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Devastating damage in Cole

Two fatalities confirmed by Sheriff Landy Offolter

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The EF-3 tornado that ripped through the town of Cole and seven other Oklahoma towns last Wednesday left two dead in McClain County.

The killer storm struck Cole at 7:40 p.m.

McClain County Sheriff Landy Offolter identified the two people killed as Michael Bradsher, 66, and Karen Mosmeyer, 66, both of McClain County.

The storm, with winds from  136-165 m.p.h., devastated homes and buildings in its path.

Utility crews were on site as early as last Thursday morning replacing power poles and repairing power and communication lines.

The storm was also responsible for damage in the Dibble area.

All electric power has been restored.

During the storm, power was knocked out in Purcell for 10-12 minutes but in parts of Lexington the power was off for over two ours from 8:38 to 10:48 p.m.

“Our electric companies were great,” Offolter said.

“After we finished our grid search, we moved into the security phase to keep everything secured,” Offolter said.

State Senator Jessica Garvin toured the area late Wednesday.

“It was extremely dark, but even at night I could see the scope of the devastation was shocking,” Garvin said. “I’d ask for all Oklahomans to please pray for those impacted throughout the state, especially for the families of those who were killed, those injured in the storm and those who have been displaced.”

United States Senator Markwayne Mullin and his wife, Christie, toured the area on Friday.

State Rep. Sherri Conley toured the destruction Friday as well.

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole toured the area on Monday.

A Red Cross shelter was opened at the Washington Event Center Wednesday night after the storm moved out of the area.

“It’s a situation where we live in a very blessed place and it’s neighbors helping neighbors,” Washington Superintendant Chris Reynolds said. “Sen. Jessica Garvin said Goldsby had no power and I knew we had power at the Event Center. Within about two hours we were opened up and the Red Cross was there.”

McClain County Emergency Management Director Ron Johnson organized opening the shelter.

State Highway 74B was closed until mid-day Thursday as Oklahoma Department of Transportation crews restored the roadway.

McClain County Emergency Management Director Ron Johnson reports 34 homes have been destroyed.

He said a total of 76 other homes have anywhere from major damage to some damage.

Offolter said four or five homes in the Goldsby area were damaged down to the slab.

Dozens of others were damaged.

“In the midst of the destruction, I witnessed the tireless efforts, not only by our first responders, but citizens within these communities as they immediately sprang into action to help each other,” Garvin said.

“I was struck by how, on the anniversary of the Murrah bombing, we were seeing the Oklahoma Standard in action.”

Reynolds reported the Red Cross closed its emergency response center Sunday night at the Event Center.

The National Weather Service said the supercell storm also produced tornadoes near Tinker Air Force Base, Etowah, Pink, Stella, Bethel and Shawnee.

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