Cole, Oklahoma – A town of about 600 people – is currently facing a disastrous situation. On Wednesday evening, at least eight tornadoes touched down in the state, leaving three people dead and widespread damage in parts of Oklahoma (KOCO). Severe storms, with large hail and damaging winds, were predicted, and the town of Cole was hit hard (NBC News). According to Fox Weather, Cole had significant damage as storms and reported tornadoes struck the area. This tornado was “large and extremely dangerous” and expected to leave behind a trail of heavy damage, as reported by WPSD Local 6.
The tornado that hit Cole formed a “debris ball” and left a trail of devastation in its path, as reported by The Daily Beast. The tornado moved rapidly, and a dozen people and three dogs crammed inside a small storm shelter to ride it out (KFOR). A husband and wife lost everything in the tornado that moved through McClain County town of Cole, and damage was reported across the town, according to News on 6.
Currently, crews are working towards assessing and fixing the damage caused by the tornadoes in Oklahoma (The Oklahoman). While thankfully it has been prevented from claiming more lives, the situation is not yet resolved. More severe storms are threatening a considerable number of people, ranging from Texas to Wisconsin, as reported by CNN.
As the residents of Cole pick up the pieces and start rebuilding, it is worth remembering that natural disasters such as tornadoes can strike anytime, anywhere. It is commendable that the first responders and other teams quickly mobilized and have been working tirelessly to mitigate the damage caused by the tornadoes.
