A devastating weekend of severe weather has brought tragedy to Oklahoma, where two people, including a 12-year-old boy, lost their lives after being swept away in rising floodwaters. The incident occurred in Moore, a suburb just south of Oklahoma City, as the region was lashed by heavy rain and thunderstorms during the Easter holiday weekend.
Officials from the Moore Police Department described the event as a “historic weather incident” that caused dozens of high-water rescues and left roads impassable. As parts of the U.S. South and Midwest battled intense flooding and the threat of tornadoes, emergency services worked through the night to respond to calls for help.
A Deadly Storm Strikes During Easter Weekend
On Saturday night, storms intensified across Oklahoma, turning Easter weekend into a scene of chaos and emergency. In Moore, multiple vehicles became stranded as streets turned into rivers. In one tragic case, a vehicle carrying several people was swept off the road and beneath a bridge by fast-moving floodwaters.
Rescue teams were able to save most of the occupants, but two people — an adult woman and a 12-year-old boy — were missing. Despite an urgent search involving drones, dive teams, and ground crews, both victims were later found deceased outside the submerged vehicle.
Authorities Respond with Urgency
The Moore Police Department quickly mobilised emergency resources after receiving more than a dozen calls from residents trapped in flooded vehicles. In a statement posted on social media, police confirmed the two fatalities and thanked neighbouring agencies who helped with rescue operations.
“This was a historic weather event that impacted roads and caused dozens of high-water incidents across the city,” said the department. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims.”
Video footage from the scene showed rescue workers suspended above a raging creek, attempting to reach the trapped vehicle beneath the bridge. In other parts of Moore, residents waded through waist-deep water, highlighting the intensity of the flooding.
Warnings Across the Region
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued multiple warnings over the weekend, including flash flood advisories and tornado watches. On Sunday, severe storms were forecast to stretch from East Texas through to southeastern Iowa and Illinois, with central Arkansas and Missouri facing the risk of damaging winds, hail, and strong tornadoes.
Parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas were all under tornado watch on Easter Sunday, as millions of Americans braced for more extreme weather. In Texas’s Montague County, boat crews were deployed to rescue residents from rising waters, although no injuries were reported there as of Saturday night.
Another Tragedy in Spaulding
Elsewhere in Oklahoma, another life was lost when a tornado swept through the small town of Spaulding on Saturday night. According to Hughes County Emergency Management, the tornado destroyed two homes and damaged several small structures. One person was killed, and two others were injured.
The agency also reported that several trees were downed by the storm. Emergency teams continued to assist affected residents and assess the extent of the damage on Sunday.
Ongoing Searches in Wagoner County
In another harrowing incident, emergency crews are still searching for two people — one of them a child — who went missing after their vehicle was carried away by floodwaters along Highway 64, south of Leonard in Wagoner County. Authorities have confirmed that two others from the same vehicle were rescued.
Multiple agencies, including the Tulsa and Wagoner County Sheriff’s Offices, are involved in the ongoing search. As water levels fluctuate and weather conditions remain unstable, time is critical in these rescue efforts.
A Season of Extreme Weather
This tragedy comes just weeks after another deadly spring storm swept through the region, leaving a trail of destruction from Texas to Ohio. That earlier weather system also caused multiple fatalities and reminded residents of the increasing frequency of severe weather events in recent years.
Flooding, tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds are becoming more common during springtime in the U.S., and experts warn that climate change may be contributing to the rise in extreme events. For families in Oklahoma this Easter weekend, however, the conversation is not about policy but about profound personal loss.
Community Grieves, Emergency Teams Praised
The community of Moore, still healing from past tragedies such as the devastating 2013 tornado, is once again in mourning. As news of the two deaths spread, tributes poured in for the victims, and appreciation was expressed for the first responders who worked tirelessly through the storm.
Emergency responders in Moore were widely praised for their efforts, working in dangerous conditions to save lives. Their swift actions ensured that many other motorists stranded in floodwaters made it home safely.
Looking Ahead
Forecasters have predicted that the worst of the storm system will ease by Monday, bringing some relief to areas affected by flooding and tornado risks. Still, the threat of more rain remains in parts of the South and Midwest, and officials urge residents to remain cautious.
Moore Police have reminded the public not to drive into floodwaters, no matter how shallow they may appear. “Turn around, don’t drown” remains the message, especially after a weekend that claimed lives and tested the resolve of communities across the region.