Oklahoma Tornado Destroys At Least One C-store

MOORE, Okla. -- The massive two-mile-wide tornado that devastated the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, Okla., yesterday wiped out at least one convenience store.

According to Oklahoma News 9, a 7-Eleven location was destroyed in the tragedy that claimed 24 lives as of press time, including nine children. The store was located at Telephone Road and SW 4th Street.

"I talked to a man who said he pulled people out of the 7-Eleven," reporter Adrianna Iwasinski relayed. "And there were three bodies that were found inside [the store]. He tells me there was a man, a woman and a baby."

It is not yet known if the natural disaster claimed any other c-stores along its path of destrucion. Fortunately, one c-store chain had some positive news to report.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by today's tornadoes," Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores wrote on Facebook. "All of our Oklahoma stores are open to serve customers. We appreciate the efforts of our employees who worked to keep customers safe and understand many of them were severely affected by these storms. Love's is committed to helping our employees as we begin to clean up and rebuild."

The tornado rated as an EF-4 on the Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale. An EF-4 is categorized by 168- to 199-mile-per-hour winds and is the second-strongest tornado the scale records.

ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 announced today that each will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts. "ConocoPhillips has a long and valued history in Oklahoma, as well as an office in Bartlesville, and our thoughts are with the communities that have been affected," said Ryan Lance, chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips.

Greg Garland, chairman and CEO at Phillips 66, added that the company's roots also "run deep in Oklahoma."

"We are extremely thankful that all of our employees in Oklahoma and their immediate families are safe," said Garland. "We thank the first responders and medical personnel that came to the rescue of so many."

To see Iwasinski's report from the location of the Moore, Okla., 7-Eleven store, click here.

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