Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Tornado Timeline Reveals How Actively Preparing for Storms Can Save Lives

Jon Erdman
Published: March 27,2015



 

We have updated this piece based on survey results from the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A tornado and destructive straight-line winds tore through the western Tulsa, Oklahoma, suburb of Sand Springs on March 25, 2015. There was damage across the community, including a mobile home park. At least one person was killed.
Meteorologists warn you to prepare when severe weather is in the forecast. Jennifer Patterson, the executive director of a gymnastics academy in Sand Springs, likely saved lives this week because she did just that.
Before we explain how Patterson's steps in the hours before the storm were so vital, first, it's important to understand the timing of the threat.

Ample Warning

A tornado watch was not issued, due to the expected dominant threats of large hail and damaging straight-line winds. But NOAA's Storm Prediction Center did note in its severe thunderstorm watch issued at 2:15 p.m. CDT "a tornado or two (was) possible," and, "Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes."
By 3:30 p.m. CDT, the NWS office in Tulsa issued its first northeast Oklahoma severe thunderstorm warnings of the afternoon for a cluster of cells which had flared up west-southwest of Tulsa.
The first tornado warning was issued by NWS-Tulsa at 5:13 p.m CDT, including Sand Springs. The warning polygon's southeasternmost edge touched Interstate 244 near downtown Tulsa.

Just 12 minutes later, a tornado first touched down in Osage County over Keystone Lake, according to an NWS-Tulsa damage survey conducted Thursday.
At approximately 5:34 p.m. CDT, the tornado struck the River Oaks Estates Mobile Home Park west of Sand Springs, roughly 21 minutes after the first tornado warning was issued for the area.
The tornado, rated EF2 with estimated peak winds up to 135 mph, was on the ground for 9 miles and only 13 minutes, according to the damage survey.

The destruction at the River Oaks Mobile Home Park in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, following a March 25, 2015 tornado.
(Trish Ragsdale/The Weather Channel)

Severe Weather Awareness Likely Saved Lives

Patterson, the executive director of the Aim High Academy near Sand Springs, says she knew bad weather was a possibility. In an interview on AMHQ Thursday morning, she said she was aware of the overall threat and had been "monitoring it as the day went on."
Around 3:00 p.m., a full two and a half hours before the storm hit, she went over severe weather procedures with her staff.
When the tornado warning went up, an NWS Wireless Emergency Alert arrived on Patterson's phone. She said tornado sirens sounded almost at the exact same time. Patterson then directed her staff to assemble and move kids to the basement.
After 10 minutes in the basement, Aim High's gymnasium roof collapsed. The NWS-Tulsa damage survey concluded straight-line winds estimated around 100 mph collapsed the north-facing wall of the gym inward, leading to the roof collapse.

Aim High Academy added 2 new photos.

Recreation Center · 2,093 Likes

· March 26 at 3:19am · Edited ·

Click here to support "A Start To Rebuild Aim High". Let's rebuild Aim High together.
http://www.gofundme.com/qacdeg

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Of the 60-75 people in the building, not a single person was injured, according to the Tulsa World. (A GoFundMe campaign has been opened to help rebuild the academy.)
It's impossible to speculate what would have happened if it wasn't for the actions of Ms. Patterson and her staff. However, a general awareness of the severe threat, a rehearsal of procedures, and quick action upon timely National Weather Service warnings are the steps that could one day save your life.

Downtown Tulsa Dodges a Bullet

The parent supercell that spawned the Sand Springs tornado lost its strongest circulation as it moved into downtown Tulsa and the east side of the city.

Instead, a burst of high winds blasted through the city, accompanied by hail up to softball size, which blew out car windows and a glass door at the National Weather Service forecast office.

What if that supercell had continued to spawn a tornado?
According to an NWS-Tulsa tweet, the tornado warning issued at 5:45 p.m. CDT included just under 581,000 in the metro area, including Broken Arrow and Catoosa.

While the tornado and straight-line winds were destructive and did claim at least one life, a mix of excellent NWS warning products, awareness and quick action by the public, and some timely good fortune regarding the supercell's later weakening rotation spared the Tulsa metro area an even greater disaster.

MORE: Tulsa Metro Tornado Photos (Mar. 25, 2015)