Bridge Creek Residents Continue To Survey Damage Following Tornado

Residents in Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, continue to survey and clean up damage Thursday morning after a tornado ripped through the area on Wednesday.

A large tornado formed to the east southeast of Amber, Okla. around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, producing multiple satellite tornadoes with it. There have been reports of damage with this storm, especially in the area of the H.E. Bailey spur and State Highway 9, and homes and other buildings destroyed around Bridge Creek, Blanchard, Norman and Newcastle.

5/6/2015 Related Story: Severe Storms Produce Tornadoes, Cause Damage In Central Oklahoma

News 9 spoke with Bridge Creek Fire Chief Todd Lambert Thursday morning. He said no one was seriously injured.

Lambert said the community doesn't have a loud PA system or warning system, so it was essential to spread the word early that a storm could be coming. He said it was around 2:30 p.m. that everyone started communicating about sheltering. He believes that is why there aren't any fatalities or serious injuries from Wednesday's storm.

According to Lambert, the injuries are minor: scrapes and bruises.

The fire department lost its mobile unit, a mobile home used in training. It blew away and wrapped around some other kind of structure.

Lambert said he appreciates the support from people who want to help Bridge Creek, but he is discouraging people from just coming unannounced. He said anyone wanting to help should first go through the Red Cross.

Lambert estimates that at least 1,500 to 2,000 structures were partially damaged or entirely destroyed.

Gov. Fallin will be at Bridge Creek at 10 a.m. to survey the damage. Chief Lambert will go in an OHP helicopter to survey the damage and get a more accurate count.