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| Huge Tornado Cuts Ruinous Path for Miles in Oklahoma | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A huge tornado, perhaps a mile wide, tore through towns near Oklahoma City on Monday, flattening homes and businesses, starting fires and sending residents scrambling to find friends and neighbors possibly buried in rubble. | A huge tornado, perhaps a mile wide, tore through towns near Oklahoma City on Monday, flattening homes and businesses, starting fires and sending residents scrambling to find friends and neighbors possibly buried in rubble. |
| As reports of injuries began coming in, the authorities said some people were trapped and rescue workers were still making their way to the severely damaged suburb of Moore. | As reports of injuries began coming in, the authorities said some people were trapped and rescue workers were still making their way to the severely damaged suburb of Moore. |
| Sgt. Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department said that at least one school in Moore suffered “severe damage,” but he had no information about possible injuries. “Numerous neighborhoods completely leveled,” he said by telephone. “Neighborhoods just wiped clean.” | Sgt. Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department said that at least one school in Moore suffered “severe damage,” but he had no information about possible injuries. “Numerous neighborhoods completely leveled,” he said by telephone. “Neighborhoods just wiped clean.” |
| Sergeant Knight said debris and damage to roadways along with heavy traffic were hindering emergency responders racing to the affected areas. | Sergeant Knight said debris and damage to roadways along with heavy traffic were hindering emergency responders racing to the affected areas. |
| A spokeswoman in the mayor’s office in Moore said that there was no information on casualties, and that emergency workers were struggling to assess the damage. | A spokeswoman in the mayor’s office in Moore said that there was no information on casualties, and that emergency workers were struggling to assess the damage. |
| “Please send us your prayers,” she said. | “Please send us your prayers,” she said. |
| Brooke Cayot, a spokeswoman for the Integris Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City, said that as of 5:48 Central Time the hospital had received 33 patients. Of those 10 were listed in critical condition, 10 in serious and 12 in fair or good. . Many more patients were expected. | Brooke Cayot, a spokeswoman for the Integris Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City, said that as of 5:48 Central Time the hospital had received 33 patients. Of those 10 were listed in critical condition, 10 in serious and 12 in fair or good. . Many more patients were expected. |
| “They’ve been coming in minute by minute,” Ms. Cayot said. | “They’ve been coming in minute by minute,” Ms. Cayot said. |
| Emily Kezbers, a spokeswoman for Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, said three patients injuries during the tornado were on their way to the hospital. | Emily Kezbers, a spokeswoman for Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, said three patients injuries during the tornado were on their way to the hospital. |
| Keli Pirtle, a spokeswoman for the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., said the tornado touched down at 2:56 p.m. Central Time and traveled for 20 miles. It was on the ground for 40 minutes, she said. It struck the town of Newcastle and traveled about 10 miles to Moore, a heavily populated suburb of Oklahoma City | Keli Pirtle, a spokeswoman for the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., said the tornado touched down at 2:56 p.m. Central Time and traveled for 20 miles. It was on the ground for 40 minutes, she said. It struck the town of Newcastle and traveled about 10 miles to Moore, a heavily populated suburb of Oklahoma City |
| Ms. Pirtle said preliminary data suggested that it was category 4 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado strength on a scale of 0 to 5. A definitive assessment will not be available until Tuesday, she said. | Ms. Pirtle said preliminary data suggested that it was category 4 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado strength on a scale of 0 to 5. A definitive assessment will not be available until Tuesday, she said. |
| Moore was the scene of another huge tornado, in May 1999, in which winds reached record speeds of 302 m.p.h. | Moore was the scene of another huge tornado, in May 1999, in which winds reached record speeds of 302 m.p.h. |
| Television on Monday showed destruction spread over a vast area, with blocks upon blocks of homes and businesses destroyed. Residents, some partly clothed and apparently caught by surprise, were shown picking through rubble. Several structures were on fire. At least one school was reported hit. | Television on Monday showed destruction spread over a vast area, with blocks upon blocks of homes and businesses destroyed. Residents, some partly clothed and apparently caught by surprise, were shown picking through rubble. Several structures were on fire. At least one school was reported hit. |
| The storm system continued to churn through the region on Monday afternoon, and forecasters warned that new tornadoes could form. | The storm system continued to churn through the region on Monday afternoon, and forecasters warned that new tornadoes could form. |
| An earlier storm system also spawned several tornadoes across Oklahoma on Sunday. Several deaths were reported. | An earlier storm system also spawned several tornadoes across Oklahoma on Sunday. Several deaths were reported. |