Monday, May 3rd 1999 started out like any other spring day in Oklahoma. I went to work that morning and it was cloudy and muggy. The morning news did mention a possibility of the chance for Severe Weather but nothing that was alarming. The day went on and work came to an end. I went home and took a nap and awoke to a warm, muggy spring afternoon that would end up being the powder keg for one of the most destructive days in Oklahoma history.
I remember watching the TV as the first Tornado Warnings popped up down near Lawton. The TV cut ins started becoming more numerous as the storm worked its way up the HE Bailey Turnpike. By the time it got to Chickasha all three major network stations were going wall to wall extolling the benefits of being below ground for this earth churning monster. At one point the venerable Gary England made that Haunting Statement. “If you are not below ground you will not survive”. Chilling words but truthful none the less.
This tornado, a mile and half wide at some points during its life cycle, was stripping tree bark off of trees. It was removing homes from their foundation and turning them into match sticks. It was sucking babies out of the hands of their frantic parents and placing them ever so gently in a thicket of trees… unharmed albeit a little muddy.
It was amazing the path of destruction that this violent symphony of Mother Nature left as it leisurely strolled through southwest Oklahoma City, Moore, Del City and lastly Midwest City. It would be an event that would tax the metro area emergency resources once again as April 19th 1995 had done. Emergency Medical Services, Fire Departments and Police Departments would recall off duty personnel and pull extra equipment out of mothballs to assist in the recovery effort. Once again President Clinton would make a visit to the Sooner state to console and promise the full resources of the Federal Government. Oklahoma would also revive the dormant “Oklahoma Standard” as neighbor would help neighbor. Often requests for assistance would be answered tenfold. These requests would often be met with so much response that it would overwhelm the requesting party.
Monday May 3rd, 1999 was a day that reaffirms my faith that humanity is good and caring. It made me thankful that we have some of the best weather minds in the world located here. It made me happy to call myself an Okie!
We remember all of those who lost their lives and we pray for their families as they remember them on the 13th anniversary of a normal Oklahoma day that went Horribly wrong.
God Bless them and Keep them and God Bless their Families.
Be Safe folks.
