No state assistance requested for storm damage cleanup

Cleanup efforts got under way Sunday after severe storms tore down trees and power lines, damaged several homes and injured five people in Oklahoma a day earlier. <br/><br/>Meanwhile, officials say a <b><a

Monday, June 6th 2005, 6:26 am

By: News On 6

Cleanup efforts got under way Sunday after severe storms tore down trees and power lines, damaged several homes and injured five people in Oklahoma a day earlier.

Meanwhile, officials say a tornado that touched down near Mountain Park in Kiowa County heavily damaged one house, destroyed a barn, uprooted trees and downed power lines throughout the area.

Michelann Ooten, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, says no injuries were reported following today's severe storms. Electrical crews were still assessing the extent of the damage late Sunday, Ooten said.

The storm systems prompted the National Storm Prediction Center in Norman to issue a severe thunderstorm watch for 19 western and southern Oklahoma counties. Tornado warnings were issued for Kiowa and Tillman counties.

Meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm watch expired at midnight for 19 western and southern Oklahoma counties where strong storms pounded the state for the second straight day.

The National Storm Prediction Center in Norman said large hail, strong winds and dangerous lightning accompanied the storms.

Forecasters say the storms also produced a tornado, but the main threat was high winds.

Several tornadoes touched down Saturday as thunderstorms moved across the state. Several homes were damaged and at least five people were injured.