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Large tornado hits Oklahoma City
2003-05-09
From staff and wire reports

A large tornado slammed into north Oklahoma City late Friday, causing significant damage and possible injuries just a day after a twister struck the city's south side.
NEWS 9 reports the following damage:

Significant roof damage at Putnam City West High School on NW 23 and Council.

Also, SE 33 in Edmond and Broadway Extension has been blocked off due to downed power lines.

Damage has been reported at I-35 and Britton Rd.

Several planes damaged at Wiley Post Airport.

The city of Edmond east of Broadway Extension is without power.

According to Detective Mike Klika, Oklahoma City Police Department, damage to structures occurred in Mustang, Bethany, Warr Acres and The Village.
Spotters tracking the storm reported debris, including overturned cars and downed power lines.

Some of the overturned cars were reported on Interstate-44 in Oklahoma City.

The tornado first touched down west of Oklahoma City along Interstate-40, reportedly damaging a Xerox plant. There also were reports of power flashes in between Mustang and Yukon, two Oklahoma City suburbs.

About 23,000 people were reported without power in Oklahoma City.

Television weathermen reported the tornado was still on the ground after passing through Oklahoma City and appeared to be tracking along Interstate-44.

Earlier, a tornado touched down near Cogar.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol closed Interstate-44 westbound at the Tulsa gate with a twister reported on the ground and moving toward Chandler.

Bethany police and fire departments were reporting damage as well.

The tornado struck just as the city began cleaning up from a twister that destroyed more than 300 houses and business in and around Oklahoma City on Thursday.

That storm carved a 19-mile path through the most densely populated part of the state, injuring 134 people but killing no one.

The National Weather Service measured winds speeds at about 200 mph in Thursday's storm. That tornado's path took it through south Oklahoma City, with a quarter-mile wide, 3 1/2-mile long section of Moore taking the brunt of the damage. Homes were ripped apart, trees uprooted and heavy debris scattered on Thursday.

Of those injured in the first storm, 21 remained hospitalized Friday, said Paul O'Leary, a spokesman for Oklahoma City's ambulance service. At least three were in critical condition.

The damage from the first storm prompted Gov. Brad Henry to declare a state of emergency in Cleveland and Oklahoma counties. He also sent a request to President Bush asking for an expedited federal declaration of emergency to clear the way for federal assistance in the cleanup.

You stay safe too. Please everyone in OK, check back in after these storms pass. Want to be certain everyone is okay.

A little tornado story for you...I had a friend whose mother was up late reading a Guideposts mag. She read about praying the blood of Jesus over your family, for protection. She walked down the hall doing that over each person, and about 2 minutes later a tornado struck their house (no warning, no sirens). I've seen pictures--2 walls left standing. Amazingly, not one of them was hurt (at all!) Prayer works.