Tragedy in Clark Mills: Tornado Claims Lives of Twin Sisters and Local Resident

Keywords: Clark Mills tornado, New York storm fatalities, twin girls killed, EF-1 tornado damage, June 2025 tornado, Bisson family tragedy, storm emergency response, New York natural disaster

Early Morning Tornado Strikes Oneida County

In the early hours of Sunday, June 22, 2025, a devastating tornado struck the small hamlet of Clark Mills, located in Oneida County, New York. The EF-1 tornado, with peak winds of 105 mph, tore through the town at approximately 3:58 a.m., bringing destruction and heartbreak.

Among the three confirmed fatalities were six-year-old twin sisters, Emily and Kenni Bisson, who were trapped inside their home on Hoyland Avenue along with their mother, Kayleigh Bisson.

Frantic Search for Two Missing Girls

Emergency crews were dispatched just after 4 a.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting trees falling onto homes. One urgent call came from a neighbor of the Bisson family, who reported a woman trapped beneath a collapsed roof and unable to find her daughters.

The tornado cut a 2.43-mile path, nearly 300 yards wide, through the region. It tore apart buildings, uprooted trees, and left large portions of Clark Mills without power.

One of those trees — a towering maple with twin trunks — crashed directly onto the Bisson residence, collapsing the roof and destroying the upper floors where the family had been sleeping.

Neighbors Rushed to Help

Neighbor Jared Bowman, who lives next door, ran to assist Kayleigh, who had been trapped beneath rubble.

“She was yelling, ‘Get my kids out!’” Bowman recalled. “But there was no noise. It felt very eerie and bad.”

Another neighbor, Rick Carollo, a member of the Clark Mills Fire Department, received an emergency alert and rushed to the scene.

“I found the mother in the front window,” Carollo said. “I had to climb a tree to get her out.”

Tragically, when responders reached the girls, they were found deceased inside the wreckage and pronounced dead at the scene.

Tornado Also Claims Another Life Nearby

Elsewhere in Oneida County, the storm claimed another life. Shelly Johnson, 50, was killed in her home on Millstream Court when a tree fell through her roof as she lay in bed. Like the twins, she was also pronounced dead at the scene.

In Vienna, a separate town in the same county, a tree fell onto a camper shortly after 4 a.m., seriously injuring two occupants. Emergency personnel rescued the victims and transported them to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.

Heartbreak at Clinton Elementary School

Back at Clinton Elementary School, where Emily and Kenni were in first grade, the tragedy left classmates and teachers devastated. Superintendent Christopher Clancy shared a heartfelt message with families:

“Our hearts are with all of the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy.”

School was canceled on Monday, and grief counselors were made available starting Tuesday.

Community Rallies Around Grieving Mother

The Bisson family had only recently moved into their rental home. A GoFundMe campaign launched for Kayleigh Bisson, a single mother, quickly surpassed $300,000 in donations.

“She lost everything—children, house, clothing, and memories,” the page reads.

The twin girls were remembered as joyful, vibrant children who loved soccer, softball, gymnastics, and dance.

“They walked through life smiling, dancing, and belly laughs that lasted for days.”

Statewide Emergency Declared

The tornado was part of a larger system of severe thunderstorms sweeping through New York. In response to the widespread destruction and a forecast of extreme heat, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency across 32 counties.

Emergency support came from the Clark Mills Fire Department, New York State Police, Town of Kirkland Police Department, and several volunteer fire and public safety agencies. A local senior center opened to provide shelter and services to displaced residents.

As crews continue to clear debris and restore power, the sound of chainsaws and emergency vehicles still echoes through the devastated hamlet.

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office expressed condolences:
“We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families involved during this difficult time.”

If you’d like to help the Bisson family, please visit their GoFundMe page to donate or share their story.
Let us know in the comments how you’re coping with this tragic event or if you’ve been impacted by severe weather in your area.