Some OKC damage estimates are in
1:10 p.m. Wednesday
Staff Writer Robert Medley reports:
Chuck E. Cheese’s, 6817 Northwest Expressway, suffered about $1 million in damage, Oklahoma City fire District Chief Brian Stanaland said.
Boulder Ridge Apartments, 8557 Candlewood Drive, suffered about $100,000 in damage, Stanaland said.
Tips from the Oklahoma City-County Health Department
1:09 p.m. Wednesday
As neighborhoods begin to clean-up from the recent tornado, the Oklahoma City-County Health Department wants to remind the public of a few precautions that should be taken:
1. Stay away from surfacing sewage and liquids of unknown origin. These can be a source of numerous harmful bacteria. If you do come into contact with unknown liquids, wash the affected area immediately with soap and water, especially before eating.
2. Keep children away from debris. Children should not play on, in or around the debris area. We recommend that children be left at a safe place and not be brought to the debris area.
3. Use extreme caution when sorting through debris. Cuts, lacerations and puncture wounds caused by nails, glass, wood and other materials could result. Also, many everyday household chemicals are hazardous materials (bleach, ammonia, etc.).
4. Wear protective clothing if available. Gloves and hard-soled shoes are especially recommended. 5. In general, all food should be discarded if unrefrigerated over four hours.
6. Be aware that rodent and wild animal harborage (skunks, opossum, etc.) may have occurred in some areas. These animals must be avoided.
7. Clothing and soft items recovered should be washed immediately and/or dry-cleaned.
8. Hard items (furniture, dishes, utensils, etc.) should be cleaned and sanitized.
9. Toys should be cleaned and sanitized before use.
For more information on this and other programs offered by the Oklahoma City-County Health Department, visit the web site at www.cchdoc.com.
Twitpics of the storm
Many in Oklahoma jumped on Twitter.com on Tuesday to share their thoughts and photos of the severe weather, using the tag #OKStorms and the service Twitpic.
Here is a video looking at some of the best photos of day.
Donated goods heading toward Perkins
12:30 p.m. Wednesday
Staff Writer Brian Sargent reports:
Oklahoma City-based Feed The Children is sending a truckload of cleaning supplies, ready-to-eat meals, baby food, paper products and personal care boxes for relief efforts in the Perkins area, said Tony Sellars, director of communications.
Lone Grove press conference set
12:08 p.m. Wednesday
Gov. Brad Henry and emergency officials will speak at a 2 p.m. press conference in Lone Grove.
Edmond is a disaster
11:55 a.m. Wednesday
Staff Writer Diana Baldwin reports:
Edmond Mayor Dan O’Neil initiated a proclamation Tuesday evening declaring a state of emergency in Edmond. The declaration is a procedural requirement that allows residents to receive eligible assistance from state and federal agencies.
The City’s Emergency Management department activated outdoor warning devices at 2:49 pm Tuesday to alert residents of an impending tornado. Moments later the tornado touched down in northwest Edmond, destroying ten homes and damaging several others.
The Declaration of State of Emergency, signed by the mayor, City Manager Larry Stevens and City Attorney Steve Murdock, states that the mayor and city manager will exercise the powers, functions and duties prescribed by the city’s charter in order to minimize the effects of the emergency.
Emergency Management officials conducted a preliminary damage assessment Tuesday and will be conducting a second assessment today.
Volunteers from Civil Air Patrol, Red Cross and city employees are conducting the damage assessment to document damage and forward the report to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
Cleaning up in Edmond
11:49 a.m. Wednesday
Staff Writer Susan Simpson reports:
Tree removal crews were hard at work along Irvine Drive in Oak Tree on Wednesday morning.
Parker Swiggart, 16, watched as workers in the Edmond neighborhood used chains to lift huge oak trees off his crumpled pickup.
Wood chippers roared as massive limbs were reduced to sawdust.
National Guard
11:33 a.m. Wednesday
Staff Writer Brian Sargent reports:
Twenty-five Oklahoma National Guardsmen have been sent to Lone Grove to help law officers, said retired Col. Pat Scully, a spokesman for the Guard.
February tornadoes
The most recent February twister before Tuesday’s spurt occurred Feb. 25, 2000, in
Deadliest tornadoes in
— May 3, 1999: 36 deaths in
— May 25, 1955: 20 deaths in Blackwell
— May 5, 1960: 16 deaths in Wilburton and Keota
— May 5, 1961: 16 deaths in Talihina, Reichert and Howe
— June 8, 1974: 14 deaths in Drumright, Olive and
— Jan. 22, 1957: 10 deaths in Gans
— April 26, 1984: 8 deaths in Morris
— May 9, 1959: 7 deaths near
— April 24, 1994: 7 deaths in Catoosa
— May 10, 2008: 6 deaths in Picher
Deadliest tornadoes in
— April 9, 1947: 116 deaths in Woodward
— May 10, 1905: 97 deaths in Snyder
— May 2, 1920: 71 deaths in Peggs
— April 12, 1945: 69 deaths in Antler
— April 27, 1942: 52 deaths in Pryor
— May 3, 1999: 36 deaths in
— June 12, 1942: 35 deaths in
— April 25, 1893: 33 deaths in
— June 19, 1930: 23 deaths in
— May 8, 1882: 21 deaths in
No children among the dead
11:09 a.m. Wednesday
Staff Writer Ron Jackson reports:
Cherokee Ballard, spokesman for state medical examiner’s office, said the names of those who died in the tornado have not been released.
No children were among the victims. Some of the dead were found in their homes; others were outside.
Preliminary data suggests they all died from blunt force trauma to the head.
