FOX23 is tracking recovery efforts after severe weather passed through Green Country and the FOX23 viewing area late Monday night, May 6, into Tuesday morning, May 7.
If FOX23 is live with Severe Weather Coverage, you watch it by clicking HERE.
5/14/2024 — The family ofWayne Hogue and the Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to FOX23 the body found Saturday in Bird Creek is Hogue. Hogue was reported missing after a tornado hit Barnsdall.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (ODEM) provided a situation update to the severe storms that started in late April, including the storms that went through Osage and Washington County.
Disaster assistance is available for several counties, including Osage County.
Individuals and business owners can apply for disaster assistance by 1-800-621-FEMA or by going to www.disasterassistance.gov.
The Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed 2 people died in Barnsdall because of the storms.
In their update, ODEM also listed resources available for people in northern Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is hosting a multi-agency resource center in Barnsdall on Saturday, bringing together public agencies and nonprofits to offer people a “one-stop shop” for assistance and recovery resources and information.
It will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Barnsdall Elementary, 401 South 10th Street.
The American Red Cross Shelter for Barnsdall residents displaced by the storms has moved to B the Light Church at 219 Virginia Avenue in Bartlesville. Meals will be available while the shelter is open.
American Red Cross will have caseworkers available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 15 at the Osage County District 1 Barn, 506 South 5th Street, Barnsdall.
The Salvation Army is supporting a responders’ canteen in Barnsdall with food and drinks.
If you want to volunteer in Barnsdall, you are asked to check in each morning at Barnsdall Elementary School, 401 North 10th Street.
Residents impacted by the storm can pick up donated items at Lighthouse Family Worship Center, 13749 OK-11, and Barnsdall Assembly of God, 120 North 3rd Street, in Barnsdall.
In Bartlesville, volunteers are asked to check in with Samaritan’s Purse at First Wesleyan Church at 1776 Silver Lake Road.
Mercy Chefs will be providing hot meals in Barnsdall through lunch on Wednesday at Lighthouse Family Worship Center at 13749 OK-11, Barnsdall.
The Osage County Health Department will have a Community Health available from 12 to 3 p.m. in the health department van by the Community Center, 616 West Main Street, Barnsdall.
Several chainsaw teams are working in Osage and Washington counties to help clear downed trees from resident’s property. People can make requests for a chainsaw crew and or mud-out/flood recovery by calling 1-844-690-9198 or visiting okdisasterhelp.org.
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is providing replacement SNAP Benefits to households affected by the storms. If your household was affected by the storms and you lost food due to power outages, you might be eligible to request replacement benefits. Replacement benefit requests must be submitted by May 28, 2024.
The Oklahoma Insurance Department can help residents with issues they may have with their insurance claims. People can call them at 800-522-0071. People can also find more information about preparing for storms and reviewing their insurance coverage at oid.ok.gov/get-ready.
ODEM is asking residents impacted by the storms to report damages to their property at damage.ok.gov. Reporting damage helps officials better coordinate response and recovery efforts.
5/13/2024 —A community meeting was held Monday evening in Barnsdall to update the community following the tornado that hit the city.
Community meeting held to update Barnsdall community on tornado recovery
5/12/2024 — Barnsdall Public Schools said they will not be in session for the rest of the school year.
According to the Superintendent, they are working as a district to figure out the details and will have more information Monday.
5/11/2024 — The Osage County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said the body of a deceased male was recovered from Bird Creek Saturday afternoon.
OCSO said they believe it is the body of Wayne Hogue, a man who went missing from the Barnsdall area after atornado hit Barnsdall.
TheOklahoma Department of Emergency Management also released a situation update on Saturday.
5/9/2024 | 8:08 p.m. — The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management provided asituation update following Monday's storms.
- Governor Stitt announced on Thursdayannounced that FEMA Assistance for Pontotoc and Osage counties has been approved.
Stitt released the following statement:
"I am pleased to announce Osage and Pontotoc counties have been added to Oklahoma's Federal Disaster Declaration to aid homeowners, renters, and business owners impacted by recent tornadoes and severe storms.
Our number one priority going into tornado season is the safety of Oklahomans. I'm grateful to our partners in the news media, the National Weather Service, and relevant state agencies who play a huge role in awareness and preparedness for these types of storms.
I've surveyed the damage in Sulphur, Marietta, and Barnsdall, and I've seen what our communities are facing. But the Oklahoma Spirit is unbreakable. We should all be inspired by the outpouring of support from other states, neighbors, and fellow Oklahomans who are coming together to pick up the pieces.
I'm thankful to my colleagues in the Oklahoma Legislature for pledging to allocate the necessary funds to help our communities rebuild and recover. We know that when businesses, homes, and centers of commerce are wiped out, it takes a real toll on the local economy. We remain ready to uplift affected communities in any way we can.
FEMA assistance is now available for Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, Okmulgee, Osage, and Pontotoc counties. FEMA continues to greenlight requests for assistance expeditiously and additional counties are likely to be submitted for FEMA assistance as damage assessments are completed. At this time, FEMA has completed 170 home inspections, and 147 inspections have been scheduled.
Preliminary damage assessments have been completed for homes and businesses in Carter, Hughes, Love, Murray, Okmulgee, Okfuskee, Osage, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, and Wash*ta counties. Damage assessments in Kay and Lincoln counties are scheduled for May 9 and May 10, respectively.
Efforts to restore critical infrastructure such as power lines are still underway. State and local authorities are collaborating with PSO, OG&E, and electric co-ops to expedite access to affected areas. Governor Stitt's emergency declaration lifts regulations for oversized vehicles and suspends size and weight restrictions for emergency relief and power restoration operations.
Donations of any kind are appreciated. However, individual donations of clothing or supplies delivered directly to small, rural communities can present challenges related to storage capacity. Whereas reputable charitable organizations have a more defined infrastructure to disperse aid. The state requests any monetary and tangible donations be directed to voluntary organizations that always come to the aid of Oklahomans, such as the Oklahoma Red Cross, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief, or the Salvation Army."
ODEM said damages are still being assessed and more counties maybe be added later.
- ODEM said donations of water, food, clothes, and othercommodities are no longer needed.
- Do not send unsolicited donations of used water, clothing, or other miscellaneous items, which must be sorted, warehoused, transported and distributed. This requires more efforts and staffing to manage those resources and takes away from recovery efforts.
- According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH),79 injuries have been reported by area hospitals as a result of the May 6 storms.
OSDH said these injuries include 44 falls, six transportation-related injuries, eight struck by or against injuries, 9 cut/pierce injuries, one burn, three poisoning, and eight others.
More than 3,400 outages were reported across the state as of 5 p.m. Most of the outages from severe weather on Monday were in Washington County. On Thursday, outages due to thunderstorms were mostly in southeast Oklahoma.
- Two American Red Cross Shelters are open.
Osage County Fairgrounds, 320 Skyline Drive, Pawhuska
Crossway First Baptist Church, 2108 W. Broadway Avenue, Sulphur
- Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) scheduledmultiagency resource centers, which bring together public agencies and nonprofits to offer people a “one-stop shop” for assistance and recovery resources and information.
A multiagency resource center is scheduled in Sulphur on Friday, May 10 from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Faith Center Church,2630 West Broadway Avenue.
A multiagency resource center is scheduled in Ardmore on Wednesday, May 15 from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. atArdmore Heritage Hall, 220 West Broadway Street.
A multiagency resource center is scheduled in Marietta on Thursday, May 16 from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. at theLove County Fairgrounds.
5/8/2024 | 7:40 p.m. -The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management provided a situation update following Monday's storms. ODEM said there have been five storm-related deaths since April 25.
There have been 36 injuries reported by area hospitals as a result of Monday's storms. Those injuries include 19 falls, six transportation-related injuries, six struck by or against, one cut/pierce, 1 burn and three poisonings. Oklahoma State Department of Health has totaled 296 storm-related injuries in April.
The state submitted a request for FEMA Assistance for Pontotoc and Osage County. Damage assessments are still ongoing and additional counties may be added at a later date.
Donations of water, food, clothes, and other commodities are no longer needed in Sulphur, Holdenville, or Marietta.
ODEM said to not send unsolicited donations of water, clothing, or other miscellaneous items, which must be sorted, warehoused, transported and distributed. This requires more efforts and staffing to manage those resources and takes away from recovery efforts.
The following is a list of northeastern Oklahoma assistance available.
- American Red Cross is providing a canteen for approximately 400 responders in Barnsdall.
- The Salvation Army is supporting a responders’ canteen in Barnsdall and Bartlesville with drinks, snacks and meals.
- Mercy Chefs is providing hot meals in Barnsdall at Lighthouse Family Worship Center at 13749 OK-11 in Barnsdall.
- Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (OBDR) chainsaw teams are working in Osage, Washington and Kingfisher counties to help clear downed trees from resident’s property. OBDR is also providing a mass feeding team in Bartlesville. Requests for a chainsaw crew and/or mud-out/flood recovery can be made by calling 1-844-690-9198 or by clicking here.
- Volunteers can check in at Lighthouse Family Worship Center at 13749 OK-11 in Barnsdall.
- Oklahoma Department of Human Services is assisting residents in accessing Replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at the Barnsdall Public Schools Field House at 200 S. 8th Street in Barnsdall.
- Osage County Health Department is providing tetanus shots at the Barnsdall Public Schools Field House at 200 S. 8th Street in Barnsdall.
- Osage Nation Health Services has a medical van available for first aid for residents and volunteers in Barnsdall.
More than 3,400 outages were reported across the state as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday with the most reported outages in Washington and Osage County.
9:30 p.m. - The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management provided a situation update following Monday's storms. Ten injuries have been reported by area hospitals including six falls, two-transportation related and two poisonings.
Okmulgee County has been added to the major disaster declaration for Oklahomans who sustained damage from severe weather.
More than 5,100 outages were reported across the state as of 9:30 p.m. The counties with the most outages were Washington, Osage and Craig.
4:59 p.m. -Governor Kevin Stitt travelled to Barnsdall, Oklahoma on Tuesday after a deadly EF-4 tornado devastated the community Monday night into Tuesday morning.
4:30 p.m. - The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado that hit Barnsdall was an EF4 after they found "low-end EF4 damage". They are continuing to survey the damage along the track so the rating remains preliminary.
12:25 p.m.– The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety held another press conference at noon on Tuesday as they continued the search for a missing people in Barnsdall.
MayorJohnny Kelley said the city is still closed as they utilize dogs and drones in their search. He also said there is no set date or time when the city will reopen.
Kelley said they were originally searching for two people, but located one. One person is still missing.
They are asking anyone wanting to help in the clean up and recovery of the city to wait until Wednesday so as not to disturb the search. For those who would like to help, a Command Post is set up at the Barnsdall City Fire Department where helpers can check in.
The mayor also said the largest employer in Barnsdall, the refinery, was hit pretty significantly. The refinery is closed for the foreseeable future while the city recovers.
"I've lived here my whole life...It's a devastating blow," Kelley said at the conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Right now, the city has a shelter in place order, but Kelley said there are recovery workers on the street who residents can request to be shuttled out of town to nearby shelters.
5/7/2024 | 11:30 a.m.–The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety held a press conference in Barnsdall Tuesday morning after a violent tornado swept through the town.
Mayor Johnny Kelley of Barnsdall updated the media on the town's response.
"We have had significant damage to a large portion of the town," Mayor Kelley said. "We did have one fatality so far."
Mayor Kelley said after an initial search for missing people was ended to wait for daylight, a secondary search is being planned with the Tulsa Fire Department.
"They're fixing to start the secondary search and go through and try to find an individual or two that's unaccounted for," Mayor Kelley said.
The mayor said once the search is complete, cleanup will commence.
On top of search and rescue, the mayor said public infrastructure took a hit.
"We have a very severe problem with the electrical infrastructure," Mayor Kelley said. "We do need people to shelter in place because there are electric lines down."
Mayor Kelley said the devastation is personal to Barnsdall residents.
"This is a small community," he said. "I know 75 to 80 percent of the people in this town. The individual we lost, I knew him very well. It's pretty tough."
Trooper Preston Cox with OHP said state troopers are assisting in any way they can.
"OHP's main focus is to set up a unified command system and to assist all the local resources here that are needing that," Cox said.
FOX23 will update this story with information from the second news conference.
As FOX23 tracks severe weather across Green Country, this story will be updated over time.
1:41 a.m. - There is a Tornado Warning in Cherokee County until 2:15 a.m.
1:21 a.m. - There are no Tornado Warnings in Green Country at this time.
1:03 a.m. - A Tornado Warning is still in effect for Muskogee County. Okmulgee County is in the clear.
1:00 a.m. - At 1 a.m., the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (ODEM) provided a situation update.
ODEM said the following damage has been reported:
Washington County/Bartlesville Emergency Management is reporting damages to structures, including the Hampton Inn and the Medical Park. Five injuries have been reported.
The Osage County Emergency Management is reporting tornado damage in Barnsdall area.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is reporting 30 to 40 homes damaged in the Barnsdall area. A natural gas leak is also reported.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health said a nursing home was damaged and patients are being evacuated. No nursing home patients have injuries requiring hospital care.
The Regional Medical Response System is coordinating the evacuation and providing assistance with medical needs.
ODEM also said a natural gas leak was reported in Barnsdall and some roads are closed due to debris in the road.
According to ODEM, an American Red Cross shelter is open in Osage County.
The shelter is at the Osage County Fairgrounds at 320 Skyline Drive Pawhuska.
ODEM also said at 12:30 a.m., the Oklahoma Corporation Commission reported 45,227 outages statewide.
Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden also provided an update.
Virden said the death was not at a nursing home, it was on the outskirts of town. He also said a shelter is opening in Pawhuska at the Women’s Building at the Fairgrounds.
12:46 a.m. - A Tornado Warning has been issued for Muskogee and Okmulgee County until 1:30 a.m.
12:43 a.m. - Tulsa County has now been cleared from the Tornado Watch. Tulsa is in the all clear for storms this evening.
12:40 a.m. - Bartlesville Fire Marshal said they are responding to fire alarms because of power and gas lines so they are cutting them out. In Barnsdall, OHP told FOX23 there is lots of search and rescue going on. A trooper said they have been in Barnsdall for hours and said Highway 11 and Highway 123 are blocked off for safety reasons. Downed power lines, gas leaks and debris are making roadways dangerous. Only emergency and first responders are able to get through. Volunteers are out giving water and coffee to as many people who are stuck on the side of the road waiting to go help family and friends. They sent a school bus to look for people in a neighborhood that reportedly sustained significant amounts of damage.
12:30 a.m. - One person is dead following the severe weather in Barnsdall, according to the Osage County Sheriff's Office.
12:25 a.m. - Only Okmulgee County has a Tornado Warning at this time. It ends at 1 a.m.
12:09 a.m. - A Tornado Warning has been issued for Creek and Okmulgee County until 1 a.m.
12 a.m. - Bartlesville Police are reporting injuries, but an exact number isn't available at this time. Police said there are no fatalities at this point. They said the Hampton Inn got hit and the steeple of the Highland Park Baptist Church was knocked over.
11:30 p.m. – Looking at PSO and OGE Outage Maps, there are around 8,192 customers affected by power outages in the FOX23 viewing area.
11:30 p.m. - Highway 11 in Barnsdall is blocked due to gas leaks and downed power lines, according Oklahoma Highway Patrol. OHP is also saying that other roads in the area are blocked due to debris. For a link to the FOX23 traffic page, click HERE.
11:23 p.m. - A Tornado Warning has been issued for Creek and Okfuskee County until midnight.
11:15 p.m. - The National Weather Service said the threat of significant severe weather continues along and near the I-44 corridor. All modes of severe weather, plus an increasing flash flood threat, remain possible into early Tuesday morning.
11:05 p.m. - A Tornado Watch has been issued for Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner County until 1 a.m.
11 p.m. - Some storm damage pictures from Barnsdall were sent to FOX23. This is the second tornado to hit Barnsdall within a month.
Barnsdall Tornado Damage
10:47 p.m. - According to the Washington County Undersheriff, the east side of Bartlesville is without power. They are also reported damage in the southwest and south of downtown Bartlesville with trees and possible home damage also being reported. The Undersheriff said the tornado skipped and then hit the east side of Bartlesville. They are also reporting trees and home damage near Highway 75 north of the Walmart in Bartlesville.
10:41 p.m. - Washington County Emergency Management is reporting that Highway 75 is blocked in both directions north of Frank Phillips and south of Tuxedo due to debris.
10:40 p.m. - FOX23 Reporter and Anchor Rick Maranon is in Barnsdall and is reporting immense damage and debris in Barnsdall including trees and even a roof in the road. Rick is also reporting the smell of gas in the neighborhood he is in.
10:30 p.m. - A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Ottawa, Rogers and Wagoner County until 11:15 p.m.
10:19 p.m. - The Tornado Warning for Washington County has been canceled.
10:10 p.m. - A Tornado Warning has been issued in Washington County until 10:45 p.m.
10:03 p.m. - FOX23 Storm Tracker Brandon Hubbard is in Barnsdall and reporting numerous damaged structures.
9:56 p.m. - At 9:56 p.m. a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located 4 miles south of Bartlesville Municipal Airport, moving northeast at 50 MPH.
9:50 p.m. -At 9:46 p.m., a confirmed large and destructive tornado was located 4 miles northeast of Barnsdall, moving northeast at 50 MPH. Washington County Emergency Management said there was a confirmed tornado at Onion Prairie Road and Highway 123.
9:41 p.m. - A Tornado Warning has been issued for Osage and Washington County until 10:15 p.m. A confirmed large and destructive tornado was located over Barnsdall and moving nothheast at 35 MPH.
9:32 p.m. - As of 9:30 p.m., a major tornado is approaching Barnsdall.
9:22 p.m. - As of 9:21 p.m. a confirmed tornado was in southeast Osage County. Debris is being lofted into the radar signal east of Hominy and moving toward Barnsdall and eventually Bartlesville.
9:20 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Creek, Osage, Pawnee and Tulsa County until 10:15 p.m.
9:19 p.m. - The Tornado Warning has expired for Pawnee County. The Tornado Warning is still in effect for Osage County until 9:45 p.m.
9 p.m. - A Tornado Warning has been issued for Osage and Pawnee County until 9:45 p.m.
8:56 p.m. - A Tornado Warning has been issued for Chautauqua County until 9:30 p.m.
8:39 p.m. - A Tornado Warning has been issued for Osage County until 9:15 p.m.
8:25 p.m. - A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Pawnee and Osage County until 9:15 p.m. The National Weather Service in Tulsa said the severe thunderstorm includes 70 MPH wind gusts and half-dollar size hail. They also said hail damage to vehicles, considerable tree damage and wind damage is expected.
8:23 p.m. - FOX23 Chief Meteorologist James Aydelott shared the following weather update on Facebook.
8:22 p.m. - A Tornado Watch has been issued for Nowata, Okmulgee, Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington County until 11 p.m.
8:12 p.m. -FOX23 Certified Meteorologist Mike Grogan shared the following weather update on Facebook.
7:57 p.m. - A FOX23 Storm Tracker shared the following photo taken in Covington.
7:28 p.m. - Wagoner County Emergency Management said the Wagoner County Emergency Operations Center is activated.
7:24 p.m. - Rogers County Emergency Management said the storm siren located in the West Side School district has been struck by lightning. It is currently out of service. Rogers County Emergency Management said to never rely on an outdoor warning as your primary source and to always have a plan.
7 p.m. - A Tornado Watch is in effect for Creek, Okfuskee, Osage and Pawnee County until 11 p.m. The U.S. National Weather Service in Tulsa said that the Tornado Watch is of the Particularly Dangerous Situation variety. A Flood Watch is in effect for Osage, Washington, Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Pawnee, Tulsa, Rogers, Mayes, Delaware, Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee and Wagoner County until 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
