Purcell tornado rated at least EF1
The tornado that struck near Purcell — a city of about 7,000 located some 40 miles south of Oklahoma City — was rated at least EF1, with wind speeds between 86 and 110 mph, said Phillip Ware, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norman.
“We’re confident we had at least two tornadoes this morning,” Ware said.
Bobby Elmore, Purcell’s chief of police and interim city manager, said much of the city lost power after the storm passed through. Metal barns were damaged, as were the roofs of some homes.
“Right now our priority is just restoring power and then dealing with debris, a little debris. But it’s not too bad,” Elmore said Thursday morning.
In McClain County, where Purcell is located, around eight or nine outbuildings were damaged along with trees and power lines, said Ron Johnson, the county’s director of emergency management. Officials also said a semitrailer traveling on Interstate 35 near Purcell was blown over in the storm.
Schools closed; students sheltered during drop-off
Two Purcell schools closed Thursday after losing power. In a letter posted on the Purcell Public Schools’ website, Superintendent Sheli McAdoo said the storm hit during the morning drop-off and thanked staffers’ “quick thinking and calm response” in ensuring that students were moved “from buses and hallways into shelters in a matter of moments.”
Shawnee damage under assessment
A second tornado near Shawnee — a city of about 32,000 located roughly 40 miles southeast of Oklahoma City — was confirmed by radar, Ware said. Survey crews were dispatched to assess the damage there.
Kaitlin Schueth, lead meteorologist with the weather service in Norman, said reports from Shawnee included damaged outbuildings and a hotel with some roof damage.
The storms also pushed wind gusts of up to 65 mph through the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, Schueth said.