Residents of Moore, Okla., and the Oklahoma City area have emerged from emergency shelters, many built following devastating tornadoes that hit the same area in 1999. Two elementary schools were reported leveled by this afternoon’s mile-wide twister, and reporters are saying that 75 children were in Plaza Towers Elementary when it was destroyed.
KFOR reporting this is what's left of Plaza Tower Elementary school. Took a direct hit. pic.twitter.com/HQb7u8gLd2
— Keaton Fox (@keatonfox) May 20, 2013
Meredith Dake is an editor with Breitbart.com.
Been in and out shelter. Crazy.
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 20, 2013
So reminiscent of May 3rd. Incredible. Children trapped in elementary school around the corner from me.
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 20, 2013
Saw close to 50 emergency vehicles going in all directions. It seemed like insanity. People randomly just standing on streets or walking
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 20, 2013
I'm at the Warren Theater (which was hit — very close 2 me) almost every weekend. Damage is incomprehensible. Pray 4 kids trapped in school
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 20, 2013
Showing direct hit on the elementary school just now. Guy in the chopper giving the report started getting choked up. Serious damage
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 20, 2013
According to News 9, all children at elementary school which was directly hit by tornado are accounted for. No word on injuries.
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 20, 2013
My god. Moore Medical Center destroyed. Less than 5 minutes from my house. Gas station across street leveled. 3 fatalities inside. 1 baby
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 20, 2013
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Plaza Tower Elem. school one child is being taken away by stretcher. But ambulances are not able to get to the school.
— BringtheFlag (@BringtheFlag) May 20, 2013
30 children have been pulled from the Plaza Tower School which is a Pre-K-6th grade. Still continuing with search and rescue efforts!
— Chris Schild (@SchildStorm) May 20, 2013
Plaza Tower: from @KFOR 4th, 5th & 6th grade students all accounted for; children at a nearby church. #oklahoma #PrayForOklahoma
— Maria Roach (@riaro) May 20, 2013
The 4th, 5th and 6th grade students from Plaza Towers Elementary are all at a nearby church. Search continues for others in lower grades
— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskNews) May 20, 2013
The hallway of Plaza Towers that held the 3rd graders was destroyed. #okwx
— Melissa Mackenzie (@MelissaTweets) May 20, 2013
There’s some hopeful news from nearby Briarwood Elementary School, which hopefully will be confirmed soon.
My heart is breaking for the little ones in Briarwood Elementary. Hoping for a miracle #PrayforOklahoma
— Loren Ridinger (@lorenridinger) May 20, 2013
Reports from teacher in Briarwood elementary: All children alive. One head injury. Bruises and cuts. Incredible if you see damage.
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 20, 2013
BREAKING: Teacher live on @NEWS9: Some head injuries and cuts were suffered but all kids accounted for at Briarwood Elementary in Moore, OK.
— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) May 20, 2013
Hearing reports that the children @ Briarwood Elementary are all accounted for. Moore Warren Theater now an acting triage center. #okwx
— Graham Lee Brewer (@grahambrewer) May 20, 2013
Update:
One man tells Lance West that he helped pull out 30+ kids. Unclear if these are among those 75 mentioned earlier. Confusion. #okc
— Andy Carvin (@acarvin) May 20, 2013
4th, 5th, 6th graders accounted for. K-3 not yet. Parents yelling at rescuers, "Why aren't you doing more?" -KFOR
— Andy Carvin (@acarvin) May 20, 2013
KFOR tells story of elem teacher who laid on top of six elem students during the tornado. All of them made it out unhurt. Wow. #okc #tornado
— Andy Carvin (@acarvin) May 20, 2013
Plaza Towers Elem School on live TV – utter devastation, like a bomb went of. Parents cordoned back so they can listen for cries for help.
— Andy Carvin (@acarvin) May 20, 2013
Several Plaza Tower elem students tell KFOR they were told to "hang onto the walls" as the tornado hit.
— Andy Carvin (@acarvin) May 20, 2013
https://twitter.com/NWCN/status/336611406659067905
Reporter heard cries for help at the Plaza Tower school. Dogs and backboards being brought to debris mound.
— Cynthia Jones (@Copperflowers) May 20, 2013
Heartbreaking. Teachers carry students away from a destroyed Briarwood Elementary in #OKC. #OpOK pic.twitter.com/EfzzMg0PRa
— OTM_Yellowtapee (@OTM_YeLLoWTapee) May 21, 2013
* * *
Update:
This is unbearably sad news to report. Sources now say that up to two dozen children at Plaza Towers Elementary are believed to be dead. Compounding the horror: with most of the children in the upper grades accounted for, this suggests the very youngest were the victims.
KFOR reporting 2 dozen children apparently killed in Plaza Towers Elementary. Reporter overcome with emotion.
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) May 20, 2013
Emergency officials told @lancewest no longer search & rescue mission at Moore elementary, now recovery. Possibly 12 children still inside.
— KFOR (@kfor) May 20, 2013
CORRECTION: Crews said it's no longer search & rescue mission at Moore elementary, now just recovery. Possibly 24 children still inside.
— KFOR (@kfor) May 20, 2013
KFOR'S @lancewest: "I bring you this news with a heavy heart." 7 schoolkids found dead in pool of water. Approx 20-30 others feared dead.
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) May 20, 2013
https://twitter.com/MelminKep93/status/336627265142149120
A girl being pulled from the rubble of Plaza Towers Elementary in Moore (OK). (via @AP) pic.twitter.com/iyJTmtz0qp
— Josh Elliott (@JoshElliott32) May 20, 2013
https://twitter.com/JessWinss/status/336627500220289025
* * *
PHOTO: Boy pulled from beneath a collapsed wall at Plaza Towers Elem. in Moore, OK. – via @AP – pic.twitter.com/MbgQUaLbBr
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) May 21, 2013
Update: The bodies of seven children were recovered from a pool of water and it is believed they drowned in the wreckage of Plaza Towers Elementary. Here are more photos from the scene by photojournalist Nick Oxford.
Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore OK pic.twitter.com/VH7O44pi1K
— Nick Oxford (@NickOxfordPhoto) May 21, 2013
Rescue workers are setting up lights at Plaza Towers elementary to continue the search into the night in Moore OK pic.twitter.com/OfWq0H6WK1
— Nick Oxford (@NickOxfordPhoto) May 21, 2013
KOCO reporting crews have been moved back from the scene at Plaza Elementary. Unfortunately that probably means they're removing dead. Sad
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 21, 2013
News 9 anchor breaking down… Reading a facebook/tweet from a mother of Plaza Towers child who hasn't been found asking for prayers. Sad.
— Mere Dake-O'Connor (@meredithdake) May 21, 2013
Our thoughts/prayers are with those who have lost loved ones. #tornado #okwx #okcoso pic.twitter.com/Z4rKS2GEfO
— Oklahoma Co. Sheriff (@OkCountySheriff) May 21, 2013
Update:
Unofficial reports indicate 91 people are dead.
Good morning, Breaking news out of Oklahoma where KFOR in OKC is reporting 91 people dead, 233 injured in yesterday's tragic tornado.
— FOX Carolina News (@foxcarolinanews) May 21, 2013
Pray for Oklahoma.
Update:
As of Tuesday morning, Oklahoma City officials put the death toll at 24, including seven children.
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