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Storm A produced 14 tornadoes over a period of about 7 hours and was
eventually responsible for the F5 tornado (A9) that struck
Bridge Creek, Oklahoma City, and Moore.
The 1st tornado of the outbreak, A1, touched down on US 62, 2 miles north of
Interstate 44 in Comanche County at 1641 CST. No damage is believed to have
occurred.
The 2nd tornado, A2, formed approximately 3 miles west of Elgin in Comanche
County. Several witnesses confirmed this tornado, however no damage was
observed.
The 3rd tornado, A3, touched down in a rural area 3 miles east of Apache in
Caddo County. As the tornado moved north to near Anadarko, one house was
destroyed near the town of Stecker, with its roof ripped off and several walls
knocked down (F3). Three people inside the house were injured.
Several witnesses reported the 4th tornado, A4, 3 miles northwest of Cyril
in Caddo County, just west of SH 8. No damage was reported.
The 5th tornado, A5, formed 2 miles south of Anadarko in Caddo County. Two
witnesses reported the tornado to be brief, and no damage was observed.
The 6th tornado, A6, developed about 3 miles north-northeast of Cement near
the Caddo/Grady County border, and quickly intensified to a strong tornado with
associated damage rated at the high end of the F3 scale. The tornado tracked
northeast for 9 miles before dissipating 2.5 miles west-northwest of downtown
Chickasha. Two homes had just a few interior walls standing (F3), one located
near US 62 on the northwest side of Chickasha; and several wooden high tension
power lines were downed. Several people were injured south of Verden near the
Caddo/Grady County border.
The 7th tornado, A7, has been referred to as a satellite tornado, and
rotated around A6 for a short period of time, 5 miles west of
Chickasha in Grady County. Damage from this satellite tornado was not
discovered and was therefore rated F0.
The 8th tornado, A8, developed 2.5 miles northwest of downtown Chickasha,
just north of US 62, and tracked northeast, striking the Chickasha Municipal
Airport, resulting in high-end F2 damage to two hangar buildings and destroying
several aircraft. An aircraft wing, believed to have originated from this
airport was eventually carried airborne approximately 45 miles and dropped in
southwest Oklahoma City. Approximately 20 mobile homes near the airport were
either damaged or destroyed with several people injured. The tornado then
crossed US 81, about 2 miles north of its intersection with US 62, destroying a
large building, then dissipated 4 miles north-northeast of downtown Chickasha.
The 9th tornado, A9, was a violent and long-tracked tornado, and eventually
produced F5 damage in Bridge Creek, Oklahoma City, and Moore.
Early stages
This tornado developed in Grady County about two miles south-southwest of
Amber, and quickly intensified as it crossed State Highway 92. F4 damage was
first discovered about 4 miles east-northeast of Amber, and extended for
6½ miles as the tornado continued to move northeast.
Bridge Creek
Two areas of F5 damage were observed in the Bridge Creek area. The first was
in the Willow Lake Addition, a rural subdivision of mobile homes and some
concrete slab homes in Bridge Creek, in far eastern Grady County. Two homes
were completely swept from their concrete slabs, and about one dozen
automobiles were carried about ¼ mile. All mobile homes in this area in
the direct path of the tornado were obliterated, resulting in a high
concentration of fatalities. Asphalt pavement about 1 inch thick was also
peeled from a section of rural road EW125. The second area of F5 damage was
observed about 1 mile west of the Grady/McClain County line and consisted of a
cleanly swept slab home with foundation anchor bolts and another vehicle lofted
¼ mile. The maximum width of damage in Bridge Creek was estimated to be
1 mile. Approximately 200 mobile homes/houses were destroyed, and hundreds of
other structures were damaged. The Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Bridge Creek
was also destroyed. Twelve people died in Bridge Creek, nine in mobile homes.
All fatalities and the majority of injuries were concentrated in the Willow
Lake Addition, Southern Hills Addition, and Bridge Creek Estates, which
consisted mostly of mobile homes. Compared to sections of Oklahoma and
Cleveland Counties, which were also in the path of this tornado, eastern Grady
County, including the Bridge Creek area, is rural and sparsely populated.
Newcastle
The tornado maintained a nearly straight path to the northeast, paralleling
Interstate 44 as it entered McClain County. An exception was when it made a
slight jog to the right and moved directly over the 16th Street overpass in
Newcastle, where a woman was killed when she was blown out from under the
overpass. The tornado continued into northern sections of rural Newcastle and
crossed the interstate again just north of the US 62 Newcastle interchange.
While this tornado was moving through the northern portion of Newcastle, a weak
satellite tornado (A10), touched down in a field in rural
north Newcastle. Two areas of F4 damage were observed in McClain County,
associated with tornado A9. The first area overlapped the Grady/McClain County
line and extended to about 3 miles northwest of Newcastle, ending just west of
the 16th St. overpass on Interstate 44, while the other area was observed 2
miles northwest of Newcastle. In McClain County, 38 homes and 2 businesses were
destroyed, and 40 homes were damaged.
South Oklahoma City, west of Moore
Damage then diminished to F2 intensity as the tornado crossed the South
Canadian River into northern Cleveland County. The tornado entered Cleveland
County between Portland and May Avenues, and between SW 164th and SW 179th in
south Oklahoma City. Damage was rated F2 in this area with a path width
averaging ½ mile. The first major housing development to be struck in
Cleveland County was Country Place Estates, located just west of Pennsylvania
Ave., where about 50 homes were damaged. One dozen of these homes received F4
damage. One slab home was cleanly swept from its foundation, and several
vehicles were picked up from the subdivision and tossed across Pennsylvania
Ave., a distance of approximately ¼ mile. One vehicle was found under a
bridge just east of the intersection of Pennsylvania and SW 134th. This
particular area of damage has been rated high F4/low F5. Oklahoma City Police
indicated that part of an airplane wing, believed to have originated from
Chickasha Municipal Airport in Grady County, landed in this area. The tornado
then tracked through Eastlake Estates, a densely populated housing development,
located north of SW 134th and between Pennsylvania and Western, where 3
fatalities occurred. Entire rows of homes were flattened to piles of rubble.
Four adjacent homes on one street were nearly cleaned off their foundations
leaving only concrete slabs, which earned an F5 rating. Three other homes in
this housing division also received F5 damage, with the remaining destruction
rated high F4. Three people also died in the 600-unit Emerald Springs
Apartments on Western Ave., across the street from Eastlake Estates. One
2-story apartment building on the north end of the apartment complex was
virtually flattened, and received an F5 rating. Westmoore High School, just
north of Eastlake Estates, was also heavily damaged. Although a well-attended
awards ceremony was being held at the school during the tornado, no one was
injured, however dozens of vehicles in the school parking lot were either
damaged or destroyed. F4 damage continued northeast into another residential
area east of Western Ave. and south of 119th St.
Moore
The tornado then entered the western city limits of Moore (Cleveland County)
along Santa Fe and near NW 12th, and produced damage ½ to ¾ mile
wide. Maximum damage, rated high F4/low F5, extended northeast to near Janeway
with several large groups of homes flattened. Four people died in this
residential area. F4 damage continued to South Shields, just north of the
junction with Interstate 35. A woman was also killed when she was blown out
from under the Shields overpass of Interstate 35. The tornado appeared to
weaken just slightly after crossing interstate 35, however it remained a
formidable storm with widespread high F3/low F4 damage observed in Highland
Park, a residential area south of the First Baptist Church on 27th St. in
Moore. Escaping with relatively minor damage, and being located near the
halfway point of the tornado path, the First Baptist Church in Moore eventually
served as the primary coordination center for most tornado relief efforts.
South Oklahoma City, northeast of Moore
The tornado then continued northeast and entered the southern portion of a
sparsely populated industrial district. F4 damage continued through this area
to near SE 89th St., the Cleveland/Oklahoma County border. Moving into Oklahoma
County, the tornado curved northward, through the remaining industrial district
north of Interstate 240, where 2 businesses were destroyed. This damage was
rated F4. Two people were also killed at a trucking company near the
intersection of S. Bryant Ave. and Interstate 240. A freight car, with an
approximate weight of 18 tons, was picked up intermittently and blown ¾
mile across an open field. The body of the freight car was deposited southeast
of the intersection of S. Sunnylane Rd. and SE 59th. Gouge marks were observed
in the field every 50 to 100 yards, suggesting the freight car had been
airborne for at least a short distance. While tornado A9 was moving through
southeast Oklahoma City, another tornado (A11) touched down
briefly near the intersection of SE 80th and Sooner Rd. (Oklahoma County).
Tornado A9 then entered residential neighborhoods between SE 59th and SE 44th,
where a woman was killed in her house.
Del City and Tinker AFB
Crossing SE 44th into Del City (Oklahoma County), the tornado moved through
the highly populated Del Aire housing addition killing 6 people and damaging or
destroying hundreds of homes, many with F3/F4 damage. The tornado then crossed
Sooner Rd., where it damaged an entry gate and several costly structures at
Tinker Air Force Base.
Midwest City and the storm's demise
Tornado A9 then crossed 29th St. into Midwest City (Oklahoma County),
destroying 1 building in the Boeing Complex and damaging 2 others. Widespread
F3/F4 damage continued as the tornado moved across Interstate 40, affecting a
large business district. Approximately 800 vehicles were damaged at Hudiburg
Auto Group, located just south of Interstate 40. Hundreds of the vehicles were
moved from their original location, and dozens of vehicles were picked up and
tossed northward across Interstate 40 into several motels, a distance of
approximately 0.2 miles. Numerous motels and other businesses including Hampton
Inn, Comfort Inn, Inn Suites, Clarion Inn, Cracker Barrel, and portions of Rose
State College, were destroyed. Some of the damage through this area was rated
high F4, however low F5 was considered. The tornado then continued into another
residential area between SE 15th and Reno Ave., where 3 fatalities occurred.
High F4 damage was inflicted to 4 homes in this area. Two of these homes were
located between SE 12th and SE 11th, near Buena Vista, and the other 2 homes
were located on Will Rogers Rd., just south of SE 15th. Damage then diminished
rapidly to F0/F1 as the tornado crossed Reno Ave. The tornado dissipated 3
blocks north of Reno Ave., between Sooner Rd. and Air Depot Blvd.
Summary
The Oklahoma State Department of Health in Oklahoma City recorded 36 direct
fatalities. In addition, 5 people died of illness or accident during or shortly
after the tornado, and were not considered in the direct fatality total. The
number of injuries was estimated at 583, based on numbers provided from the
Department of Health, which were then adjusted to account for people assumed to
be unaccounted for. Injuries which resulted from removing debris, conducting
search and rescue efforts, and taking shelter from the tornado, were not
considered in the injury total. An estimated 1,800 homes were destroyed, and
2,500 homes were damaged, resulting in approximately $1 billion in damage.
The 10th tornado, A10, occurred as a satellite to the extremely strong
A9 tornado. While A9 was moving through the northern portion
of Newcastle, A10 touched down in a field in rural north Newcastle, and caused
no damage.
The 11th tornado, A11, was the second satellite to form in association with
the devastating A9 tornado. While A9 was moving through
southeast Oklahoma City, A11 touched down briefly about ½ mile south of
Interstate 240 (Oklahoma County), near the intersection of SE 80th and Sooner
Rd. Damage from tornado A11 included fences being blown down and minor roof
damage inflicted to a couple of houses.
The 12th tornado, A12, formed about 3 miles southwest of Choctaw in Oklahoma
County, and produced F2 damage to 2 homes and lesser damage to many others in
the southwest part of Choctaw. The tornado moved into the center of town where
a car was thrown over the canopy at a drive-in-restaurant. The business strip
located on the north side of NE 23rd was especially affected with several
businesses destroyed, including Pizza Hut, Sonic, and Tri-City Youth and Family
Shelter. Damage was mainly F1 as it moved northeast, except for F2 damage at a
nursing home where one woman was injured. The tornado continued to weaken in
rural areas and dissipated near the intersection of NE 50th and Triple XXX
Road. In total, damage estimates are near $3.2 million, with 8 businesses
destroyed, 130 businesses damaged, 14 homes destroyed, and 23 homes damaged.
The 13th tornado, A13, formed about 4 miles east-southeast of Jones in
Oklahoma County, near the intersection of NE 63rd and Triple XXX Rd., and was
captured on video. Only minor damage was observed as the tornado tracked north
along Triple XXX Rd. for 2 miles before dissipating near Britton.
The 14th and final tornado produced by storm A, A14, formed about 3 miles
east-northeast of Jones in Oklahoma County, just west of Triple XXX Rd. and
between Hefner and 122nd, then tracked north for 4 miles before dissipating
near Interstate 44. A ground survey concluded F1 damage occurred to several
homes south of the intersection of Memorial and Triple XXX Rd.
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