Lone Grove Residents Remember Tornado, 1 Year Later

By Charles Bassett, NEWS 9

LONE GROVE, Oklahoma -- The people of Lone Grove are remembering the tragedy that struck their town one year ago, leaving behind a path of destruction and death.

Eight people were killed and more than 140 homes leveled. Despite what happened they're doing remarkably well and moving on with their lives.

Complete Coverage: February 10th Tornado Outbreak

An empty lot at the Old Bar-K mobile home park is where Ginger Byrne's trailer once stood.

"It was like a war zone," said Byrne. "Debris everywhere, only a few trailers halfway standing, and mine just completely gone."

Byrne waited until the last few minutes to get to a shelter after being persuaded by relatives.

"I just grabbed up my two little dogs and grabbed my purse and we left," Byrne said.

All of the homes nearby were destroyed and a neighbor was killed.

Lone Grove firefighters were ready for a meeting when the storm hit.

"The EOC director called me February 10, 2009 and said we had bad weather," said the Lone Grove Fire Chief Billy Christian. "I thought he was crazy."

Within seconds, they knew it was bad.

"The tornado came within a few hundred feet of the fire department, so I told our guys to get out trucks and go west because I knew we were going to have to help them out and by 7:30 p.m. we were in search and rescue mode," Christian said.

One year later the town has rebounded and the majority of residents who left are back. Some even moving back to the mobile home park that saw the most damage. It now has a new name and still bears some of the scars of what happened.

But the one memory that still hurts is that of the eight people who lost their lives.

"I think the emotional aspect with the loss of friends and the loss of family for the families has been tough," said Lone Grove City Manager Marianne Elfert. "I can't begin to estimate how long that healing process will take."

For those who did survive, they say they have a new respect for nature and their faith.

"God has just helped me to get through it day by day because without Him, I don't think I could have handled it," Byrne said.

Four months after the tornado Bryne moved into a new mobile home on the same lot as the old one.

A memorial service to honor the victims of the February 10 tornado will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Lone Grove High School gymnasium in Lone Grove.