The “Moore Tornado”, as it is now called, touched down at approximately 2:45 PM CDT in Moore, Oklahoma on May 20th, commencing 50 minutes of pure pandemonium and destruction. With an EF5 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, this tornado flattened homes, sent cars spiraling in its 210 mph winds, and ultimately led to widespread power outages on leveled neighborhoods.
As with any natural disaster, this twister caused a significant amount of damage and casualties, with deaths totaling 24 people; of those, 9 were children. Some of the deaths of these children came from the fatalities at Briarwood Elementary School and Plaza Towers Elementary School, perhaps the most remembered demolitions in the wake of the tornado. The teachers at Plaza Towers followed protocol by moving their students to the innermost walls of their classrooms and instructing the children to get down on their hands and knees with their backpacks covering their heads. Some dedicated teachers added an extra layer of protection by wrapping their own bodies around the students as the debris fell around them; Jennifer Doan exemplified such love for her students when she, 30 and pregnant, covered her students and told them to hold on. Dolan suffered from fractured sternum and spine for her act of bravery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L-XExpb3pY
As if this damage and these deaths weren’t horrific enough, on Friday May 31st, more tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma. The 40 feet deep flood waters as a result of the storm affected rescues. According to the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office, as of June 13th, these tornadoes had 22 casualties.
Oklahoma’s Midwest environment makes it a typical place for disastrous tornadoes. In 1999, Oklahoma experienced a tornado outbreak, which lasted from May 3rd to May 6th. The tornado with the most damage was categorized as an EF5 as soon as it touched down in southwest Oklahoma before advancing to Moore, among other suburbs. This storm led to a total of $1.1 billion in damage and took 36 lives.
Oklahoma experiences about 1 tornado every five years, going through the same cycle of rebuilding only to find itself leveled once again by the next tornado.The problem lies in our inadequate disaster preparedness programs. Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma wants to educate citizens in safe houses and encourage large
centers like schools, and career and technology centers to look into safe house building that will survive a EF4 or EF5 storm.
“You are not alone” was Obama’s message to the victims of these tornadoes, who are being awarded twice the national average for disaster aid by FEMA. Hewitt raised over $600 to to donate to these victims in a week long drive before the end of the school year. Much like Hurricane Sandy, recovery in Oklahoma will happen slowly but surely.