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| Oklahoma rescuers wind down search for survivors in wake of savage tornado | Oklahoma rescuers wind down search for survivors in wake of savage tornado |
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| Rescue workers were scaling back their search for survivors amid the devastation wrought by one of the most powerful tornadoes in modern US history on Tuesday. | Rescue workers were scaling back their search for survivors amid the devastation wrought by one of the most powerful tornadoes in modern US history on Tuesday. |
| Hundreds of US National Guard, police and medical staff spent the day combing through piles of rubble in the streets of Moore, south of Oklahoma City. By the end of the afternoon officials said they were "98% sure" no-one else would be found alive. | Hundreds of US National Guard, police and medical staff spent the day combing through piles of rubble in the streets of Moore, south of Oklahoma City. By the end of the afternoon officials said they were "98% sure" no-one else would be found alive. |
| The tornado lasted just under an hour on Monday, when it tore through farmland, crossed a river and headed into Moore. It destroyed hundreds of homes and shops, wiped out two schools and a hospital and left at least 237 people injured, including many children. | The tornado lasted just under an hour on Monday, when it tore through farmland, crossed a river and headed into Moore. It destroyed hundreds of homes and shops, wiped out two schools and a hospital and left at least 237 people injured, including many children. |
| "We've experienced one of the most horrific disasters our state has ever faced," said the governor of Oklahoma, Mary Fallin. | "We've experienced one of the most horrific disasters our state has ever faced," said the governor of Oklahoma, Mary Fallin. |
| Authorities in Moore put the number of deaths at 24, including nine children, revising an earlier figure of 51. Officials blamed the higher figure on double-counting in the confusion. The storm was the deadliest US tornado since 161 people were killed in Joplin, Missouri, two years ago on Wednesday. | Authorities in Moore put the number of deaths at 24, including nine children, revising an earlier figure of 51. Officials blamed the higher figure on double-counting in the confusion. The storm was the deadliest US tornado since 161 people were killed in Joplin, Missouri, two years ago on Wednesday. |
| On Tuesday afternoon, fire chief Gary Bird said he was "98% sure" there were no survivors or bodies left under the rubble. He said that every damaged home had been searched at least once and that he was hopeful the work could be completed by nightfall. | On Tuesday afternoon, fire chief Gary Bird said he was "98% sure" there were no survivors or bodies left under the rubble. He said that every damaged home had been searched at least once and that he was hopeful the work could be completed by nightfall. |
| Speaking from the White House, President Obama called the disaster "one of the most destructive tornadoes in history" and promised the full help of the government in both rescue and rebuilding. "There are empty spaces where there used to be living rooms and bedrooms and classrooms. And in time we're going to need to refill those spaces with love and laughter and community," he said. | Speaking from the White House, President Obama called the disaster "one of the most destructive tornadoes in history" and promised the full help of the government in both rescue and rebuilding. "There are empty spaces where there used to be living rooms and bedrooms and classrooms. And in time we're going to need to refill those spaces with love and laughter and community," he said. |
| The tornado touched down at 2.56pm on Monday, just 16 minutes after the first warning went out, and traveled for 17 miles. The National Weather Service said the tornado was 1.3 miles wide and upgraded it from an EF-4 on the enhanced Fujita scale to the highest level, EF-5, based the findings of a damage assessment team on the ground. It loosely followed the path of a previous storm that hit the same region in May 1999 with winds of up to 300 mph. | The tornado touched down at 2.56pm on Monday, just 16 minutes after the first warning went out, and traveled for 17 miles. The National Weather Service said the tornado was 1.3 miles wide and upgraded it from an EF-4 on the enhanced Fujita scale to the highest level, EF-5, based the findings of a damage assessment team on the ground. It loosely followed the path of a previous storm that hit the same region in May 1999 with winds of up to 300 mph. |
| Stories of survival began to emerge on Tuesday. At the hospital in Moore, some doctors had jumped in a freezer to survive the storm. At the Agapeland daycare facility, 15 children survived after being herded into two bathrooms. Even though the roof was ripped off one of the rooms as the tornado passed, staff kept the youngsters calm by getting them to sing: "You are my sunshine." All survived. | Stories of survival began to emerge on Tuesday. At the hospital in Moore, some doctors had jumped in a freezer to survive the storm. At the Agapeland daycare facility, 15 children survived after being herded into two bathrooms. Even though the roof was ripped off one of the rooms as the tornado passed, staff kept the youngsters calm by getting them to sing: "You are my sunshine." All survived. |
| Outside the regional hospital in nearby Norman, Oklahoma, Ninia Lay, 48, told Reuters she huddled in a closet as the tornado hit. Her house was flattened and Lay was buried in the rubble for two hours until her husband and rescuers dug her out. "I thank God for my cell phone. I called me husband for help," she said. | Outside the regional hospital in nearby Norman, Oklahoma, Ninia Lay, 48, told Reuters she huddled in a closet as the tornado hit. Her house was flattened and Lay was buried in the rubble for two hours until her husband and rescuers dug her out. "I thank God for my cell phone. I called me husband for help," she said. |
| But there were also scenes of tragedy. At local churches, families anxiously awaited news of loved ones as authorities scrambled to work out who was dead, missing or alive. At one church, St Andrews United Methodist Church, the names of surviving children were called out via megaphone in front of a crowd of terrified parents. | But there were also scenes of tragedy. At local churches, families anxiously awaited news of loved ones as authorities scrambled to work out who was dead, missing or alive. At one church, St Andrews United Methodist Church, the names of surviving children were called out via megaphone in front of a crowd of terrified parents. |
| Much of the attention was focused on the ruins of Plaza Towers elementary school, flattened by the storm. Workers formed lines to remove rubble from the twisted remains of a structure that had had its roof torn off and its walls pushed down by the winds. | Much of the attention was focused on the ruins of Plaza Towers elementary school, flattened by the storm. Workers formed lines to remove rubble from the twisted remains of a structure that had had its roof torn off and its walls pushed down by the winds. |
| A few children were found alive in the rubble overnight and were passed down a line of rescue workers to waiting ambulances. But as the search wore on, it became less likely that anyone would be pulled out alive. Seven children died here. | A few children were found alive in the rubble overnight and were passed down a line of rescue workers to waiting ambulances. But as the search wore on, it became less likely that anyone would be pulled out alive. Seven children died here. |
| Residents of Moore spent much of the day picking through the rubble and looking for relatives. Gage Perkins, 21, walked for miles through the ruined streets, searching for his grandparents. "It's like seeing the end of the world," he said. | Residents of Moore spent much of the day picking through the rubble and looking for relatives. Gage Perkins, 21, walked for miles through the ruined streets, searching for his grandparents. "It's like seeing the end of the world," he said. |
| Rescue workers continued to go from house to house and car to car almost 24 hours after the catastrophe, marking everything they checked with spray paint. | Rescue workers continued to go from house to house and car to car almost 24 hours after the catastrophe, marking everything they checked with spray paint. |
| Four Red Cross shelter locations and at least eight other church and university facilities available to tornado victims in Moore and surrounding towns. South of Moore, near the town of Norman, the Journey megachurch acted as a hub for relief efforts, with everything from blankets and pillows to paper towels and pet food rranged in neat, labeled piles in the foyer. Used clothes were already plentiful and donations were being declined. | Four Red Cross shelter locations and at least eight other church and university facilities available to tornado victims in Moore and surrounding towns. South of Moore, near the town of Norman, the Journey megachurch acted as a hub for relief efforts, with everything from blankets and pillows to paper towels and pet food rranged in neat, labeled piles in the foyer. Used clothes were already plentiful and donations were being declined. |
| Bryan Waldenville, pastor for the Norman campus, said more than 1,000 volunteers were assisting in the relief efforts. "We received roughly 100 victims, including children. Last night, 50 to 60 of those spent the night with us." | Bryan Waldenville, pastor for the Norman campus, said more than 1,000 volunteers were assisting in the relief efforts. "We received roughly 100 victims, including children. Last night, 50 to 60 of those spent the night with us." |
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