On April 19, 2023, Pottawatomie County and Shawnee residents experienced a night of fear and concern as tornadoes ripped through their homes, schools, and businesses. The destruction was devastating, but what followed in the days and weeks after, was a testament to the strength and resilience of the community.
As people banded together to offer help and support, the phrase “Shawnee Strong” became a rallying cry for hope and unity in the face of adversity. The community came together to overcome the devastating effects of a natural disaster and continues to rebuild and thrive in the aftermath.
The tornadoes that tore through our area did not follow the normal west-to-east or southwest-to-northeast path. Those that hit Shawnee followed a northerly path, almost due north. The term used for this is a deviant tornado motion. That was Phenomenon 1 of this unforgettable night.
Phenomenon 2 of this night is defined as a Fujiwhara Effect which is two cyclonic systems spinning around each other. For a visual, think of the twin tornadoes in “Twister” where the cow is floating in the tornado. The two tornadoes are spinning around each other, sort of dancing together.
In a story published on April 20, 2023, John Overton, senior meteorologist with Fox Weather, said, “This is more common with hurricanes, but it can happen on a small scale, such as tornadoes.”
The report also stated that it is unusual to have either deviant tornado motion or cells engaging in the Fujiwhara Effect, but it is quite rare for a storm system to involve both.
Tomorrow (Friday, April 19, 2024), Shawnee will celebrate its resilience and mark the anniversary of the weather event with the United in Strength Stroll.
The stroll will begin at the Geiger Center on the Oklahoma Baptist University Campus, and participants will make their way to the YMCA and then back to OBU. It is a one-mile walk, but for those who want to walk the half-mile to the Y, transportation will be provided to return to OBU.
On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City was shaken by a horrific act of terrorism. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed by a domestic terrorist, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. The blast was so powerful that it could be felt and heard for miles around. This tragic event remains etched in our memories, even after twenty-nine years.
I was home that morning in Bethel Acres. I heard and felt what I thought was low-flying plane breaking the sound barrier. Then, news reports filled the airwaves, and news stations had 24-hour coverage as the search for survivors began.
The blast from the truck bomb was so strong that a third of the building was reduced to rubble, cars were incinerated, and more than 300 buildings were damaged or destroyed. The tragedy of the terrorist act was so much more than buildings and cars; 19 children and 149 adults lost their lives that day.
People from across the state and beyond immediately joined in to help search the rubble for survivors. As time went on, more and more individuals donated water, gloves, socks, and other necessary items that could aid the rescuers. The “Oklahoma Standard” was truly exemplified during this time and persisted long after the cameras stopped rolling.
Five years after the bombing, the Oklahoma Symbolic Memorial was dedicated and then on Feb. 19, 2001, the Memorial Museum was dedicated. According to the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum website, the entire site is to remember and honor those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever.
The website describes the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial as a place of quiet reflection; 168 empty chairs in memory of each person killed. The Memorial Museum is a state-of-the-art self-guided tour that walks visitors through the events of the day and unfolds the story of the response efforts afterward.
Although both of these incidents were devastating, Oklahomans are remarkably resilient. There is still a sense of hope in our hearts and a strong feeling of community spirit. We take pride in the Oklahoma Standard, and we are proud to say that we are Shawnee Strong!
