Tonight on AC360: Tornadoes strike Oklahoma
Moments ago, a massive tornado tore through Moore, Oklahoma, just south of Oklahoma City. It’s estimated the powerful twister was two miles wide when it hit the area. The preliminary rating of damage created by the tornado is at least EF4 (winds 166 to 200 mph), according to the National Weather Service
Right now, our affiliate KFOR has a helicopter above Moore showing homes and schools, including Plaza Towers Elementary School, left in ruins for miles. Buildings are completely leveled, and cars are mangled in piles. Reporter Lance West says the basketball court is being set up as a triage area at one of the schools. An urgent search and rescue effort is underway.
And the severe weather is not over. More tornadoes are hitting the region. CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers is tracking the weather and he’ll have the latest tonight at 8 and 10 p.m. ET. We also have a team of reporters on the scene with more information on the devastating aftermath.
TO HELP, DONATE TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
http://www.redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999
1-800-REDCROSS
IF YOU NEED INFORMATION, CALL THE OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICE
405-228-9500
IF YOU NEED SHELTER OR WANT TO REUNITE WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBER:
ST. ANDREW’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2727 SW 119th Street
Oklahoma City, OK
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I'm sorry, but I'm sure Oklahoma emergency services have the weather channel as others do across the U.S. and on Friday the 17th they mentioned some tornadoes, then more on Saturday the 18th & even more on Sunday the 19th and supposedly even Far more & FAR worse on Monday the 20th. I fail to see how no one, stopped to think having 3day heads-up warnings. "Maybe our kids shouldn't go to school on Monday." Now 24 Kids are missing and pretty much considered Dead. Someone in emergency services in those counties SERIOUSLY dropped the Ball!
No Stay home Alert at ALL from Emergency Broadcast Systems.
Call or email the White House and demand US Military Equipment be sent to OK City NOW. Our military has the heavy duty helicopters, and equipment to help, and it is critically needed. 90 minutes left of sunlight. MSNBC reports over 2 dozen children found dead, and many more. Hundreds of animals killed. Help fight this tragedy, call now.
It is completely irresponsible and criminal that a school located in a tornado zone does not have a shelter on the premises.
I am wondering why people living in "Tornado Alley" are not required to have concrete, underground shelters. During the war we had bomb shelters, in the nineteen-fifties we had fall-out shelters..why not tornado shelters???
I wonder something similar.... it seems like a school should have an underground shelter when located in an area like this, or something more safe than being in a concrete hallway. while the concrete hallway may work some of the time, it seems like an underground tornado shelter would be a good idea, not only for the kids, but for the neighborhood as well since these monster storms can and clearly do happen.
Anderson, how can we come help with the rescues and first aid. I'm a nurse.
Please Anderson, do let us know how we can get there to help.