season that began with early January twisters and worsened through a major March outbreak. That March 5-7 event produced 25 tornadoes across the state, including a deadly EF-3 in Beggs, and repeated April rounds left the state with about 38 tornadoes by mid-April—nearly three times the typical count. The Enid twister has been preliminarily rated EF-4 with estimated winds of 166-200 mph, strong enough to level well-constructed houses and strip bark from trees.
Aerial imagery and passenger video showed the storm's intensity and a massive twister near the base, underscoring the scale of visible damage and prompting wider community responses captured online in the hours after the storm. Authorities continue search and rescue and recovery work while neighbors, charities and local fundraisers shift to relief efforts as crews clear roads and assess long-term damage.
Show source details & analysis (3 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
The tornado that struck Enid, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2026, was preliminarily rated EF-4 by the National Weather Service, with estimated wind speeds of 166-200 mph, capable of causing devastating damage such as leveling well-constructed houses and debarking trees. ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma)) ([KOSU](https://www.kosu.org/tornado-strikes-enid-oklahoma))
Tornadoes strike in northern Oklahoma, leveling homes and causing power outages — KOSU
Nearly 40 homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornado in Enid, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2026. ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007)) ([The Oklahoman](https://www.oklahoman.com/story/weather/2026/04/24/enid-tornado-damages-homes-vance-air-force-training-base/89769487007))
Enid tornado damages homes, U.S. Air Force training base — The Oklahoman
📌 Key Facts
- PBS News describes the tornado near Vance Air Force Base as a “direct hit,” with eyewitness video showing a massive twister close to the installation (PBS News).
- Dozens of homes in northern Enid and the areas around the base were destroyed or reduced to rubble by daybreak (Oklahoma tornado).
- State emergency official Keli Cain said there were 10–15 injuries reported and no deaths so far (State emergency official Keli Cain).
- PBS footage and aerial imagery, including passenger video, underscore the storm’s intensity and the visible scale of damage across the affected area (aerial imagery and passenger video).
- Enid Mayor David Mason reported residents were trapped in homes by debris and had to be rescued, with some of the worst damage in the Gray Ridge neighborhood on the city’s south side (Enid Mayor David Mason).
- Vance Air Force Base is closed until further notice for ongoing power and water restoration; only mission-essential personnel are to report, and the base says all personnel are accounted for with no injuries (Vance Air Force Base).
- The Garfield County Sheriff's Office reported its phone lines were down overnight from tornado damage and instructed residents to call 911 for emergencies (Garfield County Sheriff's Office).
- Oakwood Christian Church in Enid opened as a shelter for residents affected by the storm (Oakwood Christian Church).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- State emergency official Keli Cain says there were 10-15 injuries and no deaths reported so far.
- Enid Mayor David Mason reports residents were trapped in homes by debris and had to be rescued, with some of the worst damage in the Gray Ridge neighborhood on the south side of the city.
- Vance Air Force Base specifies it is closed until further notice due to ongoing power and water restoration, with only mission-essential personnel to report, and confirms all personnel are accounted for with no injuries.
- Garfield County Sheriff's Office reports its phone lines were down overnight because of tornado damage and instructed residents to call 911 for emergencies.
- Oakwood Christian Church in Enid opened as a shelter for storm-affected residents.
- PBS describes the tornado in northern Oklahoma as a 'direct hit' with eyewitness video showing a massive twister near Vance Air Force Base.
- The report says by daybreak dozens of homes were reduced to rubble with no fatalities and only minor injuries.
- It shows aerial imagery and passenger video of the storm’s intensity, underscoring the scale of visible damage.