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| Post-Tornado Rescue Efforts in Oklahoma Near an End | |
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| MOORE, Okla. — Oklahoma officials said Tuesday afternoon that they hoped to finish their search for survivors of a massive tornado by nightfall, a little more than 24 hours after the Oklahoma City area was slammed by a storm packing 190-mile per hour winds and measuring nearly two miles across that killed dozens of people, injured hundreds of others and leveled buildings to their foundations. | MOORE, Okla. — Oklahoma officials said Tuesday afternoon that they hoped to finish their search for survivors of a massive tornado by nightfall, a little more than 24 hours after the Oklahoma City area was slammed by a storm packing 190-mile per hour winds and measuring nearly two miles across that killed dozens of people, injured hundreds of others and leveled buildings to their foundations. |
| The brunt of the damage occurred in the suburb of Moore, where rescue workers struggled all day to make their way through streets cut off by debris and around downed power lines to those who were feared trapped under hills of rubble. The crews, using thermal-imaging equipment and dogs, sifted through scattered piles of red brick, steel beams, utility poles and upended cars where houses and shops once stood. | The brunt of the damage occurred in the suburb of Moore, where rescue workers struggled all day to make their way through streets cut off by debris and around downed power lines to those who were feared trapped under hills of rubble. The crews, using thermal-imaging equipment and dogs, sifted through scattered piles of red brick, steel beams, utility poles and upended cars where houses and shops once stood. |
| Gary Bird, the city’s fire chief, said that more than 200 people worked overnight Monday and into Tuesday looking for survivors. “We will go through every damaged piece of property in this city,” he said Tuesday afternoon. He said he thought the search would be completed by sundown. | Gary Bird, the city’s fire chief, said that more than 200 people worked overnight Monday and into Tuesday looking for survivors. “We will go through every damaged piece of property in this city,” he said Tuesday afternoon. He said he thought the search would be completed by sundown. |
| Officials said that it was still too early to say precisely how many people had been killed, but the toll appears to be significantly less than what had been originally feared. On Monday night, Amy Elliott, the spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City medical examiner, said at least 51 people had died and 40 more bodies were on their way, but on Tuesday, Ms. Elliott said that count “is no longer accurate.” | Officials said that it was still too early to say precisely how many people had been killed, but the toll appears to be significantly less than what had been originally feared. On Monday night, Amy Elliott, the spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City medical examiner, said at least 51 people had died and 40 more bodies were on their way, but on Tuesday, Ms. Elliott said that count “is no longer accurate.” |
| As of Tuesday morning, the medical examiner had confirmed 24 dead, nine of them children, she said. Of the dead, 20 were in Moore, and four in Oklahoma City, officials said. | As of Tuesday morning, the medical examiner had confirmed 24 dead, nine of them children, she said. Of the dead, 20 were in Moore, and four in Oklahoma City, officials said. |
| “This was the storm of storms,” said Mick Cornett, Oklahoma City’s mayor. | “This was the storm of storms,” said Mick Cornett, Oklahoma City’s mayor. |
| Gov. Mary Fallin said at a news conference Tuesday that officials had not yet arrived at a conclusive death toll, but that 237 people had been injured. Officials have said that number includes about 70 children. | Gov. Mary Fallin said at a news conference Tuesday that officials had not yet arrived at a conclusive death toll, but that 237 people had been injured. Officials have said that number includes about 70 children. |
| The risk of tornadoes throughout the region remained at an elevated level through Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, and throughout the day, rescue efforts were hampered by wind and rain. | The risk of tornadoes throughout the region remained at an elevated level through Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, and throughout the day, rescue efforts were hampered by wind and rain. |
| A continuing focus of concern was Plaza Towers Elementary School, which was reduced to a pile of twisted metal and toppled walls. Rescue workers were able to pull several children from the rubble, and on Tuesday, as a chilly rain swept through the area, crews were still struggling to cut through fallen beams and clear debris. Officials said Tuesday afternoon that they were not sure whether all of the school’s students, teachers and staff had been accounted for. | A continuing focus of concern was Plaza Towers Elementary School, which was reduced to a pile of twisted metal and toppled walls. Rescue workers were able to pull several children from the rubble, and on Tuesday, as a chilly rain swept through the area, crews were still struggling to cut through fallen beams and clear debris. Officials said Tuesday afternoon that they were not sure whether all of the school’s students, teachers and staff had been accounted for. |
| At Briarwood Elementary School in Oklahoma City, on the border with Moore, cars were thrown through the facade and the roof was torn off. | At Briarwood Elementary School in Oklahoma City, on the border with Moore, cars were thrown through the facade and the roof was torn off. |
| Albert Ashwood, an emergency management official, said the two schools that were hit lacked safe rooms for storms, because the appropriate financing had not been applied for. Limited funds meant that other priorities were set, he said. The presence of safe rooms, however, he said, however, did “not necessarily” mean that more students would have survived. But it is a “mitigating” factor, he said. “This was a very unique tornado,” he said. | Albert Ashwood, an emergency management official, said the two schools that were hit lacked safe rooms for storms, because the appropriate financing had not been applied for. Limited funds meant that other priorities were set, he said. The presence of safe rooms, however, he said, however, did “not necessarily” mean that more students would have survived. But it is a “mitigating” factor, he said. “This was a very unique tornado,” he said. |
| Despite being located in a region prone to tornadoes — and being devastated by one in 1999 — the city of Moore, according to its Web site, has no ordinance requiring storm safe rooms in public or private facilities, and the city itself lacked a community shelter. | Despite being located in a region prone to tornadoes — and being devastated by one in 1999 — the city of Moore, according to its Web site, has no ordinance requiring storm safe rooms in public or private facilities, and the city itself lacked a community shelter. |
| “All of the schools in the Moore Public School District have plans — coordinated with the Emergency Management Office of the city for monitoring severe weather conditions and for placing students and staff into shelter during severe weather events,” according to the Web site, although the schools lacked underground shelters. | “All of the schools in the Moore Public School District have plans — coordinated with the Emergency Management Office of the city for monitoring severe weather conditions and for placing students and staff into shelter during severe weather events,” according to the Web site, although the schools lacked underground shelters. |
| President Obama, who on Monday night declared a federal disaster in five Oklahoma counties, said during brief remarks at the White House on Tuesday morning that the tornado had been “one of the most destructive in history,” and that he had informed aides that “Oklahoma needs to get everything it needs right away.” He said Federal Emergency Management Agency officials had been dispatched to Moore, which has a population of about 55,000, to aid in the recovery effort. | President Obama, who on Monday night declared a federal disaster in five Oklahoma counties, said during brief remarks at the White House on Tuesday morning that the tornado had been “one of the most destructive in history,” and that he had informed aides that “Oklahoma needs to get everything it needs right away.” He said Federal Emergency Management Agency officials had been dispatched to Moore, which has a population of about 55,000, to aid in the recovery effort. |
| “For all those who’ve been affected, we recognize that you face a long road ahead,” Mr. Obama said. “In some cases, there will be enormous grief that has to be absorbed. But you will not travel that path alone.” | “For all those who’ve been affected, we recognize that you face a long road ahead,” Mr. Obama said. “In some cases, there will be enormous grief that has to be absorbed. But you will not travel that path alone.” |
| Governor Fallin called the tornado one of the most “horrific” disasters the state has ever faced, but pledged to rebuild. After taking an aerial tour of the area, she said the trail of ruin might be 20-miles long and as much as two miles wide. | Governor Fallin called the tornado one of the most “horrific” disasters the state has ever faced, but pledged to rebuild. After taking an aerial tour of the area, she said the trail of ruin might be 20-miles long and as much as two miles wide. |
| “It is hard to look at,” she said. “There’s just sticks and bricks.” | “It is hard to look at,” she said. “There’s just sticks and bricks.” |
| Shortly before midnight on Monday, the area near the Plaza Towers school was eerily quiet and shrouded in darkness from a widespread power outage. Local authorities and F.B.I. agents patrolled the streets, restricting access to the school. | Shortly before midnight on Monday, the area near the Plaza Towers school was eerily quiet and shrouded in darkness from a widespread power outage. Local authorities and F.B.I. agents patrolled the streets, restricting access to the school. |
| Half a mile away, the only sounds on Southwest Fourth Street were of barking dogs and tires on wet pavement littered with debris. Hovering in the sky, a helicopter shined a spotlight on the damaged neighborhoods. In the darkness, the century-old Moore Cemetery was a ghostly wreck: women’s clothing and blankets clung to the branches of tilting trees and twisted sheets of metal ripped from nearby buildings or homes were strewn among the graves. Many headstones had been pushed flat to the ground by the wind. | Half a mile away, the only sounds on Southwest Fourth Street were of barking dogs and tires on wet pavement littered with debris. Hovering in the sky, a helicopter shined a spotlight on the damaged neighborhoods. In the darkness, the century-old Moore Cemetery was a ghostly wreck: women’s clothing and blankets clung to the branches of tilting trees and twisted sheets of metal ripped from nearby buildings or homes were strewn among the graves. Many headstones had been pushed flat to the ground by the wind. |
| The tornado touched down at 2:56 p.m., 16 minutes after the first warning went out, and traveled for 17 miles, according to the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla. It was on the ground for about 40 minutes, first striking the town of Newcastle before thrashing its way to Moore, about 10 miles away. | The tornado touched down at 2:56 p.m., 16 minutes after the first warning went out, and traveled for 17 miles, according to the National Weather Service in Norman, Okla. It was on the ground for about 40 minutes, first striking the town of Newcastle before thrashing its way to Moore, about 10 miles away. |
| Its top wind speeds reached 190 miles per hour. | Its top wind speeds reached 190 miles per hour. |
| Severe weather is common in the region this time of year, and Moore has seen other tornadoes, including in May 1999, when a tornado with record wind speeds of 302 m.p.h. destroyed much of the town, which was then rebuilt. | Severe weather is common in the region this time of year, and Moore has seen other tornadoes, including in May 1999, when a tornado with record wind speeds of 302 m.p.h. destroyed much of the town, which was then rebuilt. |
| On Monday, Kelcy Trowbridge, her husband and their three young children piled into their neighbor’s cellar just outside of Moore and huddled together for about five minutes, wrapped under a blanket as the tornado screamed above them, debris smashing against the cellar door. | On Monday, Kelcy Trowbridge, her husband and their three young children piled into their neighbor’s cellar just outside of Moore and huddled together for about five minutes, wrapped under a blanket as the tornado screamed above them, debris smashing against the cellar door. |
| They emerged to find their home flattened and the family car resting upside down a few houses away. Ms. Trowbridge’s husband rushed toward what was left of their home and began sifting through the debris, then stopped, and told her to call the police. | They emerged to find their home flattened and the family car resting upside down a few houses away. Ms. Trowbridge’s husband rushed toward what was left of their home and began sifting through the debris, then stopped, and told her to call the police. |
| He had found the body of a little girl, about 2 or 3 years old, she said. | He had found the body of a little girl, about 2 or 3 years old, she said. |
| “He knew she was already gone,” Ms. Trowbridge said. “When the police got there, he just bawled.” | “He knew she was already gone,” Ms. Trowbridge said. “When the police got there, he just bawled.” |
| She said: “My neighborhood is gone. It’s flattened. Demolished. The street is gone. The next block over, it’s in pieces.” | She said: “My neighborhood is gone. It’s flattened. Demolished. The street is gone. The next block over, it’s in pieces.” |
John Eligon and Manny Fernandez reported from Moore, and Michael Schwirtz from New York. Reporting was contributed by Nick Oxford from Moore, Leslie Metzger and Kathleen Johnson from Norman, Okla., Dan Frosch from Denver, Timothy Williams and Christine Hauser from New York, John Schwartz from Dallas and Peter Baker from Washington. | John Eligon and Manny Fernandez reported from Moore, and Michael Schwirtz from New York. Reporting was contributed by Nick Oxford from Moore, Leslie Metzger and Kathleen Johnson from Norman, Okla., Dan Frosch from Denver, Timothy Williams and Christine Hauser from New York, John Schwartz from Dallas and Peter Baker from Washington. |