Tornado Outbreak in OK

Pretty early for a tornado outbreak, but my relatives in the greater Oklahoma City area are ducking tonight:

Reporters on the ground near Northwest Expressway just east of Rockwell are reporting significant damage and debris in the wake of tornadic activity. Power lines are down and trees and electric poles are broken or overturned. Insulation, roof tiles, metal siding, littered the ground. Dumpsters are overturned and fences are down.

At least one wall of the Chuck E Cheese’s pizza on Northwest Expressway collapsed. Employees at the restaurant took customers in bathrooms when they heard sirens. One employee said he saw the tornado drop down near the Target across the street, before he ran back inside.

Employees who surveyed the damage after the danger passed said they were amazed at how much damage had occurred in such a short time.

Employees and customers at El Chico on the Northwest Expressway took shelter in a walk-in cooler while the first storm raged outside.

“I heard a lot of rain and we put everyone in the walk-in freezer,” said employee Alejandro Vasquez. “A couple of seconds and it just wiped everything out. I could see it from the back window. I’m glad my truck is OK. I put it awning next door.

At 3:40 p.m. the sirens had sounded again, and people in the area were taking shelter for a second time. Police on loudspeakers told those who could leave the area to do so because another tornado was headed that way.

Near the Oak Tree Country Club in Edmond witnesses said there was significant damage near the 18th hole, including homes, trees and other structures. At least one trailer in the area was destroyed, according to witness reports.

I've been watching the live reports coming into the Daily Oklahoman and so far it sounds like Bethany is ok (where much of the family is), but Edmund is getting hit pretty hard. If I'm not mistaken I ate at a restaurant near Northwest Expressway and Rockwell the last time I was in town.

My uncle was a member at Oak Tree back in the 80's - nice area full of expensive homes. However, tornadoes don't care how much money you have.

Could be a long night back there.

UPDATE: Fifteen dead in Lone Grove, OK (near the Texas border).

UPDATE 2 - I saw this note on the Edmund storm:

In northwest Oklahoma City, the twister apparently developed near Wiley Post Airport and headed northeast, damaging shopping centers, restaurants and an apartment complex. Signs were stripped, and cars were damaged.

Wiley Post airport is in Bethany, just a mile or so north of the center of town, the Nazarene college, and the homes of a number of my relatives. A near miss.