2013 — May 31, Tornadoes, flooding, Oklahoma City region, Central OK[1] — 20
–20 AP. “Okla. Death toll rises to 20 after tornado, floods.” Miami Herald, FL. 6-5-2013.
–20 KJRH2, Tulsa. “Oklahoma tornado update: 20 confirmed dead in May 31…” 6-4-2013.
–19 AP. “Death toll reaches 19…Oklahoma tornadoes, flooding; 6 children…13 adults.” 6-4-13
–19 Reuters (O’Brien). “Oklahoma tornado was widest ever measured in U.S.–NWS.” 6-4-2013
–18 Fox News. “Death toll climbs to 18 in Oklahoma tornado outbreak.” 6-3-2013.
–14 Los Angeles Times. “Death toll from Friday’s Oklahoma tornado rises to 14.” 6-3-2013.
–14 NBC News. “As severe storm system finally passes East Coast, 17 dead left….” 6-3-2013.
–13 Fox News. “Star of Discovery’s ‘Storm Chasers’…among dead in [OK] tornado.” 6-2-2013
–13 NBC News. “Oklahoma tornado deaths include three veteran storm chasers.” 6-2-2013.
–13 Reuters. “Three storm chasers among 13 killed by Oklahoma tornadoes.” 6-2-2013.
–10 WYMT TV57, Hazard, KY. “Death toll from Oklahoma tornado rises to 10.” 6-2-2013.
June 1, Reuters: “Nine people were killed in tornadoes that swept through central Oklahoma on Friday, part of a storm system that caused widespread flooding in Oklahoma City and its suburbs, the state’s chief medical examiner said on Saturday. The dead included two children and seven adults, said Amy Elliott, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner’s office. The tornadoes struck just 11 days after a twister ranked as EF5, the most powerful ranking, tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore and killed 24 people.
“The latest storms dumped up to 8 inches of rain on the Oklahoma City area, causing flash flooding that submerged parts of the sprawling metropolitan area that is home to more than 1.3 million people. Nearly two dozen people were rescued from areas cut off by rising water, the National Weather Service said.
“More than 70 people were treated for storm-related injuries, Oklahoma hospital officials said. Severe storms also hit neighboring Missouri, where Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency on Friday, and were forecast to move into Illinois on Saturday. The devastation was caused by large, long-lasting thunderstorms known as supercells, which produce the strongest tornadoes, along with large hail.
“Forecasters believe at least five tornadoes touched down in central Oklahoma, which survey teams were trying to verify, meteorologist Rick Smith said from the National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma. “Some of these tornadoes were wrapped in rain and they were difficult to see,” Smith said.
Victims Were on the Roads
“The tornadoes hit during the Friday evening rush hour and many of those hurt or killed were on the roadways. Among the dead were a woman and her baby who were traveling on Interstate 40, just west of Oklahoma City, when their vehicle was picked up by the storm and they were sucked out of it, said Betsy Randolph, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. One tornado rampaged down the interstate, tipping over trucks and hurling hay bales, a witness said. Television images showed downed power lines, tossed cars and motorists stranded in flood water. “For reasons that are not clear to me, more people took to the roads, more than we expected. Everyone acted differently in this storm, and as a result, it created an extremely dangerous situation,” said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett….” (Reuters (Heide Brandes). “Death toll rises to nine from Oklahoma tornadoes.” 6-1-2013.)
June 2: “El Reno, Okla. (AP) — Authorities say the death toll from Friday night’s tornado in the Oklahoma City metro area has risen to 10. Spokeswoman Amy Elliott said the state medical examiner’s office received another body Saturday evening, increasing the death toll by one. Eight adults and two children died from the Friday tornado, which charged down a clogged Interstate 40 in the western suburbs of Oklahoma City.” (WYMT TV57, Hazard, KY. “Death toll from Oklahoma tornado rises to 10.” 6-2-2013.)
June 2: “Three professional “storm chasers” were among the 13 people who died in the tornadoes that ripped through the Oklahoma City area Friday, the research project they ran confirmed Sunday. Tim Samaras, 55, founder of the tornado research project, called Twistex, based in Lakewood, Colo.; his son Paul, 24; and their chase partner, Carl Young, 45, all died after they were overtaken by a multiple-vortex tornado that sharply changed direction near El Reno, Okla., The Weather Channel first reported….” (NBC News (M. Alex Johnson). “Oklahoma tornado deaths include three veteran storm chasers.” 6-2-2013.)
June 2: “Three storm chasers were among 13 people killed by tornadoes that rampaged through central Oklahoma on Friday, underscoring the high risk of tracking tornadoes and forcing the media to rethink how they cover deadly twisters….
“Five tornadoes touched down in central Oklahoma and caused flash flooding just 11 days after a twister categorized as EF5, the most powerful ranking, tore up the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore and killed 24 people. Severe storms also swept into neighboring Missouri, while Moore experienced only limited damage.
“The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Sunday raised the death toll to 13 after listing 10 fatalities earlier. The toll included four children.
“On Sunday, authorities in neighboring Missouri confirmed at least three other deaths in flooding triggered by the violent storms on Friday….” (Reuters (Trotta and Allen). “Three storm chasers among 13 killed by Oklahoma tornadoes.” 6-2-2013.)
June 3: “Ferocious storms that battered Oklahoma and Missouri, killing 17 over the weekend, lurched eastward Monday, lashing New England and the mid-Atlantic region with harsh winds and heavy rainfall before moving out to sea.
“At least 14 people — including nine adults, three of them storm chasers, and five children — were killed after five twisters attacked the Oklahoma City area Friday evening, terrorizing communities already bludgeoned by lethal storms this spring. Authorities were still searching Monday for five missing people – including three children – from areas around the Oklahoma River, according to Oklahoma City Fire Department Deputy Chief Marc Woodard.
“Hospitals in Oklahoma City reported 115 injuries, officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health said late Sunday, although that number may have increased Monday as officials began to reckon with the devastation wrought by Friday’s swarm of storms….” (NBC News (Daniel Arkin). “As severe storm system finally passes East Coast, 17 dead left in wake.” 6-3-2013.)
June 3: “The death toll climbed to 18 Monday as search crews recovered more bodies after an outbreak of tornadoes tore through the Oklahoma City area on May 31. Among the victims are six children and twelve adults, including three veteran storm chasers.” (Fox News. “Death toll climbs to 18 in Oklahoma tornado outbreak.” 6-3-2013.)
June 4: “Oklahoma City — The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office has added another person to the death toll from Friday’s tornadoes and floods, bringing the total to 19. The agency didn’t name the additional victim in its Tuesday announcement but said the victim was an adult. Storms that swept through the Oklahoma City area on Friday generated an EF5 tornado and violent flash floods. A news release from Medical Examiner’s spokeswoman Amy Elliott didn’t indicate whether the latest body was found in an area affected flooding or where tornadoes struck. She also didn’t indicate a cause of death. It was unclear from the release whether the person was among the known missing.” (Assoc. Press. “Death toll reaches 19 from Oklahoma tornadoes, flooding; 6 children and 13 adults.” 6-4-2013.)
June 4: “Luck was on the side of El Reno, Oklahoma, on Friday as the widest tornado ever measured in the U.S. took a long detour around the city, according to the National Weather Service, which released its findings on the massive twister on Tuesday. The rare EF5 tornado, 2.6 miles wide and with wind speeds reaching 295 mph, touched down southwest of El Reno at 6:03 p.m., making a semicircle for 40 minutes around the city of 17,200 people, the National Weather Service said….
“The storms and flash flooding that followed on Friday and Saturday claimed the lives of at least 19 people, including three storm chasers, according to the Oklahoma chief medical examiner.
“It followed another EF5 tornado on May 20 that flattened whole sections of the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore and killed 24 people. The weather service said it was the first time in Oklahoma history that two such powerful tornadoes struck within such a short period of time.
“The storms over most of central Oklahoma on Friday created what Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin called a “nightmare” situation of cars clogging the highways. She said some people got in their cars because they were fearful of a repeat of the devastating Moore tornado…. Fallin said some people were killed because they were sucked from cars or the cars were tossed from the road. A few people remain missing but Fallin said she was not certain of the exact number.
“The El Reno tornado reached its maximum width and intensity in a rural area, where few structures stand, southeast of El Reno, Speheger said[2]. The twister diminished 16.2 miles from where it began along Interstate 40, between El Reno and Oklahoma City, the weather service reported….
“The National Weather Service has confirmed five tornadoes touched down on Friday night in the Oklahoma City area. Speheger said the service will be confirming more twisters as meteorologists are able to document and investigate reported tornadoes.
“The medical examiner has confirmed at least two of the fatalities were drownings. Seven family members, including four children, from Guatemala perished when flood waters swept them away as they hid in a storm drain, according to Oklahoma City Deputy Fire Chief Marc Woodard. The medical examiner is yet to release the cause of death for seven of the 19 deceased.” (Reuters (Brendan O’Brien). “Oklahoma tornado was widest ever measured in U.S.–NWS.” 6-4-2013.)
June 4: “El Reno, Okla.–A child has been added to the list of those killed in Friday’s devastating tornadoes, bringing the death toll to 20, a spokeswoman with the Medical Examiner’s Office said Wednesday.
“Tuesday, the National Weather Service called the tornado that tore through El Reno the widest ever recorded. The NWS also upgraded its initial EF-3 rating to an EF-5, with winds nearly 300 miles per hour. According to the NWS, the tornado was at least 2.6 miles wide — twice the width of the EF-5 that hit Moore May 20. It traveled 16.2 miles and was on the ground for about 40 minutes….
“One of the youngest victims was identified Tuesday, according to the state medical examiner. One-year-old Rey Pol died of multiple blunt force trauma to the head when the storm passed through Oklahoma City, according to information released by Amy Elliot, chief administrative officer for the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Seven of the victims are children, 13 adults. The following have been identified:
William Rose O’Neal, 67
Timothy Samaras, 55
Carl Richard Young, 45
Richard Henderson, 35
Maria Pol Martin, 26
Rey Chicoj Pol, 1
Cory Don Johnson, 3
Dustin Heath Bridges, 32
Paul Samaras, 24
James Talbert, 65
Brandie Kay Perry, 40
Dorenia Hamilton, 79
Timothy Shrum, 21
“….Seven victims have yet to be identified.” (KJRH2, Tulsa (Jessica Remer and Tyler Dunn). “Oklahoma tornado update: 20 confirmed dead in May 31 tornadoes, child found.” 6-4-2013/)
June 5: “Oklahoma City — The Oklahoma medical examiner’s office says the death toll from tornadoes and subsequent flooding late last week has reached 20. The agency said Wednesday that the additional victim was a girl who died in Oklahoma City. It didn’t provide her name…. Nine of the 20 victims died from blunt force injuries typical from flying debris in tornadoes. The cause of death for two of the victims is listed as drowning.” (Associated Press. “Okla. Death toll rises to 20 after tornado, floods.” Miami Herald, FL. 6-5-2013.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Death toll reaches 19 from Oklahoma tornadoes, flooding; 6 children and 13 adults.” 6-4-2013. Accessed 6-4-2013 at: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/8e5d2833afed45c2b317cb8e001eb890/OK–Oklahoma-Tornado-Fatalities
Associated Press. “Okla. Death toll rises to 20 after tornado, floods.” Miami Herald, FL. 6-5-2013. Accessed 6-5-2013: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/05/3434779/okla-death-toll-rises-to-20-after.html
Fox News. “At least nine dead after deadly tornadoes hit Oklahoma City region.” 6-1-2013. At: http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2013/06/01/unstable-air-mass-prompts-tornado-watch-in-central-northeast-oklahoma/
Fox News. “Death toll climbs to 18 in Oklahoma tornado outbreak.” 6-3-2013. Accessed 6-4-2013: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/03/death-toll-climbs-to-18-in-oklahoma-tornado-outbreak/?test=latestnews
Fox News. “Star of Discovery’s ‘Storm Chasers’ show among dead in Oklahoma tornado.” 6-2-2013. Accessed 6-2-2013 at: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/02/star-discovery-storm-chasers-show-among-dead-in-oklahoma-tornado-1449817980/
KJRH2, Tulsa. “Oklahoma tornado update: 20 confirmed dead in May 31 tornadoes, child found.” 6-4-2013. Accessed 6-5-2013: http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/oklahoma-tornado-update-death-toll-stands-at-18-after-friday-storms-near-okc–6-still-missing
Los Angeles Times. “Death toll from Friday’s Oklahoma tornado rises to 14.” 6-3-2013. At: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-deadly-oklahoma-tornado-20130603,0,4984155.story
NBC News (Daniel Arkin). “As severe storm system finally passes East Coast, 17 dead left in wake.” 6-3-2013. Accessed at:
NBC News (M. Alex Johnson). “Oklahoma tornado deaths include three veteran storm chasers.” 6-2-2013. Accessed 6-2-2013: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/02/18702550-oklahoma-tornado-deaths-include-three-veteran-storm-chasers
Reuters (Heide Brandes). “Death toll rises to nine from Oklahoma tornadoes.” 6-1-2013. At: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/01/us-usa-tornadoes-idUSBRE94T10N20130601
Reuters (Brendan O’Brien). “Oklahoma tornado was widest ever measured in U.S.–NWS.” 6-4-2013. Accessed 6-4-2013 at: http://news.yahoo.com/oklahoma-tornado-widest-ever-measured-u-nws-230129152.html
Reuters (Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Allen). “Three storm chasers among 13 killed by Oklahoma tornadoes.” 6-2-2013. Accessed 6-2-2013 at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/02/us-usa-tornadoes-idUSBRE94T10N20130602
WYMT TV57, Hazard, KY. “Death toll from Oklahoma tornado rises to 10.” 6-2-2013. Accessed 6-2-2013 at: http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Death-toll-from-Oklahoma-tornado-rises-to-10-209869091.html
[1] Two of the deaths were confirmed as drownings amongst group seeking safety in a storm drain. Not in this total are three flooding deaths in Missouri.
[2] National Weather Service meteorologist.