The community of Oneida County mourns the heartbreaking deaths of Emily and Kenni after a tree crashes through their home.
A powerful storm system swept through Central New York in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 22, bringing with it destructive winds and torrential rainfall that would forever change the small hamlet of Clark Mills.
The National Weather Service later confirmed that a tornado with winds reaching up to 105 miles per hour struck the community of approximately 1,600 residents around 4 a.m.
The violent weather system unleashed its fury with the sound of a freight train, according to local residents who witnessed the devastation.
Storms that caused damaging winds over Jefferson County now dropping south into Oneida County with damaging winds, hail and torrential rain. For now, it looks like he worst tracks east of Syracuse. #nywx pic.twitter.com/iomLimiiuS
— Jim Teske (@JimTeskeNC9) June 22, 2025
Winds exceeding 90 mph transformed the peaceful neighborhood into a disaster zone, snapping utility poles in half and sending them crashing across roadways.
Dangling power lines created additional hazards as emergency responders worked to reach affected areas.
The storm dumped nearly three inches of rain within just a few hours, causing muddy water to stream across roads by early afternoon.
Throughout Clark Mills, massive trees that had stood for decades became deadly projectiles in the face of the tornado’s incredible force.
The whine of chainsaws filled the air as crews worked frantically to clear blocked roads and reach trapped residents.
Emergency personnel conducted door-to-door welfare checks in Millgate Meadows, a mobile home park particularly vulnerable to the storm’s impact.
Storm Causes Emily And Kenni’s Death On Hoyland Avenue
The storm’s most heartbreaking casualties occurred on Hoyland Avenue, where six-year-old twin sisters Emily and Kenni Bisson lost their lives when a massive maple tree crashed through their rental home.
The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims and confirmed the devastating details of the incident that claimed these young lives.
The enormous maple tree, featuring twin trunks nearly three feet in diameter, cleaved directly through the family’s residence with tremendous force.
The ancient tree crashed through the roof and second story before finally coming to rest on the first floor, where the twins and their mother, Kayleigh Bisson, had taken shelter from the storm.
The family had moved to their rental home on Hoyland Avenue just a few months prior to the tragedy.
Neighbor Jared Bowman heard the catastrophic crash and immediately rushed to help.
He found Kayleigh Bisson trapped but alive, calling desperately for her daughters.
“She was yelling, ‘Get my kids out!‘” Bowman recalled, but an eerie silence had already settled over the scene where the children lay buried beneath the massive tree and debris.
Rick Carollo, a member of the Clark Mills Fire Department who lived next door, awoke to the storm’s freight train-like roar.
His emergency phone alerted him that help was needed at 7 Hoyland Avenue—the house directly beside his own.
Carollo climbed a fallen tree to reach Kayleigh through a front window and helped extract her from the wreckage.
Despite his training and immediate response, he could not find a pulse on the one twin he could see amid the tangled branches and debris.
Emily and Kenni Bisson were first-grade students at Clinton Elementary School, where they had touched the lives of classmates and teachers alike.
Clinton schools superintendent Christopher Clancy confirmed their deaths to the school community, writing,
“Earlier today, a severe weather emergency in our community resulted in the tragic loss of life, including two of our elementary students. Our hearts are with all of the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy.”
syracuse
The school district closed on Monday due to the storm’s widespread impact and arranged for counselors to be available for grieving students and staff beginning Tuesday.
The twins were remembered throughout their small community for their infectious enthusiasm, constant laughter, and bright smiles that could lift anyone’s spirits.
Emily and Kenni participated actively in numerous community activities, including softball, soccer, dance, and gymnastics.
Their artistic talents shone through their love of painting and chalk art, and their belly laughs were known to last for days.
They walked through life with joy, dancing and smiling, reminding everyone around them what truly mattered in life.
The tragedy also claimed the life of 50-year-old Shelly Johnson of Millstream Court, who died when a tree crashed through her roof while she slept.
The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this as a separate storm-related fatality that occurred during the same devastating weather event.
In the aftermath of this unimaginable loss, the community rallied around Kayleigh Bisson, who lost not only her beloved daughters but also her home and all her possessions in a single, devastating moment.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by family member Ryan Gerling raised over $171,000 to help cover funeral expenses and support the grieving mother as she faces the overwhelming costs associated with laying her twin daughters to rest.
The fundraiser description captured the essence of who Emily and Kenni were:
“These girls were known throughout town. They were apart of softball, soccer, dance, gymnastics and so much more. They always kept everyone smiling and made people remember what life was all about.”
GoFundMe
Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in 32 counties following the severe storms, and the town of Kirkland, which includes Clark Mills, issued its own emergency declaration.
The National Weather Service dispatched personnel to inspect and document the extensive storm damage throughout the affected area.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The fundraiser specifically mentions that Kayleigh Bisson was “an incredible single mom” and references her as a “single mother.”
- Officials opened a senior center behind the firehouse in Clark Mills to help displaced people during the emergency.
- In a separate incident in Vienna (also in Oneida County), two people were seriously injured when a tree fell on their camper at about 4:17 a.m. and were rushed to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.
