community.kjrh.com

June 8, 1974 remains as one of the worst severe weather outbreaks in our area, especially for Tulsa and Creek counties. An F4 rated tornado produced fatal results in Drumright, and several strong tornadoes occurred within the city limits of Tulsa.

In Tulsa, there was one tornado death in the Brookside area with significant damage also occuring in South Tulsa near ORU, and also near 71st and Memorial.

Shortly after the Tulsa World published a photo of a tornado crossing the Arkansas River. The picture was taken from a downtown building as the University Towers apartments are visible in the foreground.

One my long term projects is to write a paper regarding this event. Do any of you have pictures of the tornadoes or damage from the storms? 

Also you can share with us your stories and memories of the event.

Thanks, George Flickinger

I remember seeing pics of Jerry Webber out on Brookside with tornado damage in the background. I think it was in an old Tulsa tribune archive in my old school library (long ago). I remember that the National Weather Service in Norman was damaged and with them out of service, the responsibilities of the whole state went to the Tulsa NWS office.

J

I was 11 and living on the Bixby/Broken Arrow fence row (131st and Garnett area). I remember the patio glass door bending outward and making sounds like a large dog was clawing at the glass. My family of 4 people, 2 dogs and a hamster all hit the bathtub with my father pulling my mattress over us as he piled in last. Our neighborhood looked like the tornado or funnel had been flipping around, landing and rising. The spots where it did land it tore up bad. I remember that damage was widespread and it had to be many different tornados all forming near the same time. My wife's mother had damage at 31st and Sheridan, Also, 31st and 129th east ave was torn up. Was a wild evening for sure.

Thanks Lunatic. If those tornadoes touched down today, there would be much more damage.

One of the tornadoes that you mentioned which hit at 31st and 129th east earlier went near 71st and Memorial. In 1974, that area was more ranch land than home to Woodland Hills Mall and Union HS.