Spring ‘24

I’ve covered 6 tornadoes in 2 months starting on April 2. I’ve seen unbelievable tragedy, sadness and heartbreak. I’ve also seen resilience, faith and generosity.

Delvern Diller, left, 14, John Horst, 13, and Delbert Horst,15, of Bokoshe, Ok. volunteer to clean up a home destroyed by a tornado Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok.

Barnsdall, Ok. April 1

Kenneth Spears, right, clears storm debris off his home and garage Tuesday April 2, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok. At left is Clinton Hill, a friend of Spears.

Rick Parker stands in the ruins of his mother's garage after it was destroyed by a storm Tuesday April 2, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok.

Neighborhood kids cliimb on a downed tree to help clean up storm damage Tuesday April 2, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok.

Holdenville, Ok. April 28

Jackie Keesee works to salvage items in her husband's aunt's storm damaged home on Highway 48 south of E. 127 Rd. Sunday, April 28, 2024 in Holdenville, Ok. The resident had just moved back in after the home was damaged by a storm in September.

Brian Davis works to salvage items from his home near Highway 270 and East 132 Rd. Sunday, April 28, 2024 in Holdenville, Ok. Davis says he rode the storm out in the mobile home right where the red flannel blanket is visible in this image at lower right.

Sulphur, Ok. April 28

Barnsdall, Ok May 6

Oklahoma State Highway Patrol troopers search storm damage Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok.

Carl Kelley and Jon Reynolds search through Kelley’s mother’s home after it was damaged by a tornado Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok.

Joy King(left) and her granddaughter Crystal Maxey hug in front of King’s house that was destroyed by a tornado Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok. The two were looking for King’s cats and salvaging what items they could.

Lindsey Bradshaw looks for belongings after her R.V., at right, was destroyed by a tornado Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok. Bradshaw lost her home in the April 2024 tornado and was living in an R.V. while trying to rebuild, and this tornado destroyed her R.V.

Paden Fincher looks to salvage items from what's left of his sister’s home after a tornado hit the area Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok. Fincher said his sister, her husband and their 3 children rode the storm out in the home. He said his sister was in surgery, but said she was going to be ok.

Furniture inside a home destroyed by a tornado reflects the devastation around it Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok.

Gary Long works to salvage what items he can from his home that was destroyed by a tornado Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok.

Jack Miller, standing, prays over volunteers that showed up to help clean up his home that was destroyed by Monday night's tornado Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok. "They're a blessing," Miller said of the volunteers.

Joe Funk prepares to plant an American flag after finding it while helping his grandfather work on his home that was destroyed by a tornado Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok.

Richard Hogue searches the banks of Bird Creek while looking through debris his father Kenneth Hogue's home which blew across the creek during Monday night's tornado Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok. Hogue said "For the most part I don't except to find him," he said.

Tamara Hogue looks at a hymnal that they found while searching the banks of Bird Creek for her father-in-law Kenneth Hogue whose home blew across the creek during Monday night's tornado Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok. Family and friends helped with the search. Hogue said "For the most part I don't except to find him," he said.

An aerial view of storm damage Thursday, May 9, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok. If you look to the horizon the path of the tornado is visible.

Oklahoma State Highway Patrol troopers searcch Bird Creek by boat for Kenneth Wayne Hogue who has been missing since a tornado hit the area Thursday, May 9, 2024 in Barnsdall, Ok.

The new normal in Barnsdall. I’ve been making weekly trips up to the town to look at the progress. It’s amazing how fast they are cleaning up. See the last photo in the gallery below to see the progress.

Claremore and Pryor, Ok. May 25th

'Four out of 6 survived it when it should have been zero' near Pryor - Larry and Edward Lee spent Sunday morning picking through the fragments that remained of a trailer home where their sister and her daughter-in-law were killed just before midnight. (Story by Andrea Eger & Kevin Canfield)