news on 6 is tracking new details from Beggs Public Schools after an EF-3 tornado struck the community on March 6. District leaders say Beggs Middle School sustained significant damage and will not be used for the remainder of the school year, even as students continue attending classes on campus. Officials say safety concerns and ongoing utility restoration are driving the closure as crews work through debris removal and assessments.
Beggs Middle School shut down for the rest of the year as damage assessments continue
Beggs Public Schools officials say the middle school building took major impacts, with the north end of the structure hit hardest. District leaders say structural supports were bent and are considered unsafe, leaving the building unusable for the remainder of the school year.
Officials also describe storm-related damage beyond the structure itself. The tornado pulled a gas line from the ground and damaged electrical systems as well as fiber network lines serving the building. Crews are working to restore power and other utilities, but the district says buildings on campus remain unsafe while debris is cleared and infrastructure repairs move forward.
Officials are asking the public to stay away from school property during cleanup and damage assessments. District administrators say student safety and education remain their top priorities as recovery continues.
Transportation and athletic facilities heavily damaged; nearly all route buses out of service
District leaders say multiple district facilities were heavily damaged or destroyed. The softball and baseball fields were totaled and will have to be replaced, and officials say the bus barn and maintenance shop were decimated during the storm.
School leaders say nearly the entire fleet of route buses was damaged. They add that all but one route bus is inoperable, though the district’s SUVs and activity buses survived the storm.
Officials also say the middle school dome sustained damage but is expected to be repaired and reopened.
National Weather Service in Tulsa: Beggs tornado classified as EF-3
The National Weather Service Tulsa branch classified the tornado that hit Beggs as an EF-3. maximum winds were measured between 130 mph and 145 mph.
The National Weather Service also said the tornado touched down at about 7: 15 p. m. on Friday, leaving a path of destruction. the tornado killed two people, injured two others, and destroyed at least four homes, and it also caused significant damage to Beggs Middle School.
Quick context and what happens next for families and the district
Beggs Public Schools leaders say students will not return to the middle school building this school year, but will continue attending classes on campus. Administrators say a plan has been developed for relocating middle school students, though details are still being finalized.
The district says it will share the plan with middle school parents during a scheduled back-to-school meeting once information is confirmed. news on 6 will be watching for the district’s finalized relocation details and updates on utility restoration, transportation capacity, and campus safety as recovery work continues.
