Gov. Kevin Stitt tours tornado zone, declares State of Emergency

KOAM NEWS NOW (Okla. News) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency Saturday, November 5, 2022 for Bryan, McCurtain, Choctaw, and LeFlore counties following destructive tornadoes that swept through southeastern Oklahoma.

More than 100 homes and businesses were damaged and there has been one confirmed fatality, as well as localized power outages.

“The state stands ready to send all the help, support, and resources southeastern Oklahoma needs to recover and rebuild from this devastating storm. Oklahomans are strong and resilient. We will build back these homes and businesses.” — Gov. Stitt 

The Gov. toured Idabel to survey the damage alongside other state and local officials.

Adair County experienced heavy rains and flash flooding as a 6-year-old died and the driver is missing as a car was swept off the roadway in flooding. Two others in the car were transported to Siloam Springs, Ark. hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Wagoner County Emergency Management is part of Oklahoma Disaster Task Force, they deployed to the tornado touchdown in Idabel Oklahoma. “We arrived on scene at 11:45 PM got briefed at the command post and immediately started search and rescue operations our crews continue to work through the night to ensure life and property safety,” WCEM stated in a release.

There was one confirmed fatality of a 90-year-old man. The Gov. said, “Our prayers are with that family as they mourn the loss of their loved one.”

Governor Stitt’s Executive Order declaring state of emergency can be read here.

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Seminole, Okla. hit by tornado Wednesday evening

SEMINOLE, Okla. — Storms rolled through the region south of Oklahoma City on Wednesday evening leaving many without power. Reports are many businesses suffered damaged in the downtown area in this small town of 7,000 people.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol state in a release of information, “We’re assisting in Seminole in the aftermath of storm damage there. This is Trooper Caleb Scott #645 blocking the roadway at SH 377 and SH 270 protecting motorists from the downed power lines.”

There are no reports of injuries. However information is still coming in on damages.

Peace Tabernacle Seminole, Okla. was hit by the storm. Lisa Powell tells us they were just about to start church, “we got in our Pastor’s office.”

In a video she shares with KOAM-7 you can see her walking through the church and windows are blown out, with broken blinds blowing in the breeze. Across Oak Street is a sheet metal building destroyed. In the distance you can hear emergency sirens.

She tells us no one was injured at the church.

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The Joplin School District will refinance a $20M Bond

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin school district is saving hundreds of thousands of dollars for future projects.

Tuesday night the school board approved moving forward with refinancing a General Obligation School Bond that currently costs more than $20 million.

The bond was originally created in 2012 and cost $35 million.

It was used to rebuild several schools that were destroyed after the May 22, 2011 tornado.

The school district was planning on refinancing through the “Missouri Direct Deposit Program,” but will be going another direction.

“The Attorney General released a directive yesterday that said anything that was going to be a participate in the Missouri Direct Deposit Program. We had to sign something that said we would be in compliance with those directives. Since its a brand new compliance certificate our Bond Council was not comfortable having us sign that just yet,” said Shelly Toft, Joplin Public School Chief Financial Officer.

The district hopes to do the bidding by early next week and have the bond refinanced by the end of the year.

It’s projected to save the district anywhere from $2.6 million to $3.1 million.

Recovery efforts underway after deadly tornado outbreak

MAYFIELD, Ky. — Search and rescue efforts are underway in several states after a deadly outbreak of tornadoes Friday night.

The Governor of Kentucky says at least 50 people were killed.

Eight people are confirmed dead at a Kentucky candle factory that was destroyed and eight others are still missing.

Kentucky is now in an immediate federal state of emergency.

300 National Guard members are activated and searching through rubble for survivors.

Illinois authorities are using the word “catastrophic” to describe the destruction at the Amazon Warehouse in Edwardsville.

Six amazon employees died when the facility collapsed after an EF3 tornado tore through the distribution center.

Authorities have given up hope of finding more survivors in the rubble and have shifted to recovery efforts.

Amazon made a $1 million donation to the “Edwardsville Community Foundation” to help the area get back on its feet.

Sunday morning Missouri Governor Mike Parson visited St. Charles to get a first hand look at the destruction.

Friday night’s deadly tornado tore through a three mile stretch leveling homes and flipping vehicles.

This morning President Biden spoke to the Governor’s of the five states that were impacted by Friday’s deadly tornadoes vowing to help in any way.

Preliminary report: First May on record with no EF-3 or stronger tornadoes

(KSNF/KODE) – The Storm Prediction Center has released some surprising new statistics in its May 2021 severe weather synopsis.

The most “remarkable” statistic shows the month was the first May on record with no tornadoes that were rated EF-3 or stronger.

That’s what preliminary data is showing, at least.

Record keeping began in 1950, so this is the first May since then, across the nation, that tornadoes were on the low-end of the Enhanced Fujita scale.

However, the month saw a quantity of tornadoes.

May 2021 had 289 tornadoes across the nation, which is slightly higher than the 2011-2020 yearly average of 272.

The full report can be found on the Storm Prediction Center‘s social media.

Four-State Staycation: Cunningham Park

JOPLIN, Mo. – Cunningham Park in Joplin was a popular century-old city park with tall oak trees and an iconic ban stand. That all changed May 22, 2011.

The park found itself in the path of the catastrophic EF5 tornado that hit Joplin.

“We lost every blade of grass out of this park ten years ago,” said Patrick Tuttle of Visit Joplin MO. “So what the park service has done to bring this back to life with donations and a lot of sweat equity make it a beautiful landmark for the city.”

As Joplin rebuilt following the tornado, officials decided to make Cunningham Park stand as a tribute to those who lost their lives and community’s ability recover. It’s home to several landmarks telling the story of the Joplin tornado. That includes the butterfly garden, a plaque with the 161 names of those passed, pencil sketch houses and more.

“(Cunningham Park) is very much a tribute to the survivors of the tornado, and I also got to say that the resilience of the people that we have with the families that bounces back. They put their boots up, got their houses cleaned up and rebuilt,” said Tuttle.

On the 10th anniversary of the tornado, Cunningham Park will be the site of the annual Memorial Run and a special remembrance ceremony later in the day. The Memorial Run begins at 6:30 a.m. and the remembrance ceremony begins at 5:15 p.m.

Joplin Hope Center provides blueprint for communities recovering from natural disaster

JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin officials are working on a digital information storehouse with source material from the tornado recovery plan, which has received national recognition.

The Joplin Hope Center for Disaster Recovery is a partnership between MSSU, Joplin Schools, and the City of Joplin. It’s designed to provide a blueprint for other cities recovering from a natural disaster. State Farm Wednesday made a donation to the project.

“Well it’s just good to remember how far we’ve come,” said State Farm Agent Jerry Sitton. “It’s bad to remember what it was. It’s good to remember what we can do and going forward.”

Officials say the donation will go towards equipment maintenance and new fiber-optic cables.

City of Joplin is recognized for rebuilding after the May 22, 2011 tornado

The City of Joplin is being recognized for its work rebuilding after the May 22, 2011 tornado.

Monday Night the Olsson Engineering and Design Firm presented Joplin Public Works with the American Public Works Association Project of the Year award.

Olsson was the primary consultant for the $56.7 Million Green Area Infrastructure Revitalization project in Joplin.

David Hertzberg, Director of Public Works said, “tis project since the tornado has been one that is really rewarding in a way from the very start. its been one that you feel like you really helped somebody.”

John Olsson, Olsson Executive Vice President said, “It had something to do with the grit and resilience that was demonstrated by the community to hang together for so long to build it better than it was.”

The project focused on repairing 40 miles of streets, 20 miles of sidewalks and numerous storm water systems.

Joplin’s infrastructure recovery effort named Project of the Year

JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin’s Infrastructure Recovery Project following the 2011 tornado receives recognition as project of the year.

The engineering and design firm Olsson announced the award from the American Public Works Association at Monday night’s city council meeting. Olsson served as the primary consultant for the city’s $56-million green area infrastructure revitalization plan.

“It’s very nice to be able to be recognized for what you’ve done,” said Olsson Vice President Jack Schaller. “But this is a truly collaborative effort. This is something the contractors, the city and the consultants were all pulling the rope the same direction. (They) have the eye on the prize of trying to get this rebuilt for our citizens, for the people that live here.”

Joplin received the award for disaster or emergency construction and repair in the $25-million to $75-million category.

Red Cross/MSSU partnership proved invaluable after the tornado

JOPLIN, Mo. – Ahead of the 2011 tornado, Missouri Southern and the Red Cross formed a partnership, and it proved to be vital when disaster struck.

That partnership designated Missouri Southern as a shelter for people to use following a natural disaster. After the tornado hit, Chris Harmon with the Red Cross says officials quickly took action.

“Wait a minute we got this,” said Harmon recalling the moments after the tornado. “I pulled out of the agreement, I’m looking at the facility and Debbie is like I’m going down there. She was immediately able to open up doors and people were able to show up. That university became the focal point and the reason that response was so successful.”

The agreement between MSSU and the Red Cross has expired but officials say they’re working on another one.