May 3, 1999 F5 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado. May 20, 2013 Moore EF5. May 31, 2013 El Reno EF3 — the widest tornado ever recorded at 2.6 miles. OKC sits in the heart of Tornado Alley, and every spring brings the risk again. Our IICRC-certified crews respond to every major tornado event in the metro.
Here's what to do — and what not to do — in the next 5 minutes. The window between the loss starting and significant structural damage is short.
Tornado damage in the OKC metro produces five distinct restoration scenarios. Each requires different protocols and documentation.
EF3-EF5 direct hits leave little to restore — most structures in the path are total losses requiring complete tear-down and rebuild. Our role is to secure the site, document contents and structure for the insurance settlement, and coordinate temporary housing through your Additional Living Expense coverage.
Most tornado-event damage to OKC homes comes from the periphery rather than direct hits — straight-line winds at the edge of the supercell, EF0-EF1 winds adjacent to the main vortex. Damage includes roof partial loss, siding damage, broken windows, garage door failure (#1 entry point for wind-driven rain).
Tornado-producing supercells deliver intense rainfall along with the wind. Damaged building envelope (broken windows, lifted shingles, failed flashing) admits driving rain. Damage often extends into multiple rooms even when exterior damage looks limited.
Tornado-launched debris produces puncture damage to roofs, siding, windows, garage doors. Even EF0-rated winds at the periphery can carry roof shingles, fence boards, and tree limbs as projectiles. Damage is concentrated at impact points but admits substantial water through penetrations.
Tornado outbreaks bring down trees and power lines across wide areas. Trees on roofs require coordinated structural assessment, tree removal, and roof restoration. Downed power lines remain energized — never approach.
Our IICRC-certified OKC crew arrives with structural drying equipment, full PPE, emergency tarp materials, structural assessment training, moisture meters, contents pack-out supplies. In the first 60 minutes after access is permitted: structural assessment, containment perimeter, emergency tarp/board-up to stop further damage, water extraction, photographic documentation room-by-room, contents triage, ALE coordination.
Over 24-48 hours: continued extraction and structural drying, demolition of all unsalvageable materials, contents pack-out to climate-controlled storage, antimicrobial pre-treatment, NWS-tornado-event claim documentation, coordination with the carrier's catastrophe team. Reconstruction is typically a 6-18 month scope for moderate-to-severe damage. Our role bridges from initial chaos to the rebuild contractor.
We bill your insurance carrier directly so your out-of-pocket cost is typically just your deductible. We work with every major Oklahoma carrier including Shelter Insurance and Oklahoma Farm Bureau — and high-net-worth specialty carriers for custom-home losses.
Same-hour dispatch to all of these OKC-area cities. Our crews are local — we know the neighborhoods, the storm-shelter culture, the construction patterns, and the carriers.
Yes. Standard homeowners covers wind/tornado damage including resulting water damage. Oklahoma is a tornado-prone state, and Oklahoma carriers carry significant catastrophe reserves for this exact scenario. We bill the carrier directly under all major OK carriers (State Farm, USAA, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Travelers, Progressive, Nationwide, Shelter, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Auto-Owners) plus high-net-worth specialty.
Pre-positioned crews dispatch as soon as roads are accessible and the National Weather Service issues the all-clear. For major outbreaks (Moore 2013-scale), demand far exceeds metro restoration capacity for 4-8 weeks. We prioritize active emergencies.
Don't re-enter severely damaged structures. Compromised buildings collapse without warning. Wait for our crew to bring structural assessment and proper equipment. We retrieve possessions safely once the structure is cleared.
Periphery wind/water damage: 4-12 weeks mitigation plus 3-6 months reconstruction. Substantial structural damage: 12-26 weeks plus 12-24 months reconstruction. EF4-EF5 direct hits: tear-down and rebuild on a 12-36 month timeline.
Most policies include ALE for the time the home is uninhabitable. We coordinate with your adjuster on temporary housing approvals — hotel, short-term rental, or extended-stay options based on family size and reconstruction timeline.
Same-hour IICRC-certified crew dispatch. Direct insurance billing. Free on-site assessment.