🚨 OH MY GOD… THIS BROKE ME. 😭🌪️💔 A mom’s VERY LAST WORDS to her terrified kids on the phone… as a massive tornado swallowed her and her 13-year-old daughter alive.

47-year-old Jodie Owens was barreling through the Oklahoma darkness with sweet Lexi beside her when she spotted the killer funnel dropping from the sky. In pure maternal instinct, she dialed home IMMEDIATELY—screaming desperate instructions to her other children hiding inside: words of pure love and panic that will haunt them forever.

Her kids heard it all.

They heard her voice crack with fear.

They heard the raw, unbreakable love in every syllable.

Then… the scream. The chaos. The gut-wrenching cry.

And suddenly… dead silence. The line cut as the tornado tore their van apart like paper. Both gone. In seconds.

Full details:

A powerful tornado that tore through western Oklahoma late Thursday night claimed the lives of a mother and her teenage daughter, leaving a large family and small community in mourning.

Jodie Owens, 47, and her 13-year-old daughter Lexi Owens were pronounced dead at the scene after their vehicle was struck near Highway 60 and County Road 2435 (also referred to as NS 234 Rd) in Major County, according to the Major County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities confirmed the deaths were the result of the tornado that touched down in the area around 10 p.m. on March 5, 2026.

The pair had been traveling home to Fairview when severe weather intensified. Family members told local news outlets that Jodie, a substitute teacher in the community, noticed the approaching storm and immediately called her other children who were at home. She urged them to seek shelter in a cellar or safe location as tornado conditions worsened.

“She could see a storm was coming,” Jodie’s sister, Janelle Zonts Bagozzi, told KFOR and other reporters. “She called her children who were still at home to say, ‘Hey you need to get into a cellar.’ That’s actually when she got hit.”

Reports indicate the phone connection dropped suddenly during the call. One family account mentioned that those on the other end heard what sounded like the moment of impact or Jodie’s final cries before the line went silent. The van was later located in a field, severely damaged—so badly that initial responders could not immediately determine its make or model, per sheriff statements.

Jodie Owens was the mother of eight children and grandmother to four, with a fifth grandchild expected in May. Family described her as excited about the upcoming arrival and devoted to her large family. Lexi, a seventh-grader at Fairview Public Schools, was active in band and remembered by relatives as a bright young girl.

The incident unfolded during a severe weather event that produced multiple tornadoes across western Oklahoma, mainly affecting Grant, Alfalfa, and Major counties. The National Weather Service confirmed at least four tornado touchdowns, along with large hail and damaging winds. No other fatalities were immediately reported from the storms, though property damage was widespread in rural areas.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol and local emergency management officials responded to the scene after reports of a vehicle off the roadway. The Major County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Anthony Robinson, coordinated the investigation and confirmed the tornado link early Friday morning.

Family and friends quickly rallied online, with a GoFundMe campaign launched to support the surviving children and cover funeral expenses. Descriptions on the page highlight Jodie’s role as a pillar of the family and the shock of losing both her and Lexi in such a sudden way.

“Jodie was on the phone with her kids telling them to take cover when the tornado struck her van taking both of them,” the GoFundMe reads. “Jodie is the mother to 8 children and 4 grandchildren and a baby granddaughter due on May 1st that Jodie was so excited about and will never get to hold.”

Jodie’s brother, Justin Zonts (or Jacob in some reports), spoke to media outlets including FOX Weather, expressing grief but also faith. “I think what’s keeping us going is just the knowledge that she and Lexi are in a better place with their savior,” he said in one interview. “And he’s holding her tight with Lexi.”

Community response has been swift, with local news stations like KOCO, KTUL, and KFOR providing ongoing coverage. Governor Kevin Stitt posted condolences on social media Friday morning, acknowledging the tragedy and offering support to affected families.

Tornadoes at night pose particular dangers due to reduced visibility and the challenge of warning residents in time. This event underscores ongoing concerns in “Tornado Alley” states like Oklahoma, where severe storms are common in spring but can strike with little advance notice.

Meteorologists noted the storms were part of a larger system moving through the central U.S., with additional severe weather possible in following days. Residents in affected areas were advised to remain vigilant.

As investigations continue and the family prepares for services, the story of Jodie’s final act—protecting her children even as danger closed in—has resonated widely. It serves as a somber reminder of the unpredictability of nature and the bonds that drive people to act selflessly in crisis.