Local
Tornadoes Hit SE Oklahoma

May 12, 2008, 5:59 am

HAYWOOD, Okla. (AP) Residents in the town of Haywood say a tornado that ripped through the area came without much warning.

Saturday's twister damaged about a dozen homes and businesses but caused no major injuries. There was some damage to a window factory in McAlester, but the central part of the city wasn't touched.

Haywood resident Earline Whitfield says she saw no rain or winds before the tornado touched down. Whitfield said when the storm hit the house across the road, her family rushed to her home's hallway.

Whitfield says she tried to run for a bathroom, but was paralyzed for about five seconds by strong winds blowing through the house.

Across the street, Mark Parham and his brother Randy thought they were hearing the roar of an airplane coming over the hill as they sat on the front porch.

When they saw it was a tornado chugging across the pasture, they took off running with the dogs down a hill.

Twisters also were reported in Crowder and near Clayton in Pushmataha County.

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