Violent Tornado Kills 8 In Oklahoma

Massive Twister Rips Through Lone Grove, Population 4,600; Rescue Crews Still Searching Through Rubble

(CBS/AP)  Emergency crews sorted through bricks and beams Wednesday, looking for more victims after a half-mile wide tornado blasted through a small Oklahoma town, killing eight and seriously injuring 14.

The hardest hit area is a mobile home park, where no tornado shelter was available for residents to take refuge. It is there where most of the victims died, reports CBS News correspondent Hari Sreenivasan. There were also miraculous tales of survival. People huddled in a closet grabbed a woman and snatched her down after the tornado blew part of the roof off and threatened to carry her away. Rescuers found one woman injured but alive under an overturned mobile home.

"It tore like a cardboard box, it was just like that," says Jimmy Beatty.

The 28-year-old Beatty is a survivor. He heard the sirens but could not escape. He broke his hip, his wrist, and suffered deep cuts to his head. Worst of all, Sreenivasan reports, one of the women sharing his trailer was swept away and killed.

"This is the worst thing I ever went through," he says.

Seasoned storm chaser Brad Patrick was out tracking the twister when he got too close.

"It was total pitch blackness, it was very hard to see that tornado," Patrick says.

Patrick was so close that the instruments on his vehicle measured the storm's fury at 133 miles per hour.

"It may as well have had teeth and eyeballs because it was a big scary monster is what it was," Patrick says.

It was part of a monster storm system that brought rare February tornadoes from Mid-Texas all the way up to northern Oklahoma, the third year in a row that February storms have turned deadly, Sreenivasan reports.

"It is unusual to have an outbreak of tornadoes this early in the severe weather season, but it is not unheard of especially in the southern most reaches of the country," says Eric Wilhelm, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.com.

The tornado carved a path of destruction, demolishing or damaging homes and businesses throughout Lone Grove, a town of 4,600 about 100 miles south of Oklahoma City.

Gov. Brad Henry, who arrived in the area by helicopter Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in 17 counties for the severe weather that raked the state Tuesday. The declaration allows the state to make emergency purchases to speed aid and begins a formal federal assistance process.

"The devastation literally takes your breath away," Henry said. "It literally looks like a war zone.

"But on the flip side of that, it's amazing how many survived. In some way, this area was blessed by God."

President Barack Obama spoke to Henry and Sens. Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn and "passed along his condolences and best wishes to the victims," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said.

This was one of a cluster of unusual February twisters that touched down in Oklahoma Tuesday. A half-dozen homes, an apartment complex, and several businesses were also damaged in the central Oklahoma cities of Edmond and Oklahoma City, but no serious injuries were reported there.

Firefighters methodically searched each damaged or destroyed structure in Lone Grove. They spray-painted a large X on damaged homes after inspection and residents were then allowed to check for belongings.

Shirley Mose was not at home when the tornado struck, but returned Wednesday morning with members of her family to find the house destroyed and her pickup truck wrecked.

"I had a little Chihuahua that stayed in there," Mose said. "We found her bed, but not her. I guess she's gone."

Residents apparently had good warning of the approaching twister.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning, meaning a tornado is imminent and residents should take shelter, at 6:50 p.m. for Carter County. Another was issued at 7:15 p.m. when the actual tornado was spotted. The tornado hit Lone Grove at 7:25 p.m.

"A lot of people just didn't leave," Carter County Sheriff Ken Grace said.

He said there were a total of 50 injuries. Sheriff's deputy David Gilley said between 100 and 150 homes were destroyed. A number of people were unaccounted for but were believed to have left the area or temporarily moved in with friends or family.

All that was visible of the mobile homes Wednesday were the cinder blocks they sat on. Trees were uprooted or snapped in half, cars were flung around like children's toys, hoods of vehicles were ripped off. Debris was everywhere.

Cherokee Ballard, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner's office, said some of the victims appeared to be inside their homes when the tornado hit, while others were outside. A trucker driving through town was killed when the winds slammed his rig.

"The majority of the deaths appeared to be blunt force trauma to the head," she said.

Some were apparently hit by flying objects, in one case a flying pickup truck.

"One victim was found underneath a pickup truck the tornado had lifted and dropped on him," Ballard said.

Surveying the wreckage, Wade Talieferro, whose uncle lives near the path of the tornado, pointed to an area where six mobile homes stood.

"They're all gone," he said. "I found a dead body in the pasture last night. It's a heck of a bad deal."

Lone Grove residents woke up Wednesday to scenes of destruction. Along U.S. 70, the main road into town, a furniture store had been destroyed along with some other nearby homes and businesses. Debris was lodged in high power lines.

Trees were splintered, roofs were missing, many power lines were on the ground and power was out. Several utility poles were snapped, their transformers hanging upside down. Debris littered the ground.

Trina Quinton stood next to a pile of rubble that used to be John's Furniture, her cousin's business, and wondered whether her family will ever recover from the storm.

"This is where I was raised," Quinton said as tears rolled down her cheek. "this is where I grew up."

"I'm grateful that the business wasn't open and they weren't here.

"This is how they make their living, rebuilding is probably not going to be an option."

Joe Hornback, 42, said the roof was blown off a post office a few blocks from his home.

"We were very fortunate," he said. "We went into the only cellar on our block. There were 30 of us in a 6 by 6 underground cellar."

He said there was a calm before the tornado hit.

"Then you just heard the wind blow, just like you turned the light switch on."

Lana Hartman rode out the storm with seven other people in a small clothes closet of the rental house she moved into on Monday.

"We were all in the closet, the suction was so unreal," Hartman said.

The tornado blew part of the roof off the house and lifted one of her grown daughters into the air. Everyone grabbed the woman to keep her from flying off.

"I was in shock, I think I still am," Hartman said. "We're alive, that's all that matters."

A twister also touched down in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area before moving into Edmond. Only three minor injuries were reported.

A Chuck E. Cheese restaurant, several other businesses and an apartment complex sustained major damage in Oklahoma City. Power poles were snapped.

In Edmond, a half-dozen homes were damaged, an automobile body shop was destroyed, among other damage.

Some 26,000 customers of Oklahoma Gas and Electric lost power after the central Oklahoma tornado, but power was restored to most within several hours. A few thousand customers remained without power in southern Oklahoma.

Another tornado was reported in Pawnee County in north-central Oklahoma. Nobody was injured in that storm.

Tornadoes are most numerous in Oklahoma in the spring, but can occur at any time, National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Smith said.

[cashmoneymillionares]

I live in new york which is way safer than living in oklahoma or texas.I rather take my chances with a mugger than a tornado.

[boxxxx]

Do any of you people in OK speak English?

[boxxxx]

Can anyone who lives in the path of these storms speak English?

[boxxxx]

Stop yer belly-achin' and move somewhere where safer.

[harbinger09]

The proclivity for tornadoes to hit trailer parks are well known. Either the government should allow NO trailer parks in states or areas known to be hit frequently by tornadoes or all trailer park owners should have to proivide an underground community bunker to house1.5 times the amount of people who live in the park. (to make allowances for guest) This could minimize the loss of life.

Make it one of the first projects for Obama''s new deal civil engineering our way back to a healthy economy plan--with preference for job offers going to those in the trailer parks, first. (provided they have the skills for the work)

[gene6140]

I live in Ardmore,Ok. our city limits touch Lone Grove"s We live in the northern part of Carter county,the tornado passed us about 3 miles to the northwest,drove through L.G. this am,what a devastating sight,L.G is a small town of about 4500 people,so you can imagine a tornado this size hit a majority of the town,the mobile home park,where they are saying most of the deaths occured,looks like a trash dump,nothing left standing,across the street a large truck sits atop a damaged house,I lived in this mobile home park in the early 90''s,there is no storm cellar,the people were sitting ducks,allthough I don''t understand why some didn''t take cover in more stable structures,as we had a good 30 min. warning that this super cell was headed our way,it just doesn''t make sense

[questionnews]

Mrs Bun,
There are idiots who believe as you that God sends tornadoes to punish sin. Congratulations, you have proven yourself to be a member in good standing of "Idiots Of The World".

Posted by donfincher at 05:00 PM : Feb 11, 2009

Mrs Bun thrives on getting people worked up with her (Or his--Picture a naked Micheal Moore with a turkey leg in one hand & a mouse in the other...........No not that mouse, the computer mouse.) God baiting posts.

"Don''t feed the trolls!!"

[donfincher]

Mrs Bun,
There are idiots who believe as you that God sends tornadoes to punish sin. Congratulations, you have proven yourself to be a member in good standing of "Idiots Of The World".

[urnmyworld02]

This is EXACTLY why I am deathly afraid of tornadoes!!! I live in Texas and still take precaution when the winds here get up to 70mph. It''s my worst fear. Mother-Nature! I stayed the night in Oklahoma just one night back in 2003 and had dreams of tornadoes, lol....Yea it''s in my head to stay out of Oklahoma and Kansas!! I pray for the families that lost everything.

[barbaram99]

Sorry there. First of all it is the weather that causes this not God. These are people who lost home,family etc. They don''t need a bloody preaching..They need help and hope they get it. I am in Seattle.

[drinuk]

AL2008, How many times must you post this infantile nonsense, same thing three weeks ago about a totally different topic. Go lay down, take your pills and shut the F---Up !

[utwever]

I used to live in Ardmore, not far from Lone Grove, I have talked to one of my friends there, and the damage is pretty bad, am hoping that everyone I know is ok, they are saying 15 dead so far, from what I have heard.. Its amazing how people have to use something like this to try and make their beliefs known...... the fact is OKLAHOMA , KANSAS (where I am from) has always had tornados, and will continue to do, heck it can be in the 70s here one day and ice the next!! So why dont you stop sayin its because of sin, and use the "faith" you have and pray for the people that were affected instead of tryin to pretty much say it was the wrath of God, there are people that hurt, people that have lost family members and all their belongings, show some compassion instead of what you are doing!

[xyno-2009]

I am appalled at the governor*s lack of response to the global warming thunderstorms, tornadoes, and floods.
Posted by AL2008
************

I knew someone would come on here and start spouting the ''global warming'' mantra.

Right, because they were no storms or hurricanes or floods before the industrial revolution, moron.

Hey, it''s sunny today -- global warming!!!

[xxunknown]

I live 2.5 miles northeast of Oak Tree. It was hard being at work and all you could do is listen to reports when they weren''''t sure exactly where the tornado was tracking, only the vicinity it was in. It''''s an uneasy feeling driving home listening to the weather on the radio wondering if your house is still there. Oh the wrath of Mother Nature.
-------------------------------
That would be rather scary. Does homeowners or renters insurance cover a loss from that type of thing?

[mmfrgrrl]

AL2008, I want to make it very clear that I am a ''people'' and do not want to be included in your ''we the people''. Oklahoma has always had tornadoes and always will. I know because I live here. About 5 years ago we had tornadoes in January. I believe that there have been tornadoes in winter all the way back into the 1800s when records of weather had begun being kept. How exactly is the governor supposed to control the jet stream? I feel awful for the people of Lone Grove, it is a lovely little town. Okies will band together like always and rebuild the town, bury our dead and wait for the next one to barrel through. We survived May 3rd-the biggest, baddest tornado on record-and we will get through these as well. Do not forget in your prayers the folks that live in NW OKC and Edmond. They got it pretty bad too.

[jmagarotz]

I am appalled at the governor*s lack of response to the global warming thunderstorms, tornadoes, and floods. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate the effects of these storms
Posted by AL2008

I knew it was only a matter of time before one of you MMGW nuts crawled out freom under a rock. It''s obvious you don''t live in Oklahoma (I do)and I remember the May 3rd tornado when your hero Clinton showed up and said he was going to reduce the power of these terrible tornados, then he postured for the camera and flew away. Oklahoma and Tornados go hand in hand, we have them any month and any time. We here in Oklahoma don''t love them but, we''ll take them over some of the natural disasters in other states.
Oh yes, we okies are good at cleaning up after our disasters, not waiting around and wanting the "Gubmint" to do it for us thank you.

[al2008-2009]

I am appalled at the governor*s lack of response to the global warming thunderstorms, tornadoes, and floods. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate the effects of these storms and tornadoes, and mother earth continues to suffer while the governor*s office refuses to go forward and do what*s right for mother earth.
.
How long must we sit idly by while our mother continues to suffer from the warming taking place at a feverish pace? How long must our mother suffer before we have proper c02 taxes put into place? How long must the destruction of mother earth take place before we finally put progressive regulations into effect? How long must we wait until we beef up our corn ethanol production? At least President Obama%u2019s plan calls for cutting c02 pollution by 80% and eliminating greenhouse gases from our cars; he is definitely our best hope at solving our climate crisis.
.
We the people call upon the governor to implement a comprehensive antiglobal warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these disasterous storms continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these storms cease. We need action now.

[jmagarotz]

know you are a troll, but can''''t you choose another topic to troll rather than one reporting about the loss of life. Go spread your perversion elsewhere.

posted by mrzerato

We may not agree on politics but, we do agree on this.
If I might add my two cents, Mrs. Bun, Git back in the oven where you belong. Turned to up to HIGH of course.

mrs_bun, you better watch out how you phrase things. You will go to hell for those remarks. Who gave you the power to know it all? You telling everyone that the churches that were destroyed didn''t pray? You telling everyone that the poor children that suffered are because of the lack of prayer? You are the worst sinner around...SHAME ON YOU!!!

[okla_hunter]

I live 2.5 miles northeast of Oak Tree. It was hard being at work and all you could do is listen to reports when they weren''t sure exactly where the tornado was tracking, only the vicinity it was in. It''s an uneasy feeling driving home listening to the weather on the radio wondering if your house is still there. Oh the wrath of Mother Nature.