Intense storms trigger rare emergency alert in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY — Intense storms triggered the federal government to send a rare alert to tens of thousands of Oklahomans early Monday morning.

Residents in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area received an “Imminent Threat Alert” around 1:15 a.m. on Monday urging them to seek shelter from dangerous thunderstorms.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency sent the alert after 102 mph winds raced through Hinton, which is about 50 miles west of Oklahoma City. The National Weather Service in Norman also utilized the alert to warn Oklahomans in the path of the thunderstorms, which were moving from El Reno towards Oklahoma City.

This was only the ninth time the alert has been sent since 2018, when the National Weather Service began notifying residents of more than just the threat of tornadoes, said meteorologist Mark Fox. The alert is triggered when an area experiences at least 80 mph winds.

FEMA can also utilize the alert in the case of a national emergency, like an evacuation notice, but Fox said it is usually reserved for severe weather.

Fox said a freight train was derailed in the storm, but the weather service received no reports of injuries. 

As of 4:15 p.m. Monday, Oklahoma Gas and Electric had restored power to 76% of its customers in the area. OG&E said 16,400 customers remained without power.