Why It’s Important for Oklahomans to Document Tornado Damage

Over two dozen tornadoes struck Oklahoma over the course of one night. Several supercells formed destructive and deadly tornadoes across the Sooner State. Oklahomans have been taking to social media to document the damage and beginnings of healing.

Sulphur, Oklahoma took several direct hits.

One town in Oklahoma was struck with three, possibly four, tornadoes on April 27. Sulphur, Oklahoma, took several direct hits. Its downtown was flattened and several residents lost their homes.

The National Weather Service in Norman released its preliminary results on Sunday, stating that Sulphur and Marietta were both hit with at least an EF3 tornado. Stillwater and Newkirk were damaged by at least an EF0. Data from all the storms on Saturday is still being gathered.

Early severe weather predications can save lives.

People who are not from Oklahoma often believe that meteorologists in Oklahoma overhype severe storms in the state. But after Saturday's outbreak, it shows that without the persistence, many more lives could've been lost.

The National Weather Service and local meteorologists started indicating that Saturday, April 27 was going to have the possibility of severe weather about a week in advance. But it wasn't until the days leading up that they started indicating the possibility for strong tornadoes. With the weather always constantly changing, people sometimes accuse meteorologists being "the boy who cried wolf" when severe weather doesn't happen when they say it's going to happen.

via GIPHY

Predicting the weather is just like trying to predict the future - nearly impossible. But there are signs in the forecast that can point to severe weather, especially during the springtime in Oklahoma. There are several ingredients that the atmosphere can produce that makes it prime for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Where and if they strike is nearly impossible to predict.

But Oklahomans know that if a chance for strong tornadoes is high, they shouldn't take it lightly. And this is mostly because a majority of Oklahomans have had to live the reality of having their lives swept up by a tornado.

READ MORE: The Top 10 Deadliest Tornadoes In Oklahoma History

After the storms dissipated in Oklahoma, several national news reports flooded social media reporting on the tornado strikes in the Sooner State. The New York Times posted a story Sunday morning about the storms in Oklahoma and the casualties caused.

And in true internet fashion, people had a lot to say in the comments. Most had empathy for Oklahoma, while others made it a political issue. Some commenters even stated that people "dramatize tornado season."

Social media offers a first-hand account of the impact of tornadoes.

These types of comments are exactly why social media is important. It allows Oklahomans to show first-hand accounts of the devastation caused by tornadoes.

Various news organizations are in Oklahoma this week reporting on the damage from the tornadoes and interview locals about their experience.

@fox4newsdallasfortworth #Tornadoes left a trail of damage in #oklahoma ♬ original sound - Fox4News

But most Oklahomans are giving first-hand accounts of the damage, whether it impacted their own home, a family member's house or their hometown as a whole. Social media is giving Oklahomans the opportunity to show the world the devastation tornadoes cause.

One TikToker, @craigdunn3, is from Sulphur, Oklahoma, is using their TikTok account to show his family's recovery from the tornadoes that struck the town. They have an elderly family member whose house was destroyed - the roof was ripped from the home, spun around and placed back on the home. One TikTok shows them searching for the family member who was still in bed in their destroyed home.

@craigdunn3 #Tornado #LostEverything#ForYourPage #FYP#Sulphur #SulphurOklahoma ♬ original sound - Silver Fox

Most of the other videos Oklahomans are posting on social media document the damage around their home and town that was leftover from the tornado. One TikToker showed a piece of sheet metal that split a tree in their front yard. They said that it looks like the tree is growing around the sheet metal.

@gilly_one5 Tornado damages. A piece of sheet metal spears a tree! Never underestinate the power of a tornado. #oklahoma #tornado ♬ original sound - GillyOne5

Even if an Oklahoman isn't impacted directly by severe weather, they will watch the wall-to-wall coverage during a severe weather outbreak and look out for their loved ones. People will call or text family and friends that are in the line of the storm just to make sure they're taking cover.

@ovenobliteratorShe's safe now. I can't believe I caught this on camera. I'm normally someone who goes to look when there's bad weather, but I knew the one in Norman was heading that way so I decided to watch.

♬ original sound - Kels

And after the storms move on and the damage is done, Oklahomans are always there to offer their fellow Okies a helping hand. An Oklahoman hadn't had dry shoes since the tornado struck their home on Saturday, and was thankful just to receive dry shoes.

@craigdunn3 #Tornado #Twister #Homeless #Destroyed #FYP #ForYourPage ♬ original sound - Silver Fox

After the storm, social media shows the heart and soul of Oklahoma.

So for those who say "tornado season is dramatized," just take a look at the newsfeed of those in Oklahoma. You'll see pictures and videos of homes ripped apart, hometown buildings flattened and stories of deaths. But you'll also see how Oklahomans are preparing to help clean up another town, take donations for those affected and offer monetary assistance.

Hopefully these first-hand accounts of Oklahoma's most recent tornado tragedy will help others understand that tornadoes are not dramatic, but are deadly and physically uproot lives - they are not something to take lightly.

@theheroindaddi the only home ive ever felt totally secure in. completely gone. #tornado #sulphuroklahoma ♬ original sound - Claire Boyer