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Oklahoma Residents Rally to Assist Each Other After Tornado

Tahlequah businesses have stepped up to gather donations for those displaced from the tornado. There has been no report of injuries from the tornado, despite some residents' being unable to make it to their storm cellars in time.

(TNS) — Lake Region Electric Cooperative crews were out Thursday in Peggs to replace broken poles, as right-of-way crews cleared debris and downed trees for better access to work zones.

While LREC teams have been in Peggs all week restoring power, Peggs residents were restoring one another.

Tornado victim Brandon Hill said he worked on his property first, then went to the Peggs Community Church to help out.

"We have been working on our house the past couple of days and we just came out here today to help try to get thing ready so we can have church on Sunday," said Hill.

Community members in Peggs have been out day and night since the May 20 tornado to make sure roofs were covered, water was available, and residents were safe.

Cherokee County Emergency Management Director Mike Underwood said he has never seen a town come together so selflessly the way Peggs has.

Freddie Ferrell, consultant at Insurance Professionals of Oklahoma, was in Peggs Tuesday to make sure his clients were OK. He said he has one customer who might not be able to return home for four to six months.

"Their house is about 300 yards behind the general store and they have 9 inches of water in there," said Ferrell.

Peggs Community Church Pastor Rex Hendrickson said the Muskogee Baptist Association helped dig out uprooted trees and got the parking lot cleared out so church services can resume.

"We're trying to pick up the pieces," Hendrickson said.

Cherokee County District 1 Commissioner Doug Hubbard was in Peggs around 11:30 p.m. Monday, and he worked all night with the first stages of cleanup. So far, he has not had to call in state resources to assist.

Peggs Fire-Rescue handed out cases of water donated by Cherokee Nation on Wednesday.

Tahlequah businesses have stepped up to gather donations for those displaced from the tornado. Start, the internet cafe, was accepting canned foods, hygiene products and emergency assistance supplies.

There has been no report of injuries from the tornado, despite some residents' being unable to make it to their storm cellars in time.

On Wednesday evening, violent storms hit Northeastern Oklahoma for the third time in a week, and Peggs was issued another tornado warning.

Peggs Water Co. issued a precautionary boil order for 48 hours. Water service has been restored, but the Department of Environmental Quality requires the water to be tested.

As of Thursday afternoon, LREC reported it was down to 74 meters in Peggs without power. Friday evening is when crews estimate they'll have the majority of remaining meters without power back in service.

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