James Coburn
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — INSIDE: Read more about first responders’ memories of the tornado and how schools have enhanced communication in the past year on page 5A.
Nature’s Feb. 10 tornado that slammed though Edmond one year ago today spared human life but left a dire warning — Be prepared. The nightmare of tornadic winds did not discriminate between areas of Edmond as it slammed into the city about 3 p.m.
Two hundred sixteen properties in Edmond city limits received minor to severe damage from the F2 tornado, said Matt Stillwell, Emergency Management director. Eight properties had major damage while six others were destroyed by wind speeds approaching 135 mph, he said. Thirty-eight homes in east Oak Tree were heavily damaged, and 16 homes on the west side of North Kelly, according to reports.
Neither the City of Edmond nor the Federal Emergency Management Agency has tracked how much devastation the tornado cost the community in insurance dollars, Stillwell said.
“I’m confident it was well into the millions,” he said.
Families wearily assessed damage to their $1 million homes in the Oak Tree addition and in additions in Logan County just north of Edmond. Other neighborhoods damaged included Homestead, Oak Tree Park, Sorghum Mill Estates and Coffee Creek.
Today, only a couple of empty lots in Oak Tree bear testament to the twisted metal and debris that left six grand properties in ruin.
“It gives us pause to be hopeful and helpful to our neighbors,” said Saundra Naifeh, former mayor.
Residents immediately began sharing food, water, utensils and other daily necessities with those neighbors with property loss, said Naifeh, whose Oak Tree property was spared damage.
“We have a group of young people in Oak Tree that do community service,” Naifeh said. “Several projects were re-established with the yards and areas that were affected along the common area and the individual homes.”
Most of the homes have been rebuilt or repaired with a few homes still needing minor work to complete, Naifeh said.
“The grounds look different. Many trees were uprooted so there are new trees that were replanted,” she said.
All of the chain-length fencing was destroyed or had to be replaced on the perimeter of Oak Tree, Naifeh said. Residents opted to pay a portion of the insurance claim because the fencing was replaced with wrought iron and columns, Naifeh said.
“People always help. I don’t sense any kind of sadness — maybe disruption,” Naifeh said. “I think people think in the grand scheme of things that we are blessed.”
Oak Tree resident Stacy Hector said one of her two cats remains traumatized after being sucked out of a wall.
Donny and Stacy Hector decided not to rebuild their home on Heritage Boulevard that the tornado destroyed. The couple purchased a nearby Oak Tree property on Oak View Road.
“I’m not saying it has been a picnic. We had great memories in that house and now we’re making new great memories in this house,” Hector said.
The Hectors and their two sons were not at home when the tornado ravaged through Oak Tree. Stacy was at her Southwestern Stationery & Bank Supply office and Donny was at MidFirst Bank where he serves as vice president.
“The bank lent us its corporate apartment for two weeks. So we were able to catch our breath and figure out where to live,” she said.
Their new home was totally furnished with new artwork installed by the end of March. They both only missed one day of work while reorganizing their lives, Hector said.
Hector recalled a power outage caused by the tornado had left Oak Trees’ electric gates shut for homeowners. Donny and Stacy had to each separately climb through Oak Tree’s borderline fence at a different location before meeting at their property.
“I didn’t have time to cry. It was just so bizarre,” Hector said.
Some residents had more difficulty in finding permanent solutions to their housing needs, she said.
“I think everybody scrambled to find a place in Oak Tree,” Hector said. Some people leased property, relocating elsewhere, she added.
Her husband had purchased a thorough homeowners insurance in the event disaster would strike. Hector said the tornado is a reminder for families to learn the extent their insurance policies will cover in the event of catastrophic damage. A thorough inventory of valuable items at home is of major importance, she said.
“I don’t know if everybody came out good in that situation,” she said.
Hector is thankful that the City of Edmond and her Oak Tree neighbors pulled together to care for their own within minutes of the tornado.
“It’s just phenomenal. Everybody was just immediately in action,” Hector said. “You just couldn’t ask for better people.”
jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114
