KOA campground in Claremore takes direct hit from tornado
Summary
TLDRA tornado struck the Will Rogers Downs campground in Claremore, Oklahoma, during a holiday weekend, causing extensive damage. The campground, popular for its 140 spaces, was filled with campers and RVs that were tossed aside like toys. A couple from Pennsylvania, who were just passing through, narrowly escaped injury after seeking shelter in a nearby tornado shelter owned by the Cherokee Nation, where around 200 people took refuge. The tornado also impacted thoroughbred racing operations, resulting in one horse being euthanized and several others requiring veterinary care. The Cherokee Nation is working with local first responders to assist those affected and restore vital services.
Takeaways
- ðªïž A tornado struck the Will Rogers Downs campground in Claremore, Oklahoma, causing significant damage.
- ðïž The campground, popular during holiday weekends, had 140 spaces filled at the time of the tornado.
- ð An Airstream camper was picked up and tossed the length of a football field, fortunately without occupants.
- ð« A couple from Pennsylvania, passing through, had their camper severely damaged by the storm.
- ð The couple rushed to a tornado shelter owned by the Cherokee Nation, where around 200 people sought refuge.
- ð¢ Emotional scenes unfolded as people cried and prayed in the shelter, shocked by the destruction.
- ð¹ A video call revealed the extent of the damage to the couple's camper, which was flipped and beaten up.
- ð The Connors family had to rent a van to gather their belongings and continue their journey home.
- ð ïž Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Junior assured that their teams were working with first responders to assist those affected.
- ð One horse was severely injured and had to be euthanized, while others were injured and moved to Fair Meadows.
- ð Campers at the site, now without water and power, will need to move out until services are restored.
Q & A
What was the impact of the tornado on the Will Rogers Downs campground in Claremore?
-The tornado severely impacted the Will Rogers Downs campground, tossing campers and RVs aside like toys. An Airstream camper was picked up and tossed the length of a football field, landing crushed, while other campers were flipped or toppled.
How many spaces were filled at the Will Rogers Downs campground during the tornado?
-At the time of the tornado, 140 out of 790 spaces at the Will Rogers Downs campground were filled.
What did Karen Larson encounter when she met a couple who were just passing through during the storm?
-Karen Larson met a couple from Pennsylvania who were just passing through when the storm hit. Their camper was severely damaged, requiring two heavy-duty wreckers to write off the corners.
Where did the couple from Pennsylvania rush to during the tornado?
-The couple rushed to the tornado shelter at the campground owned by the Cherokee Nation, where around 200 people had crowded in for safety.
What was the emotional state of people inside the tornado shelter according to the report?
-Inside the tornado shelter, some people were crying, some were praying, and others were sitting there looking shocked.
What did the couple from Pennsylvania do after the storm to continue their journey home?
-After the storm, the couple caught an overnight flight to Tulsa and rented a van to help gather their belongings and finish their journey home.
How did the Connors family react to the damage caused to their camper?
-The Connors family expressed that they were fine but shocked by the damage. They mentioned it might be a while before they embark on another cross-country adventure.
What assistance did the Cherokee Nation offer to those affected by the tornado?
-Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Junior stated that their teams were working with Rogers County first responders, and the Cherokee Nation would be there to help those in need.
What happened to the horses at Will Rogers Downs as a result of the tornado?
-One horse was severely injured and had to be euthanized. About eight other horses were injured and required veterinary care. The remaining horses had to be transported and were moved to Fair Meadows, as the barns at Will Rogers Downs were damaged.
What is the status of the Will Rogers Downs campground in terms of utilities after the tornado?
-The campground is apparently without water and power, and those who were staying there will have to move out until these vital services can be restored.
How did the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma respond to the situation with the horses?
-The Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma coordinated the transportation of the horses, moving them to Fair Meadows for the most part, as the barns at Will Rogers Downs were damaged.
Outlines
ðªïž Tornado Devastation at Will Rogers Downs Campground
The video script describes the aftermath of a tornado that hit the Will Rogers Downs campground in Claremore, Oklahoma, during a holiday weekend. The campground, usually bustling with 140 spaces filled, was severely impacted. Campers and RVs were tossed aside, with one Airstream camper being thrown the length of a football field and crushed upon landing. Fortunately, no one was inside at the time. Karen Larson, a 2 News anchor, met a couple from Pennsylvania who were just passing through and were caught in the storm. They rushed to a tornado shelter owned by the Cherokee Nation, where around 200 people had crowded in for safety. The damage was extensive, with RVs flipped and toppled. The couple from Pennsylvania, the Connors, had to rent a van to gather their belongings and continue their journey home after the storm. Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Junior assures that their teams are working with Rogers County first responders to help those affected. The campground is left without water and power, requiring the occupants to move out until services can be restored.
Mindmap
Keywords
ð¡Tornado
ð¡Campground
ð¡Airstream Camper
ð¡Tornado Shelter
ð¡Cherokee Nation
ð¡RV (Recreational Vehicle)
ð¡First Responders
ð¡Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma
ð¡Euthanasia
ð¡Veterinarian
ð¡Fair Meadows
Highlights
Tornado hits Will Rogers Downs campground in Claremore, Oklahoma, causing severe damage.
Campground popular during holiday weekends with 140 spaces filled.
Airstream camper picked up and tossed the length of a football field, crushed upon landing.
Campers from Pennsylvania met during the storm, their vehicle heavily damaged.
200 people sought shelter in a tornado shelter owned by the Cherokee Nation.
Emotional aftermath with people crying and praying in the shelter.
RVs at the campground were flipped, toppled, or severely damaged.
Campers from California report being fine but their camper severely damaged.
Matt Junior caught an overnight flight to Tulsa to help gather belongings.
The Connors family may delay future cross-country adventures due to the incident.
Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Junior assures support for those affected.
140 campsites were filled at the time of the tornado, many without water or power.
Campers will have to move out until vital services are restored.
One horse severely injured and euthanized, others injured and under veterinary care.
Dozens of horses had to be transported to Fair Meadows due to damaged barns.
Oklahoma racing systems cooperate to move and care for the horses.
Transcripts
I'M NAOMI KEITT. 2 NEWS,
OKLAHOMA.
>> THANK YOU, NAOMI. NOW THE
TORNADO SLAMMED INTO CAMPERS
AND RV'S THAT THE KAO A
CAMPGROUND AT WILL ROGERS
DOWNS IN CLAREMORE TOSSING
THEM ASIDE LIKE TOYS. THE
CAMPGROUND IS A POPULAR PLACE
ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. 140
SPACES FILLED 2 NEWS ANCHOR
KAREN LARSON MET A COUPLE THAT
WAS JUST PASSING THROUGH WHEN
THE STORM CARROLL.
>> SHARING, I'VE GOT TO SHOW
YOU THIS. THIS RIGHT BEHIND ME
IS AN AIRSTREAM CAMPER THAT
WAS PICKEDUP AND TOSSED THE
LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD. IT
WAS CRUSHED WHEN IT LANDED.
FORTUNATELY, THERE WEREN'T ANY
PEOPLE INSIDE. THEY WERE IN
THE SHELTER BUT PARK RIGHT
NEXT TO IT. AGAIN, A FOOTBALL
FIELD AWAY WAS A CAMPER DRIVEN
BY A COUPLE FROM PENNSYLVANIA
THAT I MET THIS AFTERNOON. IT
TOOK 2 HEAVY-DUTY WRECKERS TO
WRITE THE CONNERS MADDEN AND
AHEAD, STOPPING CLAMOR ON
THEIR WAY HOME TO
PENNSYLVANIA. THEY JUST GONE
TO BED WHEN THE STORM HIT HER
PULLED ONE OFF AND TOOK OFF
WITH A FLASHLIGHT. THEY RUSHED
TO THE TORNADO SHELTER AT THE
CAMPGROUND OWNED BY THE
CHEROKEE NATION WHERE SOME 200
PEOPLE CROWDED IN. THEY HAD
ALREADY SHUT THE DOORS.
>> LET US SOME PEOPLE ARE
CRYING. SOME PEOPLE PRAYING.
WERE JUST SITTING THERE
LOOKING SHOCKED WHEN THEY CAME
OUT.
>> THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THE
DAMAGE RV'S UP AND FLIPPED
UPSIDE DOWN OR TOPPLED LIKE
DOMINOES. THEY CALLED US AND
THEY HAD JUST VISITED IN
CALIFORNIA. HE SAID AS A
WHATSAPP IS THAT EVERYTHING IS
GOOD. WE'RE GOOD. BUT THE
CAMPERS NOT HE TURNED THE
CAMERA AROUND AND IT WAS ON
ITS SIDE AND BEAT UP.
>> CONTINUE TO PAN AROUND. AND
IT'S JUST KIND OF INCREDIBLE
YEAR IN THE SAME MATT JUNIOR
CAUGHT AN OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO
TULSA AND RENTED A VAN TO HELP
GATHER THEIR BELONGINGS AND
FINISHED THEIR JOURNEY HOME.
>> THE CONNORS TOLD ME IT MAY
BE A WHILE BEFORE THEY DRIVE
OFF ON A CROSS-COUNTRY
ADVENTURE AGAIN, GREG, OUR
STUFF OUT AND GO HOME AND
GIRL.
>> WILL BY NO ONE FOR A WHILE.
THAT'S FOR SURE. WE WILL SHELL
SHOCKED RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, I
THINK FLORIDA THAT YOU ARE YOU
SUPPOSED TO BE. SO
>> DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT HERE
AND WE'RE FINE. THEY'RE READY
TO LEAVE OKLAHOMA BEHIND AND
HEAD HOME TO THEIR FAMILY.
>> CHEROKEE NATION CHIEF CHUCK
HOSKIN JUNIOR SAYS THAT THEIR
TEAMS ARE CORDONING WITH
ROGERS COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS
AND THAT THE CHEROKEE NATION
WILL BE HERE TO HELP THOSE IN
NEED. NOW, AGAIN, 140 AT THE
CAMPSITE, 790 WERE FILLED AT
THE TIME. SHARON AND
APPARENTLY WITHOUT WATER
POWER. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO MOVE OUT UNTIL THOSE VITAL
SERVICES CAN BE RESTORED.
WELL, KAREN, I KNOW THE RACING
SEASON JUST ENDED. EVERYBODY
WANTS TO KNOW WHAT ABOUT THE
HORSES?
>> WELL, I CONTACTED THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
THOROUGHBRED RACING
ASSOCIATION OF OKLAHOMA AND
SHE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ONE
HORSE THAT WAS SEVERELY
INJURED AND HAD TO BE
EUTHANIZED ABOUT 8 OTHER
HORSES THEY BELIEVE WERE
INJURED AND HAD TO BE IN THE
CARE OF A VETERINARIAN. NOW
THE OTHER DOZENS OF HORSES HAD
TO BE TRANSPORTED. THEY ALL
HAVE BEEN MOVED TO FAIR
MEADOWS FOR THE MOST PART
BECAUSE THOSE BARNS WERE
DAMAGED. SO AGAIN, THE RACING
SYSTEMS HERE IN OKLAHOMA
COOPERATING TOGETHER. THE
HORSES HAVE BEEN MOVED.
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