State and federal emergency officials are surveying damage after an EF2 tornado hit Broken Arrow Saturday night.
Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency Director Roger Jolliff said the extent of damage within the city limits was downed power lines and felled trees.
"We're very fortunate. The impacts of the storm hit just east of us, though we did have rotating cells in Tulsa. Had to hit our sirens," Jolliff said. "We were fortunate in that the one that was the greatest threat to us did not develop out and cause damage, so very fortunate there."
Sirens across the city went off for about 15 minutes. Jolliff said they first went off while his agency was in touch with the National Weather Service about a cell with rotation near Jones Riverside Airport.
"As we got to the seven-minute point, they still had rotation. We sounded again. It was probably just a couple minutes after that, that it did cycle down, but at that point the system's engaged and you have to let it finish its cycle," Jolliff said. "But we were very aware of the threat we were dealing with, the need to get the warning out, and we stopped as soon as we could."
This storm season is a stark contrast to last year’s. A tornado that touched down in Inola Saturday night has been rated an EF1, and an EF2 tornado touched down in Sand Springs in late March, destroying a mobile home park.
"This is a year we feel like we're getting more than our share, and we are," Jolliff said. "It's a time we just all have to cope with. Very important that everyone pay attention to the weather, have a plan for you and your family to get to safety in advance of a storm. Please, take this very seriously."
No serious injuries from either of the weekend's tornadoes have been reported.
