Cleanup underway in Idabel after devastating tornado

IDABEL, Okla. — In Idabel people are cleaning up after a tornado swept through the area.

McCurtain County Emergency Manager Cody McDaniel said the tornado killed at least one person and injured 7 others.

One dead, others hurt after tornado hits Idabel, authorities say

McDaniel said the damage was shocking.

“I’m from Idabel, most of us are. Some of places I grew up seeing are uhh… it’s bad. It’s pretty shocking,” McDaniel said.

The tornado destroyed homes and businesses, snapped thousands of trees and ripped down power lines.

Idabel Police Chief John Martin said the tornado destroyed at least 63 homes and damaged 110 homes.

He said multiple agencies are now involved with the cleanup.

“We have multiple agencies involved in coming in, searching, checking for injured, trying to clear debris from the roadways,” Martin said.

The tornado also destroyed Idabel’s Kiamichi Medical Center and completely leveled Trinity Baptist Church’s worship center, along with their newly constructed facility next to it.

Senior Pastor Don Myer said the congregation was planning a final vote on plans to finish out their new worship center, but then the tornado struck.

“Seems like the church is kind of a ground zero scene. What you see behind me is the sanctuary that we met in. Except for our gym, all of our facilities are gone,” said Myer.

1 of 28

Storm damage in Idabel, Okla. Wagoner County Emergency Management helped with rescue efforts on Friday after a round of severe storms passed through McCurtain County.