Gov. Stitt Tours Tornado Damage, Prays With Residents In Madill, Okla.

Residents of Madill began the cleanup and rebuilding process Thursday, after a deadly tornado caused extensive damage.

Two people died in the storm, including an employee of J&I.

The J&I plant suffered extensive structural damage, as did Oklahoma Steel and Wire.

“We heard the sirens and then we heard it was touching down at J&I, and so we immediately went to the storm shelter,” Owner of Oklahoma Steel and Wire Kathleen Moore said.

Shelters throughout the large Steel and Wire plant protected dozens of employees working at the time of the tornado.

However, much of the roof of the building itself was damaged.

“This stuff can be replaced. We’ve been here since 1979 and we’ve experienced some major catastrophes. So as long as there’s no lives lost, were good,” Moore said.

Gov. Kevin Stitt toured the damage and prayed with survivors Thursday.

“We’re down here with emergency management from the state level making sure that they had everything that they needed, and we can rebuild and obviously, I just wanted to put my eyes on the damage,” Stitt said.

Smaller structures throughout Madill were damaged along with the production facilities.

According to Stitt, repairs have already begun.

“It’s my understanding that a roofing company showed up earlier and said they were going to do the 7 roofs for free to the damages to the homes. So, that’s just Oklahoma. That’s who we are,” Stitt said.