Tonight on AC360: Catastrophe in Oklahoma
A day after a twister 1.3 miles wide ravaged the city of Moore, Oklahoma, the scope of the damage is evident. At least 24 people died, including nine children. Some of the youngest victims who lost their lives were in Plaza Towers Elementary School, which collapsed in the storm.
The estimated peak wind was about 200 mph, which would put the tornado in the most powerful category, an EF5, according to the National Weather Service. Today more than 40,000 customers are still without power, a utility spokesman said
This afternoon Anderson Cooper was standing in front of twisted metal and layers of debris. The bowling alley would have been completely unrecognizable except for the bowling balls scattered in the wreckage. That scene is replicated throughout the town – pile after pile of crumbled buildings and homes.
As residents face tremendous loss and suffering, heroes have risen to the occasion. Anderson will talk with a teacher who protected her students, and he'll interview eyewitnesses who survived the wrath of the storms. He'll also ask Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis about the status of recovery operations. Anderson, Gary Tuchman and our team of reporters are live on the scene at 8 and 10 p.m. ET.
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Check out photos taken by our producers and photojournalists covering the aftermath in Oklahoma:
Moore, Oklahoma. Photo credit: Anderson Cooper
Moore, Oklahoma. Credit: Neil Hallsworth
Moore, Oklahoma. Photo credit: Susan Chun
Moore, Oklahoma. Photo credit: Susan Chun
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Post by: Ella Chick Filed under: Tornadoes • Weather |
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With tornados such a constant issue why are safe room not required in each house in these areas unless they already have a basement. I heard yesterday that digging a basement is very hard an expensive in Oklahoma so why not require a safe room made from concreate so even if the whole house is taken, the room will stay with the slab.