The cleanup effort was underway in downtown Seminole Thursday morning, with business owners and employees salvaging what they could after a round of severe storms produced damaging tornadoes and flash floods Wednesday evening.
Legal assistant LeAnn Morgan, of the firm Mattingly & Roselius, was emptying a file cabinet into boxes by flashlight when another section of ceiling fell in the firms lobby, scattering more insulation across the already wet floor.
Cleanup crews included residents and out-of-towners alike.
Lead pastor Corey Webb of Victory Church in Shawnee brought several church members to Seminole to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for first responders.
In addition to the tornadoes that hit in Seminole, Maud and Earlsboro, towns like Muskogee in eastern Oklahoma dealt with flash flooding.
The Oklahoman will be providing updates throughout the day Thursday. Check this article often for the latest updates.
Seminole church steeple damaged in tornado
An Episcopal church was damaged when a tornado struck areas of Seminole.
The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma said St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 W Walnut, sustained damage, particularly to the steeple, roof and doors.
The Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed said trees on the church grounds also sustained major damage.
In an e-newsletter to Oklahoma Episcopalians, Reed said the power and water were out at the diocese’s St. Crispin’s Conference Center and Camp in Wewoka, but no damage to buildings or property had been reported there.
– Carla Hinton
Storms pushing through Oklahoma City metro Thursday morning
More storms were expected on Thursday and a first wave of heavy rain, hail and high winds made its way through the Oklahoma City metro.
Dime to quarter-sized hail was reported with a storm that made its way through southwest Oklahoma City just before 10 a.m.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt surveys Seminole tornado damage
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was in Seminole Thursday morning to survey the damage left by Wednesday’s tornado.
“The damage from last night’s tornadoes in Seminole is heartbreaking, but I am grateful there does not appear to be any serious injuries,” Stitt said on his Facebook page Thursday.
“Thank you to all the first responders, utility crews and everyone working to clean things up and recover. Like always, Oklahomans are already coming together to help their neighbors in their time of need.”
– Ryan Sharp
Muscogee Nation offices in Okmulgee closed due to flooding
The offices of the Muscogee Nation in Okmulgee were closed Thursday due to flooding.
Areas in eastern Oklahoma have received more than 8 inches of rain in the past week. Okmulgee County has gotten nearly six inches of rain in the past 24 hours alone.
– Ryan Sharp
