The Souza family of Waia­lua spent Friday morning lending a hand with cleanup efforts in Moore, Okla., where a devastating tornado had destroyed homes and killed two dozen people less than two weeks ago. Hours later the family was sent scrambling for shelter as another tornado bore down on Oklahoma City.

"Being from Hawaii, it was our first time experiencing something like this," said Ridge Souza, 22, who joined his family in Oklahoma this week to watch his younger sister Kimberlee compete for the University of Washington softball team in the Women’s College World Series. "It started out nice and sunny, and then the darkness came."

The tornado hit during the evening rush hour, killing five people and injuring scores of others.

Kimberlee Souza and her Huskies teammates were staying at the Sheraton Oklahoma City Hotel and were evacuated to the hotel’s underground parking lot to ride out the threat. The rest of the Souza family tracked the tornado on TV from the SpringHill Suites Marriott in North Oklahoma City.

"You could see where it was heading," Ridge Souza said. "We were worried because it was headed right for the city, where the team is staying."

Souza said he was eventually able to reach his sister via cellphone.

"They’re OK," he said. "They were enjoying faji­tas the last time we spoke."

Ridge Souza graduated from Boston University this month and had stopped in Oklahoma on his way back to Hawaii to cheer on his sister. On Thursday he and his family celebrated as Kimberlee capped a thrilling comeback victory over Nebraska with a game-winning home run in the eighth inning.

Souza said he and the other hotel guests remained positive Friday night as thunder, lightning and heavy rain continued in the wake of the tornado.

"We’re all here for each other," he said. "As long as you have good company, everything is good."