Community preparedness — Oklahoma
Tornado alley's core. Oklahoma averages more EF-4 and EF-5 tornadoes than any state. OSU Extension in all 77 counties. The NWS Storm Prediction Center in Norman. 25+ ham radio clubs. SKYWARN spotters who treat storm chasing as a civic duty. Oklahoma takes tornadoes personally.
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77
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3
NWS forecast offices
25+
Amateur radio clubs
3+
Community colleges
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Oklahoma sits at the heart of tornado alley. The state averages about 55 tornadoes per year and leads the nation in violent tornado records — EF-4 and EF-5 events. But Oklahoma also faces ice storms, drought, wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat. OSU Extension in all 77 counties and a SKYWARN network that is among the world's most experienced anchor community preparedness.
Oklahoma State University Extension serves all 77 counties through local offices. Langston University also operates 1890 Extension programs. Programming spans agriculture (wheat, cattle, cotton, pecans), horticulture, food safety, nutrition, 4-H, and community development. Oklahoma's agricultural economy depends on extension.
The Master Gardener program trains volunteers for Oklahoma's challenging climate — hot summers, cold winters, drought, and unpredictable severe weather. Extension runs food preservation workshops, drought management, tornado preparedness, and farm disaster recovery programs. After every major tornado outbreak, extension helps agricultural producers navigate USDA disaster programs.
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinates the state's all-hazards emergency program through county EM offices. Oklahoma OEM is among the most tornado-experienced emergency management agencies in the country, with protocols refined by decades of EF-4 and EF-5 responses.
CERT programs are active across Oklahoma. Oklahoma County, Cleveland County (Moore/Norman), Tulsa County, Comanche County (Lawton), Canadian County, and others run established programs. After Moore was struck by EF-5 tornadoes in both 1999 and 2013, Cleveland County CERT became one of the most active in the state. Training is free.
American Red Cross chapters serve all of Oklahoma through chapters in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lawton, and other cities. First aid, CPR, AED, and water safety classes are offered year-round. Oklahoma Red Cross is experienced with tornado-specific shelter operations, including protocols for multi-county tornado outbreaks.
During the May 20, 2013 EF-5 tornado that struck Moore — hitting Plaza Towers Elementary School and killing 24 people — Red Cross deployed extensively across Moore and surrounding communities. Oklahoma Red Cross maintains constant tornado-season readiness. Volunteer entry points include shelter operations, disaster assessment, and feeding.
Oklahoma has over 25 amateur radio clubs in the ARRL Oklahoma Section. Oklahoma ARES is among the most active in the country, providing real-time storm reports and emergency communications during multiple tornado events every spring season. Ham operators in Oklahoma treat SKYWARN spotting as a serious civic responsibility.
Getting licensed costs $15 for the exam and about $35 for a basic handheld radio. Study at hamstudy.org. Clubs in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Lawton, Enid, and throughout the state host exams regularly.
Three NWS offices serve Oklahoma: Norman (central and southern OK — home of the NWS Storm Prediction Center and the NSSL), Tulsa (northeastern OK), and Amarillo TX (the panhandle). NWS Norman is the world center of tornado research and meteorology, and its SKYWARN training program is among the best in the country.
Oklahoma averages about 55 tornadoes per year and holds records for the most violent tornadoes. The state also faces ice storms, drought, wildfire, flooding, extreme heat, and dust storms. Oklahoma SKYWARN spotters are the most experienced in the country — some have been spotting for 30+ years. Training is free.
Oklahoma has over 200 public library locations overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. Metropolitan Library System (Oklahoma City metro), Tulsa City-County Library, and Pioneer Library System run extensive programming. Many Oklahoma libraries serve as tornado shelter locations for communities without other suitable safe rooms.
Oklahoma has community colleges including Oklahoma City Community College, Tulsa Community College, Rose State College, and a tribal college system serving Native communities. They offer EMT certification, fire science, welding, diesel technology, and agricultural trades.
Why this matters
On May 20, 2013, an EF-5 tornado with winds exceeding 210 mph struck the city of Moore, Oklahoma — a suburb of Oklahoma City that had also been struck by an EF-5 tornado in 1999. The 2013 tornado was nearly 1.3 miles wide. It hit Plaza Towers Elementary School, killing 7 children who sheltered in hallways. Across the city, 24 people died and thousands of structures were destroyed.
NWS Norman had issued a tornado emergency — the highest level of tornado warning — with significant lead time. Most Moore residents knew what to do because they'd lived through 1999. Parents rushed to schools. Families took cover in interior rooms and bathtubs. Neighbors with storm shelters opened them to anyone nearby. Moore's culture of tornado preparedness saved hundreds of lives that day.
The response was immediate. CERT volunteers assisted with search operations within the hour. Ham radio operators provided emergency communications. Red Cross opened shelters. Extension agents helped agricultural producers assess damage. Volunteers from across Oklahoma and neighboring states poured into Moore within hours of the tornado.
Moore rebuilt — again — and invested in safe rooms and shelter infrastructure throughout the city. The organizations on this page are why Oklahoma's response to any tornado is faster and better than it would be without them. In the heart of tornado alley, preparation isn't a choice.
The foundation
Community resilience begins with a household that can take care of itself. Cover the first 72 hours, then extend outward to your street, your neighborhood, your town.
Start with the first 72 hours