Tornado Hits Moore, OK

OJsDad · May 20, 2013, 05:27:08 PM

Massive tornado hit near Oklahoma City, at least 1mile wide and was on the ground for 45mins 22 miles long.

Elementary school was hit, sounds like kids were still there.

Looking at images on Fox, blocks and blocks are leveled.

Prayers for all.

bayonetbrant · May 20, 2013, 05:30:31 PM

I've been to Moore a few times back when I lived in Lawton. It's a 'burb in OKC, and mostly pretty nice people. It's always hard to hear about a tornado flattening anything; the destruction is just outrageous.

LongBlade · May 20, 2013, 05:31:48 PM

Sorry to hear that. I hope everyone is OK. That's a helluva big tornado.

Arctic Blast · May 20, 2013, 05:32:15 PM

Sounds like all the kids from the elementary school and a nearby daycare have been accounted for. Having seen pics of what was left of that school, I have no idea how everyone made it...glad they did, though.

LongBlade · May 20, 2013, 05:37:23 PM

Good. Thanks for the update.

bayonetbrant · May 20, 2013, 05:52:39 PM

Quote from: Arctic Blast on May 20, 2013, 05:32:15 PM
Sounds like all the kids from the elementary school and a nearby daycare have been accounted for. Having seen pics of what was left of that school, I have no idea how everyone made it...glad they did, though.

they run several drills a year in the schools there. THe kids know exactly what to do.

Bison · May 20, 2013, 06:09:29 PM

Hope there isn't a substantial loss of life. There were several other tornado too besides this monster storm across OK and KS.

OJsDad · May 20, 2013, 06:59:27 PM

Reports now that up to 24 dead at one of two schools hit.

This was an F4 tornado, with winds up to 200+ miles an hour, and was very slow moving.

TheCommandTent · May 20, 2013, 07:02:46 PM

It is hard to look at some of these images. Hopefully the death toll does not get any higher.

Bison · May 20, 2013, 07:08:15 PM

The news just keeps getting worse.

Gusington · May 20, 2013, 07:34:17 PM

Jesus Christ...

Mr. Bigglesworth · May 20, 2013, 07:44:40 PM

There are several blocks wide of rubble.

Brutal.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22601891

LongBlade · May 20, 2013, 07:46:39 PM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on May 20, 2013, 05:52:39 PM
Quote from: Arctic Blast on May 20, 2013, 05:32:15 PM
Sounds like all the kids from the elementary school and a nearby daycare have been accounted for. Having seen pics of what was left of that school, I have no idea how everyone made it...glad they did, though.

they run several drills a year in the schools there. THe kids know exactly what to do.

+1

I grew up with them. We probably did two a year. These days I'm sure they do more - as Brant noted.

I can remember passing through the hall in 8th grade and looking out the window to see what I thought was a tornado. Turns out it was. Ours was the only school not to have gone to shelter during a warning. I don't know why not, but fortunately it was small and passed us over without damage.

LongBlade · May 20, 2013, 07:51:35 PM

Hoo boy.

Quote"This is absolute devastation like nothing I've ever seen before," Betsy Randolph, with Oklahoma State Police, told Fox 25." This may be worse than the May 3rd, 1999 tornado."

The strongest winds on earth -- 302 mph -- were recorded near Moore that year.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2013/05/20/oklahoma-braces-for-severe-storms/

endfire79 · May 20, 2013, 07:56:28 PM

That's terrifying, I read one of the teachers was found holding two students..

Any of you guys down south have experience in tornado areas? How much of a warning can you expect?

I read somewhere that because the soil is very wet in that area, they do not build many basements. That's the only protection I can even think of, besides getting out of Dodge in a flash.