Tulsa cleans up; dodges storm that could have been worse

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett says his community fared well during a tornado because the region was prepared to respond well before the twister struck.

A tornado raked north Tulsa and suburban communities Wednesday evening, injuring seven. Live video of the storm showed it threatening a number of communities, but at times the funnel lifted from the ground.

Bartlett told television station KOKI that as soon as emergency workers knew the storm’s path, they mobilized quickly to treat the injured and comfort those who suffered property damage.

The region had been warned about possible severe weather for nearly a week. Bartlett said area crews organized their response several hours before the twister hit.

National Weather Service teams were assessing how to rate the storm on a scale of tornado damage.