The threat of tornadoes loomed over much of the state again today after a Saturday night tornado caused heavy damage in Sweetwater and other parts of western Oklahoma.
Much of central and western Oklahoma was under a tornado watch until 6 p.m.
Authorities are still assessing damage from Saturday night’s tornadoes, but the heaviest damage was in Sweetwater in northern Beckham County.
Sweetwater Superintendent Don Riley stared at the twisted, mangled remains of Sweetwater’s multi-purpose school building Sunday morning and thanked God the tornado hit when it did Saturday night.
“Tonight, we were planning to have a benediction ceremony for our graduates,” Riley said. “We would have had people in that building. A day later, and we would have had a real disaster.”
As matters stood, Riley and other school administrators are looking at a major loss.
Riley suspects the tornado that plowed through the school Saturday around 8:15 p.m. left “at least $2 million in damage.” State and county emergency management officials were on-site documenting the damage, which included the destruction of a bus barn, an agricultural building and the school’s 4-year-old multi-purpose building.
Ironically, the multi-purpose building was constructed after a tornado blew down the old one April 15, 2003.
“Damage from the last tornado was bad,” Riley said, as he continued to stare at the damage, “but not this bad.”
Sweetwater’s basketball gymnasium also absorbed a direct hit, knocking down the entire west wall and leaving a pile of cement bricks. Water and debris now cover what was once a polished hardwood floor.
The main school building — a brick structure built in 1931 — received roof damage on the south and north sides. Still, it might be Sweetwater’s best hope if the final seven days of classes are to be held on-site.
Another option for makeshift classrooms are the local churches, including one which had its white steeple knocked from its roof.
Monday’s classes have already been canceled.
“We’re just thankful no one was hurt,” said Floyd Pickering, Sweetwater’s school board president. “I was worried there might have been some people running around down here.”
Actually, two neighboring children stowed away inside the school and found refuge from the tornado in an underground shelter. The children — third grader Jordan Vaughn and eighth grader Amanda Vidaurri — were unharmed, Riley said.
Teachers spent the morning removing items from their classrooms.
Student coats still hung on hooks in the school hallways, darkened pathways now strewn with glass, sheet rock and various debris. Outside, a frayed American flag flapped in the wind. Beneath the flag, two shredded pieces of the Oklahoma flag dangled from the pole.
“We’re under a tornado watch as we speak,” said Billy Bankston, Beckham County’s emergency management director. “So we’re not out of the woods yet.”
In addition to damage at the school, a mobile home, two houses, numerous storage buildings and vehicles were destroyed, authorities said.
Rick Smith, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Norman, said five or six tornadoes touched down in western Oklahoma Saturday evening.
Tornadoes were reported in Beckham, Roger Mills, Ellis and Woodward Counties.
Some were still without electricity after the storm tore down power lines.
Woodward County Sheriff Matt Lehenbauer said his county took about $250,000 in damage. A home six miles south and one mile west of Sharon was destroyed. Three more homes and two barns north of Mutual were also damaged.
Ellis County reported four homes destroyed east of State Highway 283, said Michaelann Ooten, state emergency management spokeswoman. A few minor injuries were reported, but no one was seriously hurt in the storms.
Contributing: Staff Writer Micah Gamino
