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