Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/mile-wide-tornado-rips-through-suburban-oklahoma-city Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Mile-Wide Tornado Rips Through Suburban Oklahoma City Nation May 20, 2013 9:20 PM EDT Television footage shows the massive funnel cloud that moved across the suburbs of Oklahoma City Monday. Update 11:48 p.m. President Obama signed a disaster declaration for Oklahoma, minutes ago. BREAKING: President Barack Obama declares major disaster in Oklahoma after devastating tornado — The Associated Press (@AP) May 21, 2013 Update 11:28 p.m. | The following AP video shows survivors being pulled from the debris and loaded into waiting ambulances. Update 11:03 p.m. | Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and city officials held a press conference earlier this evening. Fallin said that Oklahoma had received offers for resources from governors from other states across the nation, as well as from President Obama. She added that for now, downed power lines, blocked roadways, and overloaded telephone networks were hindering the emergency response. The Associated Press has published a set of maps and graphics showing the path of destruction in Oklahoma, the latest information about the number of people killed or injured in the storm, and some background information on tornadoes. Update 10:19 p.m. | Earlier today, the National Weather Service provided these details on the tornado: Newcastle-Moore OKC Tornado was on the ground approx. 40 minutes. Tornado warning was in effect for 16 minutes before tornado developed. — NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) May 20, 2013 Update 9:16 p.m. | AP has tweeted that the state medical examiner’s office is now reporting 51 killed in the Oklahoma tornado, with children among the dead. BREAKING: State medical examiner’s office: 51 killed in Oklahoma tornado, with children among the dead -RJJ — The Associated Press (@AP) May 21, 2013 Update 8:55 p.m. | There are at least 37 people reported killed. Authorities expected the death toll to rise as emergency crews moved deeper into the hardest-hit areas. At least 60 people were reported hurt, including more than a dozen children. Update 7:02 p.m. | The Associated Press is following the story in Moore, Okla., where the twister touched down. Follow their updates via Twitter: BREAKING: Several children pulled out of rubble alive at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla. -RJJ — The Associated Press (@AP) May 20, 2013 Update 6:17 p.m. | The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Moore had wind speeds up to 200 mph. The weather service’s preliminary classification of Monday afternoon’s tornado was an EF-4 on the enhanced Fujita scale. Update 5:30 p.m. | Authorities also report that an elementary school in the area took a direct hit from the twister. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department says the school suffered “extensive damage.” Update 5:05 p.m. EDT | The Associated Press is reporting that a mile-wide tornado has ripped through suburban Oklahoma City Monday afternoon. Video showed homes and buildings in Moore, Okla., were reduced to rubble, and vehicles littered roadways south and southwest of Oklahoma City. More: Live updates from NPR member station KGOU in Oklahoma. Live updates from The Oklahoman, including a map of the twister’s path and video from the scene. Follow the tweets from the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now
Television footage shows the massive funnel cloud that moved across the suburbs of Oklahoma City Monday. Update 11:48 p.m. President Obama signed a disaster declaration for Oklahoma, minutes ago. BREAKING: President Barack Obama declares major disaster in Oklahoma after devastating tornado — The Associated Press (@AP) May 21, 2013 Update 11:28 p.m. | The following AP video shows survivors being pulled from the debris and loaded into waiting ambulances. Update 11:03 p.m. | Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and city officials held a press conference earlier this evening. Fallin said that Oklahoma had received offers for resources from governors from other states across the nation, as well as from President Obama. She added that for now, downed power lines, blocked roadways, and overloaded telephone networks were hindering the emergency response. The Associated Press has published a set of maps and graphics showing the path of destruction in Oklahoma, the latest information about the number of people killed or injured in the storm, and some background information on tornadoes. Update 10:19 p.m. | Earlier today, the National Weather Service provided these details on the tornado: Newcastle-Moore OKC Tornado was on the ground approx. 40 minutes. Tornado warning was in effect for 16 minutes before tornado developed. — NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) May 20, 2013 Update 9:16 p.m. | AP has tweeted that the state medical examiner’s office is now reporting 51 killed in the Oklahoma tornado, with children among the dead. BREAKING: State medical examiner’s office: 51 killed in Oklahoma tornado, with children among the dead -RJJ — The Associated Press (@AP) May 21, 2013 Update 8:55 p.m. | There are at least 37 people reported killed. Authorities expected the death toll to rise as emergency crews moved deeper into the hardest-hit areas. At least 60 people were reported hurt, including more than a dozen children. Update 7:02 p.m. | The Associated Press is following the story in Moore, Okla., where the twister touched down. Follow their updates via Twitter: BREAKING: Several children pulled out of rubble alive at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla. -RJJ — The Associated Press (@AP) May 20, 2013 Update 6:17 p.m. | The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Moore had wind speeds up to 200 mph. The weather service’s preliminary classification of Monday afternoon’s tornado was an EF-4 on the enhanced Fujita scale. Update 5:30 p.m. | Authorities also report that an elementary school in the area took a direct hit from the twister. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department says the school suffered “extensive damage.” Update 5:05 p.m. EDT | The Associated Press is reporting that a mile-wide tornado has ripped through suburban Oklahoma City Monday afternoon. Video showed homes and buildings in Moore, Okla., were reduced to rubble, and vehicles littered roadways south and southwest of Oklahoma City. More: Live updates from NPR member station KGOU in Oklahoma. Live updates from The Oklahoman, including a map of the twister’s path and video from the scene. Follow the tweets from the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now