911 callers show range of emotions

The first tornado-related call came in at 5:37 p.m. from a man in a sport utility vehicle reporting downed power lines near SE 89 and Anderson Road. More calls poured in as a tornado zeroed in on Interstate 40 near Choctaw Road.

"It just went across Hiwassee Road heading northeast toward Choctaw,” a male caller said. "My truck just got blown off the road. Winds are kicking, trees are down. We got power lines down. No injuries that I could tell.”

Some callers phoned in on behalf of family members, such as a Yukon woman whose mother called her in terror.

"Her husband is handicapped,” the woman said. "They’ve had tornado damage. She was on the cell phone ... screaming and she said the house was falling down.”

The driver of a tractor-trailer rig called from Interstate 40 after the tornado passed over Choctaw Road. "I’ve got blood all over my shirt and my mouth is bleeding,” the man said. "Something flew through my truck window and hit me in the face. I don’t think I’m dying or anything.”

Calls flooded in from the Love’s Travel Stop that was obliterated. "I think it (the tornado) is coming back,” said one woman between sobs. "It’s so windy. It’s still really windy.”

At least one caller made a proactive attempt for help. "We’re in Newalla,” the woman said. "Do we need to take cover?”

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