OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency for 26 Oklahoma counties battered by storms that rumbled through the state and spawned at least five tornadoes.

The declaration is an important first step toward receiving federal reimbursement for storm-related cleanup costs incurred by state and local governments.

The emergency declaration is for counties stretching from south-central to northeast Oklahoma.

Two elderly women were killed when a tornado tore through the southeast Oklahoma town of Tushka, and seven more died in Arkansas after the storm system pushed into the that state.

Fallin planned to visit Tushka on Saturday.