1974 — June 8, Tornado, esp. Creek County/13, esp. Drumright/12, Osage County/1, OK-14

–14 Environmental Data Service, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 16, No. 6, June 1974, p. 19.
–13 Creek County
–6 Drumright nursing home
–6 Drumright city
–1 Olive
— 1 Osage County about 7 miles west-southwest of Sperry, female in mobile home.

–14 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 512, 1165-1166.
–14 NWS WFO Norman, OK. “Violent Tornadoes (F4/F5) in Oklahoma (1950-2008).”

Narrative Information

EDS, NOAA Storm Data: “Drumright-Olive-Lake Keystone-Sperry-Skiatook, Payne, Creek, Pawnee and Osage Counties. 8 [June]…3:55 p.m. …55 [miles in length]…400 [width of path in yards]…14 [deaths]…150 [injured]…Tornado.

“A tornado struck the Oak Grove community about 3 miles southwest of Drumright about 3:55 p.m. damaging the school there. It hit Drumright a few minutes later doing extensive damage through the northwestern portion of the community. The tornado killed 6 in the nursing home [Creek County] and 6 more as it moved east-northeastward through the City. Several homes in the $30,000 – $100,000 category were destroyed. About 100 homes were destroyed or severely damaged.

“The tornado continued moving to the east-northeast and struck the community of Olive destroying parts of the school, 2 mobile homes and several frame homes. One death was recorded in Olive. The tornado then moved on a more northeasterly course with the next damaged area recorded at Pier 51 on Lake Keystone. The tornado continued moving northeastward destroying several mobile homes about 7 miles west-southwest of Sperry. One lady was fatally injured in one of the mobile homes. The tornado then turned more north-northeasterly with the last damage reported to several brick homes west of Skiatook.”

Grazulis: “OK JUN 8, 1974 1555 14k 150inj 400y 45m F4. PAYNE/CREEK/ PAWNEE/ OSAGE — A tornado struck Oak Grove, 3m SW of Drumright, damaging the school there. A few minutes later, it hit Drumright, doing extensive damage to the NW part of town. Six people were killed in a nursing home and six others were killed as the tornado continued ENE through the city. About 100 homes were destroyed or severely damaged. Next, it struck Olive, destroying parts of a school and two trailer homes. It leveled several frame houses, and caused one death. The tornado then turned more NE, and caused some damage on pier one at Lake Keystone, 7m WSW of Sperry. Several trailer homes were destroyed there, and a woman was killed in the destruction of one of them. The last damage was west of Skiatook, where brick homes were hit….” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 512, 1165-1166.)

Sources

Environmental Data Service, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 16, No. 6, June 1974, p. 19. Accessed 12-21-2021 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-B6C432BF-21E6-404C-A333-BA4573026FD6.pdf

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Norman, OK. “Violent Tornadoes (F4/F5) in Oklahoma (1950-2008).” 2-11-2009. At: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/tornadodata/ok/violent.php