Oklahoma tornado power
President Barack Obama is set to make a statement at 10 a.m. ET on the lethal tornadoes that struck Moore, Okla., on Monday. Early news on Tuesday indicated that 51 people were dead in the storm. Obama had called Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin on Monday evening to suggest federal support for the area hit by the storm, including finances for temporary shelter and home repairs as well as loans to help families cover uninsured losses.
Severe Weather after Oklahoma Tornado
Emergency employees searched for survivors in the debris of homes, schools and a hospital in an Oklahoma town hit by a powerful tornado. Officials on sharply lowered the number of deaths caused by the tornado. The Oklahoma state medical examiner’s office said 24 bodies had been recovered from the remains of Monday’s storm, down from the 51 they had reported earlier. The earlier number likely reflected some double-counted deaths, said Amy Elliott, chief administrative officer for the medical examiner.
Thunderstorms and lightning slowed the rescue effort on Tuesday, but officials lowered the bodies recovered.
Fire-fighters from more than a dozen fire departments worked all night under intense spotlights trying to find survivors at Plaza Towers Elementary School, which took a straight hit. President Barack Obama declared a major disaster area in Oklahoma, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local efforts in Moore after the deadliest U.S. tornado since 161 people were killed in Joplin, Missouri, two years ago.
“The whole city looks like a rubble field,” Glenn Lewis, the mayor of Moore, told NBC. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration forced a temporary flight restriction that allowed only relief plane in the area. Oklahoma activated the National Guard, and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency activated teams to support recovery operations and coordinate responses for multiple agencies.
Oklahoma Tornado Destruction May 2013
Looking for a way to help with tornado recovery? You can donate to the American Red Cross by texting “redcross” to “90999.” The donation will appear on your next cellphone bill.
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