This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
On April 22, 2020, a devastating tornado tore through Marshall County, Oklahoma, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
The tornado, which struck around 5 p.m., targeted two factories: J & I Manufacturing, which produces truck beds and bodies, and Oklahoma Steel & Wire.
According to Robert Chaney, the county's emergency management director, the tornado's force was so intense that it 'balled up' several cars, with one vehicle even ending up in a tree.
Tragically, one person was found dead on the side of a road, just a quarter mile from J & I Manufacturing. The authorities were still working to determine the extent of the injuries.
Despite the pandemic, both factories were open on the day of the tornado, and most businesses in the county were operating normally.
As Mr. Chaney noted, 'Everybody is taking the basic precautions that we can. But basically everybody is working.'
