May 29 – Bob Anderson says he has caused many disasters in his 38 years as a rural firefighter, including major regional tornadoes in Moore, Oologah, Catoosa and – the worst yet – Joplin, Missouri. He ranks the May 25 “double twister,” which is winding its way through Rogers County from Skiatook Lake east to the Arkansas state line, as number seven on his severity list.
The fire chief of the Tri-District Fire Department said none “has had a bigger impact for me because I know so many people.”
Tri-District volunteer firefighters, along with firefighters from Chelsea and Foyil, responded to the hardest-hit rural areas, between 4200 and 4230 county roads. Tri-District firefighters responded along with Chelsea and Foyil.
He said nearly 70 homes have been declared “uninhabitable” so far and another 40 recreational vehicles have rolled and tumbled at the Will Rogers Downs Cherokee Casino.
Eight people were freed in the casino. Volunteers, including people he didn’t know, spent nearly 40 minutes trying to free one man. He had a few scratches, Anderson said.
Anderson’s reports of destruction were confirmed by District 1 County Commissioner Dan DeLozier, as released by County Public Information Officer Diana Dickinson. In addition to damage reports in Claremore, rural residents east and northeast of the city limits were affected from State Highway 20 and as far north as East/West 420 Road to the county line and beyond.
“Volunteers were the best thing I had on Saturday night,” Anderson said. He said firefighters from Chelsea and Foyil were among those who responded early to the KOA campgrounds and to the location of a man who had been “kicked out of the house.” The Broken Arrow Fire Department sent an ambulance to us and “the guys stayed with him for over an hour,” Anderson said.
The last report Anderson had was that the man remained in the hospital.
Another example of volunteer work making a difference in the county’s emergency response is C. Rash Construction owner Zack Rash. Rash owns a business on the South Side and has put together a volunteer tree and debris removal team, some from out of state, that helped 22 families in the area Monday evening and “did it for nothing.” Anderson said.
Municipal and provincial officials held a joint press conference on Tuesday.
Dickinson said Commissioner DeLozier, whose district has suffered some of the most severe damage, reported that restoration work is already well underway, with homeowners cutting down their own fallen trees, using volunteers or hiring others to get it done.
Work crews across the county are focusing their efforts on clearing roads where trees and shoulders are blocking traffic to and from the hard-hit area, and working with utility companies dealing with downed power lines, some on the roads and others posing a hazard.
Dickinson said a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew remains in effect not only within the city limits, but also in the hard-hit areas between 4170 (Lake Road) and 4230 (Sinors) due to theft, security threats and scammers running a pose a threat to homeowners. safety and security.
In a statement from Dickinson, DeLozier said, “One of the big problems is preying on older people. They charge ten times the amount to take down a tree. Those people should run out of town.”
Dickinson, who has been working to bring Red Cross services to rural areas, said some affected residents have said there is an increased need for law enforcement presence because of the tornado. She has spoken to residents who have said they feel unsafe due to the increase in tourists and photographers, even on private property.
Rogers County sheriff’s deputies and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are expanding nightly loot patrols with frequent drive-throughs in the hardest-hit rural areas, particularly those between 4200 and 4210 roads.
While the provincial crews are working in that area, they are also paying attention.
The county is expanding tree and debris removal to residential streets in rural additions, Dickinson said. Residents are reminded not to pile debris on the roadway where it could block traffic and “certainly not on top of gas or water meters for safety reasons.”
Residents are reminded that the county is not allowed to enter private property to remove debris.
Pickup crews have begun working on 4170 Road and are moving east in the areas north of Highway 20. City Electric and Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative crews and Oklahoma Natural Gas crews will also be in the area resetting utility poles and continue efforts to restore electricity and gas services.
Involved in the emergency response discussions in Rogers County and the City of Claremore are county commissioners, city officials, Oklahoma Emergency Management, Red Cross, Cherokee Nation, Claremore Electric, Verdigris Valley, GRDA, Oklahoma Natural Gas, Pafford EMS, Rogers County Sheriff, Claremore Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Claremore Fire Department, Tulsa Police Departments Incident Management Team (provides logistics), State Senator Ally Seifried and Representative Mark Lepak, Second Congressional District.
Dickinson said commissioners held the first emergency board meeting Sunday as a result of the tornado. She said DeLozier has emphasized that his “main priority is clearing paths for safe travel for everyone as we get through this together.”
