Toby Keith Says His Hometown of Moore, Oklahoma ‘Will Perservere’ After Deadly Tornado

The F4 tornado that cut a path through Moore, Oklahoma on Monday has left at least 24 dead and many more injured.

Families, including the family of country's own Toby Keith, are spending the days following coming to terms with the tragedy and the debris left behind. The singer revealed that his sister's house was among those damaged by the storm.

During an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Keith said the storm passed less than a mile from his mother's house. Plaza Towers Elementary School, where seven students died and more are missing, was just blocks from where he grew up. The damage and death toll would have been worse, he said, had it not been for the work of local meteorologists and media preparing residents for the storm.

"This storm has devastated the community that I grew up in," Keith said on his website. "I rode my bike through those neighborhoods. I have family and friends in Moore. My heart and prayers go to those that have lost so much. But Moore is strong and we will persevere. God be with you all."

Previous estimates of over 50 dead were reduced on Tuesday, but the total is likely to rise still. Early '00s singer Kellie Coffey also comes from Moore, but many more country singers were raised or currently live in the state. Blake Shelton, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and Carrie Underwood all have Oklahoma roots.