Tulsa hadn’t had a tornado in the month of August in decades, and the storm which broke that streak formed and spawned a twister so quickly even the National Weather Service didn’t have time to issue a warning.
Later assessed as an EF-2 storm, it injured about two dozen people and damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, businesses and vehicles.
Luckily, the tornado touched ground after 1:00 a.m., when only a few businesses remained open in what is one of Tulsa’s busiest commercial areas.
Still, seven people had to be rescued from the T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant near 41st and Yale.
KRMG’s Russell Mills spent hours looking over the damage after the sun rose, below is a video he streamed live as many Tulsans got their first look at the devastation.