Businesses Still Recovering From Midtown Tulsa Tornado

Some businesses are still rebuilding after an EF-2 tornado ripped through midtown Tulsa about seven months ago. Thankfully no one died, but there were 30 injuries, and over 200 homes and businesses had damage.

The tornado struck during the darkness of night Sunday, August 6, 2017.

"We are waking up to extensive damage from early morning storms," said News On 6 anchor Tess Maune.

"This was a very brief spin-up. It happened very quickly," said Meteorologist Stephen Nehrenz.

The shopping corridor at East 41st Street between Yale and Sheridan was hardest hit.

"It's unreal out here - the damage is extensive," Taylor Newcomb reported. 

"Right now it's pretty much a disaster area," a Tulsa Police officer said. 

The storm left nearly seven miles of damage.

Ahead Of The Storm

"I thought it was a clap of thunder, to find out it was a tree had landed on my house," one storm survivor said.
 
"The next thing I know, something just boom, hit me right in the back of my head, and we went flying."

Businesses like Panera Bread, TGI Fridays and Whataburger were hard hit.

"We were in the back, kinda going about our jobs when it sounded like a bomb went off. We looked outside and the front of the building was lying flat," a Panera Bread employee said.

"My dad is always said, 'son, it's not the storm, it's how you handle it," another survivor said.

"We are committed to bringing all the resources from the city on recovering from this and rebuilding as quickly as we can," said Mayor G.T. Bynum.

Tornado survivor: "We'll get to it eventually. We keep it positive, gotta keep it movin'."