Owasso city councilors unanimously declared a state of emergency following Wednesday morning's EF-1 tornado.The city attorney explained a declaration will allow them to help citizens however they can in the weeks to come, with t hings like suspending permitting fees for rebuilding or securing outside funding. STATE OF EMERGENCY: Owasso leaders issue emergency after EF-1 tornado hitsAmong the four voting councilors, Mayor Alvin Fruga.Our community is this way," he said. "When we see people in need, were gonna do the best that we can to help.His home in the Bailey Ranch neighborhood was untouched, but Fruga knows and has seen many of his neighbors are suffering.Driving around his neighborhood, Fruga described the wreckage as surreal.You see those things on tv, and there arent any homes here that are totally devastated, but the damage sort of reminded me of that.Amid all the devastation, the mayor noticed something else, too."You could hardly get through the street, because of all of the vehicles and support help and trucks and already beginning to remove debris and people on roofs," said Fruga. Its just sort of a swell of support from everyone to sort of help those who are in need.Another resident in that neighborhood, Chris Barnes, also recognized the unshakable strength and resilience of Oklahomans.Its been a great show of force, but a great show of compassion by our neighbors," said Barnes. I love how people, especially neighbors, dropped everything to come help. There was 5 guys with chainsaws here first thing in the morning. Met a million roofers, met a million fence guys, really people just jumped in to try to help. Once he got the warning, Barnes and his wife rushed into the bathroom to seek shelter.He said the tornado was on top of them a mere 5 to 10 seconds later.Barnes counts himself lucky that his family home has only a mangled fence, a partially caved-in roof, and an unsteady treehouse as real evidence of destruction."Ultimately I think theres like a strange pride in Oklahoma where were like 'yeah this is where the tornadoes come,'" he said. "But when they do come, the good people do come out and really do like to help.The council did not put an end date on their SOE, stating it is too early to say how long they will need extra resources. They plan to reevaluate in the weeks ahead. For those in need of assistance: Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere -- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices. Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram SUBSCRIBE on YouTube ...read more read less