Oklahoma Medical Examiner Confirms 9 Tornado Deaths

Tuesday, May 24th 2011, 4:55 pm

By: News 9

News9.com

UPDATE -- The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed at least nine people died in Tuesday's tornado outbreak.

Spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard says the office will not release the names of any of the storm victims until their family has been notified, but she did reveal the following information:

16 month old boy - Piedmont

Unidentified female – Calumet

Unidentified female – Calumet

Unidentified male - Calumet

Unidentified male - Calumet

63 year old male - Cashion

58 year old female - Cashion

24 year old female - Chickasha

22 year old male - Calumet

News 9 has learned the 16-month-old victim from Piedmont is Cole Hamil. His 3-year-old brother, Ryan, is still missing.

Also confirmed dead are Austin Hall, Hall's unidentified girlfriend, and Laron Short.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office says at least eight people have died in severe storms that moved through central Oklahoma Tuesday evening.

Spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard says that at least five people, including a young child, are dead in CanadianCounty, two are dead in Logan County and one in Grady County.

All of the counties are located in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

The community of Piedmont in Canadian County is one of the hardest-hit areas. A toddler who was swept away by a tornado in Piedmont is still missing.

Dozens of tornadoes popped up across the state Tuesday afternoon, leaving long lines of destruction across the state.

See Full Coverage Of Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak

The News 9 Weather Team began warning people Monday that the severe weather risk would be high May 24, and urged people to prepare themselves.

In just under three hours, News 9 Storm Trackers spotted twisters in Piedmont, Guthrie, Newcastle, Chickasha, Stillwater, El Reno, Hinton, Moore, Norman and Fairview.

Stay with Oklahoma's Own News 9 and News9.com for complete weather coverage. We'll keep you advised.

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