Preliminary Damage Survey Results from the
May 8, 2003 Moore-OKC Area Tornado, Part II

The tornado damage path can be viewed on this map.

Damage from the tornado that struck parts of Oklahoma City and Moore during the late afternoon hours of May 8, 2003 has been surveyed by the National Weather Service in Norman. Two damage survey teams were dispatched early this morning. This preliminary report covers that part of the damage track in Cleveland and Oklahoma counties, from SE 89th Street to Tinker Air Force Base in southeast Oklahoma City, to Midwest City to Choctaw.

The tornado crossed into Oklahoma County along SE 89th Street and Bryant Avenue. The tornado continued to move northeast and caused significant structural damage to a manufacturing plant just west of Sunnylane Road between SE 89th Street and Interstate 240 Highway. A number of cars were also carried or blown to the east from this commercial building. Six employees were at the plant at the time of the tornado, took shelter in a safe room, and escaped injury.

The tornado turned to the east-northeast and crossed Sooner Road along and south of the Interstate 240 interchange. At least one business was destroyed and others suffered damage. The tornado crossed Interstate 240 damaging businesses along SE 74th Street between Sooner Road and Air Depot Boulevard. The tornado moved across Air Depot Boulevard and struck the General Motors plant inflicting significant damage, especially on the western and northern portions of the property and destroying a number of employee cars. The tornado moved into the southeast portion of Tinker Air Force Base, damaging fencing and a storage bunker.

The tornado again turned northeast, moving across Douglas Boulevard at SE 59th Street and Post Road along and south of SE 44th Street. The tornado moved through northern portions of a subdivision along Kennington Lane and SE 45th Street. It traveled across SE 44th and Interstate 40 Highway west of Westminster Road moving through neighborhoods just north of Interstate 40 and Westminster, and just southwest of SE 29th Street and Anderson Road.

The tornado crossed SE 29th Street and into the city limits of Midwest City along and east of Anderson Road with some damage in Midwest City along Hiawassee Road just south of SE 15th Street.

The tornado moved into the city limits of Choctaw crossing southeast 15th Street between Hiawassee Road and Willow Drive. There was significant damage to homes in Choctaw north of SE 15th Street and east of Henney Road. The tornado then weakened quickly as it crossed Henney Road and dissipated soon after crossing Reno Avenue just west of Choctaw Road.

The tornado path length in Oklahoma County was approximately 13 miles. The maximum width was 4/10 of a mile. The tornado was rated F4 tornado with small areas of F4 damage occurring south of Interstate 240 and Sunnylane Road, northeast of SE 74th Street and Air Depot Boulevard, and east of southeast 44th Street and Post Road.

The survey team would like to thank Marty Rusher of the Oklahoma City police department, Ronnie Warren of Oklahoma City emergency management, and all of the residents who provided information to the survey team.