Washington: At least 7 people were injured and authorities were evaluating damage that included a destroyed home after severe storms ripped through northeastern Oklahoma on Wednesday night, according to the authorities.

National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Jankowski said a tornado touched down and lifted up several times as it swept through the northern Tulsa and Owasso areas.

Tulsa Fire Department spokesman, Stan May, said about one square mile of a mostly residential area sustained heavy damage. One home was destroyed and other businesses and residences sustained roof and structural damage, May said.

The ambulance service transported 7 patients and at least one of them was in critical condition. 6 others were listed in serious condition, Emergency Medical Services Authority spokeswoman Kelli Bruer said.

National Storm Prediction Center had said nearly nine million people in parts of Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas would be in an enhanced area of risk on Wednesday, putting them in some of the strongest storms. The area of highest risk included the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

National Weather Service issued a flash-flood watch for northern parts of Louisiana State until 7 p.m. Thursday. Multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms will produce 2-4 inches of rain, and perhaps six inches in some parts of the state, according to the forecasters.

Thunderstorms would bring about 2-4 inches of rainfall, forecasters in northern Mississippi said. A flash-flood watch was in effect until Thursday evening.