May 20, 2013 Tornado: News & Information

[zookeeper]

Official briefing at 7:30. If you're not near a TV, it will be streamed live CBS News Live Video - CBS News

[zookeeper]

Is this confirmed? I am going to be sick if this true.

Lance West has done remarkable reporting from the school. He said his sources have confirmed it is now Search & Recovery after several children were found drowned. They believe 20-30 are still under the rubble and presumed dead. Horrific, what can possibly be said?

[BlackmoreRulz]

Officials say the Draper Water Treatment Plant in Oklahoma City was knocked off line during the tornado.

The city is asking residents and businesses in southeast Oklahoma City to stop using water.

Anyone know how large of an area this encompasses?

[zookeeper]

The Orr Family Farm was almost completely destroyed. 75-100 horses died.

Their official website Orr Family Farm Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OrrFamilyFarm

About The Orr Family Farm Oklahoma City's Orr Family Farm - Profile With Information on Exhibits, Admission, Events and More

[Tydude]

AP: BREAKING: State medical examiner's office: 37 killed in Oklahoma tornado; death toll expected to rise -RJJ

[zookeeper]

The official briefing is set to begin at any moment. It's streaming live now as they wait. CBS News Live Video - CBS News

[zookeeper]

Medical Examiner confirms 7 of the fatalities are children from the school. They're still in Search & Recovery mode at Plaza Towers. They're thinking 26-30 children are still under the rubble.

[OKCRT]

Medical Examiner confirms 7 of the fatalities are children from the school. They're still in Search & Recovery mode at Plaza Towers. They're thinking 26-30 children are still under the rubble.

The guy reporting from the ground on channel 9 said up to 2000 deaths possible.

[kelroy55]

A couple years ago I spent Memorial Day weekend helping clean up Joplin and I'll be doing the same in Moore this year. My thoughts and prayers to all affected.

[Tydude]

55 people are dead so far

[jn1780]

The guy reporting from the ground on channel 9 said up to 2000 deaths possible.

I don't think be anywhere that high. Maybe around 200.

Still tragic though.

[LordGerald]

The guy reporting from the ground on channel 9 said up to 2000 deaths possible.

When will our State Legislature man up and enact some sound policy? It's not about government overreach, it's about taking care of our own.

[OKCRT]

I pray he made a mistake on that number but he was on the ground talking with officials. I also thought he might have meant to say 200 instead of up to 2,000.

[catch22]

Or more likely, 2,000 injuries.

[zookeeper]

It's not good when they're requesting assistance from surrounding areas for licensed, certified ME's.

[BlackmoreRulz]

Channel 9 is taking donations right now at Wilshire and Kelly

[zookeeper]

Wall to wall cable news coverage on CNN, MSNBC, FOX. Piers Morgan has never seen anything like it. He seems genuinely stunned at the devastation.

[OKCRT]

I fear this one is gonna be worst than anyone imagines. This tornado hit at a really bad time and not much warning like the 99 tornado. Mike Morgan said 3 times the area of damage of the 99 tornado. This is a very highly populated area it went through for most of it's life.

[zookeeper]

Bill Nye the Science Guy was just on Piers Morgan. He's asked a good question. With Sandy less than a year ago at an extreme and this monster storm, is this the future? Is this the new normal?

[td25er]

We have to find a way to get underground shelters in all schools

[Spartan]

This is going to be the costliest disaster in national history. The path is the same, but there was two or three times as much development in its way this time. I watched the southside explode w new home building immediately after May 3rd. This time the rebuilding will be totally different. This is on a Katrina level.

My parents live at SW 134th and May and they just barely lucked out. We still have family members we are trying to hear from though. The worst is old people who don't know how to text...

[Bunty]

7 Children drowned at the bottom of Plaza Towers Elementary. Lance West is reporting another 20-30 are believed dead in the rubble.

Press conference by the City of Moore coming up within the hour.

Where did all that water come from? From broken water pipes?

[zookeeper]

67 children now at the OU Trauma Center.

[OKCDrummer77]

Channel 9 is taking donations right now at Wilshire and Kelly

Also, Wilshire Church of Christ, on Wilshire between Broadway and Kelly.

[Pete]

The Warren did receive some pretty good damage as well: