Officials Asking Residents to Report Storm Damage

Sequoyah County residents continue to clean up damage sustained by tornadoes that hit the area last Friday night.

The National Weather Service confirmed that two tornadoes, and EF-1 near Webbers Falls and an EF-2 near Blackgum and Lake Tenkiller, did come through our area Friday night causing extensive damage.

Sequoyah County Emergency Management Director Steve Rutherford said damage reports continue to come in from across the county, from Sallisaw to Muldrow to Nicut.

“It destroyed homes, businesses and it severely damaged homes,” Rutherford said. “That storm went on up into Cherokee County. Snake Creek Marina was pretty well destroyed. 

“And the miraculous thing is that no one was injured,” he added. “That’s amazing, really, with the damage we had.”

One couple was trapped in a storm shelter at a residence, but they were rescued by firefighters and were not injured, Rutherford said.

Rutherford is compiling a damage report from the storm in order to possibly get financial assistance for residents.

“I need to collect, in written form, damage reports for everybody,” Rutherford explained. “We will collect this information and share with the Oklahoma State Emergency Management and FEMA to see if we can help them out with recovery from the incident.”

He asked residents who sustained damage to send their name, address, approximate damage amount, type of damage, as in residential, business or outbuilding/barn, and if residential, whether home is inhabitable or not. The information can be sent to sequoyahcoem@yahoo.com or visit the Sequoyah County Emergency Management Facebook page.

Rutherford said Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak and Insurance Commissioner-Elect Glen Mulready plan to tour the Blackgum and Lake Tenkiller areas Tuesday.

Pam Cloud, Managing News Director

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