'We're all hurting': Holdenville mourning losses, rallying around survivors

HOLDENVILLE, Okla. (KOKH) — The Holdenville community is coming together in the face of tragedy.

The Holdenville Smoke Shop is collecting monetary donations for the two families who lost loved ones during Saturday's severe weather.

Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service indicate an EF-3 tornado tore through the area.

Sharon Smith manages the smoke shop. She told FOX 25, "We're all hurting, you know... but we need to come together to support these families because they're hurting even more than we are."

A GoFundMe page outlined the tragic death of a four-month-old girl in Holdenville. Friends say the storm tossed the Skeen family's home 200 yards with the four of them inside.

Crews recovered the child's body approximately one mile away from the area, according to FOX Weather.

The outlet also reported that Jimmy Johnson lost his life protecting his niece and nephew.

Smith noted, "The town of Holdenville's like a family. You know, we argue, we fuss, we fight, but we love and nurture."

The store started accepting the donations on Monday and will split anything given evenly between the families.

"I have faith that our Holdenville family's going to come together and... help these two families," Smith added.

Multiple agencies continue efforts to provide resources like water, nonperishable food, shovels, and tarps to those in need.

Members of the public can drop off donations of those items to the Riverside Autoplex at U.S. 270 and State Highway 48.

Officials informed FOX 25 that Hughes County saw at least 45 buildings damaged and 15 destroyed.

Current estimates may increase as survey operations continue.

Daryn Kirkpatrick, the regional Oklahoma State Department of Health administrative director who oversees the county, shared, "I just want to thank the community for all the resources... and [for] people stepping in and volunteering to help disseminate the resources that have been donated."

Officials will also be giving out tetanus shots at the resource distribution and coordination center. Operations will go from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Thursday.