Two years after an EF-4 tornado tore through Barnsdall, Oklahoma, the town still feels like a work in progress. New roofs sit beside empty, scraped lots, and a few homes are still wearing blue tarps where construction crews have not yet made it. Families who returned are patching walls and rewiring rooms while others remain displaced, and local leaders say the comeback is steady but slower than many had hoped. The two-year mark has brought fresh attention back to Barnsdall, along with renewed questions about long-term funding and repairs.
EF-4 storm left a long path of damage
The National Weather Service determined that the May 6, 2024 twister produced low-end EF-4 damage as it tracked through Osage and Washington counties, leveling homes and damaging dozens more, according to the National Weather Service. The storm caused multiple fatalities and dozens of injuries and was part of a larger May outbreak that strained first-responder resources across northeast Oklahoma. That official damage assessment remains central to the state and federal recovery plans now being pursued.
Neighbors say recovery has been uneven
Local residents describe the recovery as slow and emotionally heavy. Barnsdall Mayor Johnny Kelley told FOX23 that not everyone has been able to return home and that some elderly neighbors have passed since the storm. Summer and Ricky Gomez are among those who moved back to rebuild; Summer told the station the town "looked like a war zone" after the tornado.
State funding and programs are on the table
Local officials say they are working with state and federal partners to secure grants for housing and infrastructure repairs. According to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Barnsdall is listed in the CDBG-DR action plan among communities eligible for homeowner rehabilitation, reconstruction and public-infrastructure programs, with options such as voluntary buyouts and stormwater projects to address long-term needs. Putting those plans into practice will depend on approvals, local matching funds and the timeline for federal disbursements.
Early damage still complicates life here
Beyond destroyed houses, the storm damaged key services. Early reports said parts of the Barnsdall nursing home lost its roof and residents were temporarily sheltered in Bartlesville and Pawhuska, illustrating how utility and institutional damage prolonged displacement, according to News On 6. Road closures, gas leaks and debris removal became immediate priorities, and some neighborhoods have lagged in receiving permanent repairs. That mix of structural and service needs means rebuilding is as much about pipes and roads as it is about houses.
Two years later, residents keep pushing
Community leaders point to a patchwork of volunteer rebuilding, private insurance payouts and state assistance as the current engine of recovery, but caution that full restoration could take years. When Governor Kevin Stitt toured the town in May 2024 he vowed resources for cleanup and rebuilding, a pledge that remains part of local conversations about next steps, per Public Radio Tulsa. For many in Barnsdall, the two-year anniversary is less about closure than a reminder that the work, and the asking for help, continues.
