El Reno On The Road To Recovery After May Tornado

Saturday marks three months since that deadly tornado ripped through El Reno. Now there are plenty signs of recovery. For those affected by what's now known as the world's widest tornado ever recorded, the road to recovery has not been easy.

The May 31 tornado stayed in a rural area, but took a jagged, uneven path reaching a width of 2.6 miles.

"Some days it seems like it just happened yesterday," said Joe Meziere, Canadian Valley Students Affairs. "Other days it seems like it just happened so far long ago."

Most of the Canadian Valley Technology Center's main campus was destroyed, only a small section of the building was untouched receiving just water damage.

"The rest of the facility is either being completely demolished down to the concrete, and actually the concrete being pulled, or it's been taken down to the iron," said Meziere.

The main campus will temporarily run out of an old car dealership in Yukon for at least the next two years. But Friday, for the first time in three months, a class was held on the original campus in the school's business and industry services building.

"Tired, exhausted, takes a lot of time rebuilding," said Meziere.

Two miles away across I-40, more signs of progress. David Rollison and his family lived in a hotel for a week and eventually moved to a travel trailer outside of their damaged home. David and his 7-year-old son were in his truck when that massive tornado ripped through.

"Trucks floating, trees coming down, my son sees a big old 40 yard dumpster in mid-air," said Rollison.

They took cover in a nearby home.

"Definitely can't replace life, that's the main thing. Everybody came out safe," said Rollison.

Canadian Valley administrators have been in meetings with architects coming up with a new campus design. The plan is to also have safe rooms installed at the new El Reno campus.