WELCH, Okla. — The town of Welch in Craig County faced severe destruction following relentless storms on May 6, which left the community reeling from the extensive damage, particularly to a local school practice gymnasium. The storms, which continued through the area, stripped the 80-year-old gym down to its frame, posing significant disruptions not only to the school structure but also to the lives of the residents.
Despite the devastation, Welch Public Schools reported that classroom buildings were spared, but the focus for many remains on the broader community impact. Residents like Crystal Creech have been actively involved in clean-up efforts. “We’ve been walking around picking up screws and just cleaning up and being there for one another, for the whole community,” Creech shared with 2 News.
The loss of the gym has deeply affected local students, including Welch High School basketball player Nicole Feltynowski, who expressed her disbelief and concern over the future. “We kind of need a lot of these people around here to realize what this gym means to us and what all these people in the town mean to us,” Feltynowski stated.
Compounding the tragedy, the storm caused the gym’s roof to crash into the neighboring property of two Welch teachers and their children, causing significant damage. Jeremy Ramsey, the Superintendent of Welch Public Schools, highlighted the personal toll it has taken. “Lives are impacted, and there’s trauma. We are worrying about our kids at home and what they’re going through, and if they have any damage and our parents,” Ramsey explained.
Mayor Kathy Jenkins remarked on the fortune that no injuries were reported despite the high levels of destruction. “It was amazing that with all the things that were going on and the amount of damage from the school roof with all the debris flying around, that nobody got injured,” Jenkins said.
Superintendent Ramsey confirmed that the damaged gym would need to be demolished, and he estimated that the overall damage costs could run into the millions. The school district is awaiting guidance from the Oklahoma State Department of Education regarding potential extensions to the school year due to the weather-related interruptions.
As the town of Welch begins its recovery process, the spirit of community and resilience remains strong, with residents and officials coming together to support one another and rebuild what was lost.
