Barnsdall Resident Recalls Feelings As Tornado Moved Through The Town

The National Weather Service has declared the tornado that touched down in Barnsdall Monday night as an EF4.

Families have been sharing their stories of hope as the community looks ahead. As Barnsdall enters day two of the aftermath, families are cleaning up and trying to pick up the pieces. One man says his family will attempt to start fresh.

While driving around Barnsdall you might see people like Russell Mashunkashey surveying damage and trying to collect whatever is left over after the tornado.

"This was his room, I'm glad he wasn't back here," Mashunkashey said.

Russell was emotional as he described the moments the tornado passed his father's home. His dad told him his granddaughter rushed to get them inside a closet.

“She just threw him in, and she got on top of him in here. They rode it out and this is where he said he could feel the walls swelling and he said I swear the house was picked up and dropped," Mashunkashey said.

Russell says he and his family were in their storm shelter as storms passed through the area. He says as soon as it was clear he couldn't wait to hear if his dad was okay.

"He just said hey we're wiped out and I was like 'What do you mean wiped out?' He said the house is gone," Mashunkashey said.

He said once his family got into town everything was blocked off but they couldn't believe what they saw.

"It doesn't even look the same. It's just not what we grew up with. To be hit twice in a month, you just can't put it into words," Mashunkashey said.

As he walked through the home, he said he was thankful his father was okay and ensured they would rebuild.

He says he's happy to collect his father's Marine memorabilia and Native American Regalia.