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Oklahoma tornadoes: Piedmont boy, 3, still missing

Oklahoma tornadoes: 3-year-old Ryan Hamil, of Piedmont, has been missing since Tuesday's tornado, and a search effort continues.

BY ROBERT MEDLEY AND DAVID ZIZZO | Published: May 26, 2011

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Body of Ryan Hamil found in lake

May 26The body 3-year-old Ryan Hamil missing since a tornado...

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2011 Tornadoes

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Hank Hamil was at the intensive care area at The Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center but left before Casavantes got to speak with him, the priest said.

“It is my understanding he went back out to Piedmont to continue searching for the missing child,” Casavantes said.

Piedmont Mayor Valerie Thomerson said searchers listened overnight for any signs of a child in distress.

New search area

In a release sent to the media Wednesday night, Thomerson announced the new search area, and also said that Piedmont Emergency Management has turned over command for the search and rescue mission to the Canadian and Kingfisher County Emergency Management. She added that anyone with information should contact the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Because of the new deployment of resources, Thomerson said the city will shift its focus “to rebuilding our community.”

About a dozen homes in Falcon Lake were destroyed. The housing addition northeast of Sara and Waterloo roads.

“We have dog teams on the ground, divers, boats and vehicles looking now,” Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards said Wednesday morning.

Searchers from several other agencies were helping Piedmont police and fire departments with rescue dogs, the mayor said.

A fund was set up for contributions for disaster relief, said Eric Anderson, senior vice president of F&M Bank in Piedmont. The “Piedmont Chamber of Commerce for the Benefit of Tornado Victims” fund already had several donations, he said. The money will be dispersed to a local charity, he said, probably United Way of Canadian County.

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