Why did the kids drown? Did the ceiling fall on them and they couldn't move?

:congrats:
Just wondering... how did OKC's new tallest building fair with all that hail? I've seen massive hail stones on the 'net. Take care all, be safe and healthy. As an "Okie" from Blair, Jackson County, OK, you make/made me very proud. You should also be very, very proud of yourselves.

My prayers to those who lost loved ones.
Didn't downtown get bypassed by the hail?

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/773041501.gif?1369167034

And some people think May 3 1999 was worse for total amount of destruction?

And some people think May 3 1999 was worse for total amount of destruction?I think in terms of shear power and windspeed, May 3 still has it beat, but the destruction seems worse during this one. Also, as it stands so far, I believe the May 3 death count was about 40 and this is 24.

Moore is more developed now than in '99 and the dollar has inflated, so in terms of pure dollars, this storm will be significantly more expensive.

But the wind-speeds in the '99 storm were unreal.

My sincere condolences go out to those affected by this monster tornado. As an Oklahoma City expat, I am amazed and horrified at the same time by this tornado but I am also gratified and proud at my fellow Oklahomans who survived this and am very saddened by those who perished. I am shocked there wasn't more loss of life but am so very thankful to that - and that is a testament to the weather technology that exists in the OKC metro.

Please everyone invest in ground shelters, there should be one for every 5 people in my opinion. I hope there is some serious steps made going forward now that we know ground level is the only way to survive an F4+ tornado.

God Bless Oklahoma!

here's one thing i like about our state... this is the line of people going into moore to help out:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/248007_502768413112043_1304455066_n.jpg

Moore is more developed now than in '99 and the dollar has inflated, so in terms of pure dollars, this storm will be significantly more expensive.

But the wind-speeds in the '99 storm were unreal.

Plus in 99 wasn't the death count total for the OKC area for the whole storm? There were several tornados and quite a few of them got pretty big. Now that one that hit Moore was indeed unreal in wind speeds. Seems like I recall seeing some houses that had been hit while that one was at it's full force and there wasn't even rubble. Just stripped foudations.

In this one aren't all the 24 dead right there in that area in and around Moore?

So saying which one was 'worse' is kinda an apples and oranges thing. Depends on what angle you are looking at.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTh53cloidQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F05iwWHc58c&list=UUSV8iMrDMdzc79kPCS9qucg&index=3

http://distilleryimage0.ak.instagram.com/02b6a3d8c30f11e29f3f22000a1f978e_7.jpg

Plus in 99 wasn't the death count total for the OKC area for the whole storm? There were several tornados and quite a few of them got pretty big. Now that one that hit Moore was indeed unreal in wind speeds. Seems like I recall seeing some houses that had been hit while that one was at it's full force and there wasn't even rubble. Just stripped foudations.

In this one aren't all the 24 dead right there in that area in and around Moore?

So saying which one was 'worse' is kinda an apples and oranges thing. Depends on what angle you are looking at.

May 3rd-4th outbreak was significantly larger than the May 20th event. The human death toll was 44 if I remember right, with 36 of those in Oklahoma and the other 7 in Wichita.

May 3rd-4th outbreak was significantly larger than the May 20th event. The human death toll was 44 if I remember right, with 36 of those in Oklahoma and the other 7 in Wichita.

Good thing the tornado didn't occur on a weekend afternoon, since, no doubt, a lot more people would have been at home in harm's way. The Joplin tornado with over 150 deaths happened on Sunday.

My apologies if this was asked & answered earlier.

Initial reports indicated that 20-30 children were believed killed inside the Plaza Towers Elementary School, in addition to the seven confirmed killed. Then there was nothing. I certainly haven't seen that they died, but I haven't seen any correction.

Have they been located safe & sound?

mm

My apologies if this was asked & answered earlier.

Initial reports indicated that 20-30 children were believed killed inside the Plaza Towers Elementary School, in addition to the seven confirmed killed. Then there was nothing. I certainly haven't seen that they died, but I haven't seen any correction.

Have they been located safe & sound?

Several people have spoke to this. It all comes down to too many chiefs and not enough indians. So many agencies were at work together and in the chaos that followed, numbers were getting crossed and reporters were reporting what they heard from "sources" who weren't necessarily in a position to know. This is happening too often in every important news event in the age of Twitter, instant news, and people that want to know NOW.

To the question, yes all were accounted for.

Thanks, Zoo. I remember watching dozens of firefighters digging through rubble Monday night, then being called off as cadaver dogs were brought in as the operation turned from rescue to recovery. The firefighters were shown walking dejectedly from the area, and word went out that 20-30 children were believed to have been crushed by a collapsing wall. Then nothing after that.

Some interesting information on a map.

Every Tornado in Moore Since 1893, Mapped - Philip Bump - The Atlantic Wire (http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/05/tornadoes-moore-oklahoma-history/65472/)

Sid good find, but unfortunately the map is really inaccurate with the paths. I'll try to work on something once the NWS Norman page isn't being flooded with traffic.

3747

3747

TIL a EF4 tornado went through my neighborhood at some point in time.

I hate to post a link to LandThieves.com because the content is usually immature, but the comments in this thread are chilling. Excuse the nudie avatars.

LandThieves.com (http://www.landthieves.com/board/showthread.php?55764-May-20th-Moore-Tornado-Thread)

Why did the kids drown? Did the ceiling fall on them and they couldn't move?

It has now been reported that they died from suffocation rather than drowning.

Pictures and Names of the 24 souls lost
Youngest tornado victim was just 4 months old - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/22/us/oklahoma-victim-ids)

This guy did video from his storm shelter below the floor of his garage. Frickin crazy!!

Super Close View of Moore Oklahoma Tornado 5/20/13 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3o6wTcy4UQ&feature=player_embedded#)!

This guy did video from his storm shelter below the floor of his garage. Frickin crazy!!

Super Close View of Moore Oklahoma Tornado 5/20/13 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3o6wTcy4UQ&feature=player_embedded#)!
He could have been hurt if that flying tire flew in.

I was kidding with you man, nothing mean't by it ;) I understand people want to get in there and look around, but right now, people that were affected are the only ones that should be in the disaster area along with "official" photographers and journalist.

I know you were,.. all good here.

And I also think the photogs and journalist should back off a bit and quit sticking cameras and microphones in people's faces. But after loosing my home and belongings in a separate incident a couple years ago, I'm kind of biased that way. I couldn't get down my road and had to park at the main road and walk to my place. When I got there, Channel 5 was parked in my front yard, set up with cameras rolling.

And I also think the photogs and journalist should back off a bit and quit sticking cameras and microphones in people's faces. But after loosing my home and belongings in a separate incident a couple years ago, I'm kind of biased that way. I couldn't get down my road and had to park at the main road and walk to my place. When I got there, Channel 5 was parked in my front yard, set up with cameras rolling.

+1

That video was very impressive. You would think the tornado was moving super slow with how long it was in frame, but it was just so big.

Props to that person who recorded that, despite the verticle video.

I don't know if anyone has posted this yet, if so delete, but here is google imagery of moore after tornado

Google Crisis Map (http://google.org/crisismap/2013-oklahoma-tornado?hl=en&llbox=35.324705%2C35.318166%2C-97.513319%2C-97.527192&t=CUSTOM&layers=9%2C7%2C11%2C8%2Clayer2%2Clayer11%2C10%3A10 0)

That is really awesome. You can see how random tornadoes really are. Look at how it basically goes around Warren Theatre to the north and then cuts back down in front of it. Amazing.

Google has such cool products for free.

That is really awesome. You can see how random tornadoes really are. Look at how it basically goes around Warren Theatre to the north and then cuts back down in front of it. Amazing.

Google has such cool products for free.

This is probably of little solace to current victims, but I always try to count my blessings. Looking at that map makes me think this could have been much worse than it was. I didn't realize how much concentrated development is north of S 134th. A tornado track at least mile north and this could have gotten much uglier, which is hard to even imagine.

There has been a 91% decrease in the estimated number of homes damaged or destroyed according to the AP, from 13,000 to 1,200. Link: | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-tornado-damage-numbers-clarified-by-officials/article/3833517)

MOORE (AP) — Authorities have clarified and significantly downgraded the number of homes damaged or destroyed in this week's tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb.

Oklahoma City Police Department spokesman Dexter Nelson said Thursday that the most recent count indicates that 1,200 homes in the city and the suburb of Moore were affected by Monday's storm.

The mayor of Oklahoma City announced at a news conference Wednesday that as many as 13,000 homes had been destroyed or damaged. There was no immediate explanation for the differing estimates.

Not sure if this has been posted yet. This is pretty interesting and graphically shows the power and destructive force of an EF5 tornado. ESRI has built a mapping application that enables users to compare aerial photos of Moore both before and after the tornado.

20MAY2013 Moore Tornado Damage Swipe Link:
http://tmappsevents.esri.com/website/swipe_moore/

High marks for the local media in their coverage:

Oklahoma Tornado in 2013 Proves that Local TV News Still Has Power | New Republic (http://www.newrepublic.com/article/113270/oklahoma-tornado-2013-proves-local-tv-news-still-has-power#)

Oklahoma City Stations Praised For Coverage of Devastating Tornado - TVSpy (http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/oklahoma-city-stations-praised-for-coverage-of-devastating-tornado_b91017)

?We aren?t daredevils?: Oklahoma?s storm chasers in the sky (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/aren-t-daredevils-oklahoma-storm-chasers-sky-165227196.html)

There has been a 91% decrease in the estimated number of homes damaged or destroyed according to the AP, from 13,000 to 1,200. Link: | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-tornado-damage-numbers-clarified-by-officials/article/3833517)

MOORE (AP) — Authorities have clarified and significantly downgraded the number of homes damaged or destroyed in this week's tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb.

Oklahoma City Police Department spokesman Dexter Nelson said Thursday that the most recent count indicates that 1,200 homes in the city and the suburb of Moore were affected by Monday's storm.

The mayor of Oklahoma City announced at a news conference Wednesday that as many as 13,000 homes had been destroyed or damaged. There was no immediate explanation for the differing estimates.
It was corrected to 12,000.
Oklahoma City police correct Moore tornado damage estimate to 12K homes | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-police-correct-moore-tornado-damage-estimate-to-12k-homes/article/3833517)

There has been a 91% decrease in the estimated number of homes damaged or destroyed according to the AP, from 13,000 to 1,200. Link: | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-tornado-damage-numbers-clarified-by-officials/article/3833517)

MOORE (AP) — Authorities have clarified and significantly downgraded the number of homes damaged or destroyed in this week's tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb.

Oklahoma City Police Department spokesman Dexter Nelson said Thursday that the most recent count indicates that 1,200 homes in the city and the suburb of Moore were affected by Monday's storm.

The mayor of Oklahoma City announced at a news conference Wednesday that as many as 13,000 homes had been destroyed or damaged. There was no immediate explanation for the differing estimates.

I'm confused.

The link says "At a news conference on Thursday, police spokesman Dexter Nelson misspoke when he said there were 1,200 homes damaged or destroyed by Monday's storm.

The department later released a statement confirming the error, saying their current estimate was 12,000."

It appears the article has been updated with more accurate information.

@Kenny_Mossman: Apparently Bob Stoops showed up at a site and blended in for about 30 min before they figured it out


http://i.imgur.com/WHCaEhr.jpg

I was right around the corner!

Oz storm shelters can survive a direct hit from an EF-5 tornado, now that is awesome!!!!!!!

http://www.news9.com/story/22441328/researchers-study-how-storm-shelters-in-moore-withstood-the-tornado

http://www.ozsaferooms.com/gallery/example1-lg.jpg

http://www.ozsaferooms.com/gallery/example2-lg.jpg

http://www.ozsaferooms.com/gallery/example3-lg.jpg

http://www.ozsaferooms.com

Good to see those survived. Researching them looks like the cost is $8-10k - so might still be pretty tight for some unless FEMA increases the grant amounts.

Well click my heels 3X and color me impressed. Seriously impressed.

Good to see those survived. Researching them looks like the cost is $8-10k - so might still be pretty tight for some unless FEMA increases the grant amounts.I just wonder what would happen if an EF-5 hurled an 18,000 pound semi-truck at one, if it would survive it. This is still amazingly impressive!

@Kenny_Mossman: Apparently Bob Stoops showed up at a site and blended in for about 30 min before they figured it out

Was that today? Noticed a gazillion cars parked in front of Stoop's house this evening, thought maybe something like this was up.

I just wonder what would happen if an EF-5 hurled an 18,000 pound semi-truck at one, if it would survive it. This is still amazingly impressive!

Ehhh...don't live near highways or trucking companies? :)

Was that today? Noticed a gazillion cars parked in front of Stoop's house this evening, thought maybe something like this was up.

It may have been yesterday, but I’m not really sure?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/383375_620012771362012_1430731262_n.jpg

Joe.C

http://www.soonersports.tv/video/play.jsp?content_id=27486025

Walking the path of a tornado (http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/05/us/sutter-walk-oklahoma/)

Walking the path of a tornado (http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/05/us/sutter-walk-oklahoma/)

Love the technology used with that too. Syncing the pictures, twitter feeds, documents and all on the right side with what you're reading on the left side is a great leap forward in web technology. Have read about it, but this is the first time I've seen it used. HTML5?

@Kenny_Mossman: Apparently Bob Stoops showed up at a site and blended in for about 30 min before they figured it out


http://i.imgur.com/WHCaEhr.jpg

He is a super human being, even though he's a jerk to members of the media at times. He still visits kids at the hospitals all the time.