[Goodpasture]

I'm just glad it didn't hit Norman......that would have messed up spring training for OU football..........

[Goodpasture]

I try to keep the emotions in check, but this choked me up, big time. From FB

Hey fb friends, this is Sydney Angle. She is a light in my eye. She is one of the most charismatic, beautiful children God ever put on this planet. Her time here is NOT done. If you see her in or around any of the shelters in Moore, PLEASE let someone know ASAP. She has two wonderful parents, Dan and Nicole who miss her and want to see her smile. She is a 3rd grader at Plaza Towers. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep her, her parents, and her brother and sister in your prayers. You may think you've lost everything, but a house is just a house. Family is LIFE. Waiting for you to jump in my arms Syd!

Connie Gravitt: Sydney didn't make it. She and her family were friends with my husband's cousin's family.

[VistaCat]

My heart is with you folks in Oklahoma who have been affected by this unbelievable event. I will certainly donate - it's the best way I can help right now.

[Debbie1125]

My thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by these terrible tornadoes....humans and animals.

My sympathies and condolences go out to the families who lost loved ones

[ogre]

These natural disasters are terrible, but one good thing you'll see happening with these events is the way people jump in to help. In this case, by this morning there were already rescue crews in from other states, and then there are those stories about teachers who threw themselves on top of the kids in the schools that were hit.

You also see how people suddenly become very aware of what is most important. I've seen several scenes now of people in Moore standing in total rubble, their houses and belongings all swept away, saying how grateful they were that all their family members had made it through so they still had each other.

And then there's this moment (just saw this on television a short while ago, but I'm guessing this one will be all over the media):

Oklahoma tornado: Survivor finds her missing dog during television interview - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

[stillkit]

Just an update from Moore:

I came home tonight after 5 days on the ground as a damage assessor. I've met probably 500 victims, first responders and volunteer helpers face to face in the midst of the destruction and I can tell you without a doubt that the people of Moore will recover and grow stronger from this awful event. I talked and prayed with teachers, students, firefighters, cops, soldiers from every branch, Red Cross volunteers, FEMA officials, residents, NGO helpers and many, many ordinary people who just came to help.

The tornado was on the ground from Newcastle, OK to about Sooner Road in far SE Oklahoma City, a path of 8 or 10 miles. It's width varied from nearly a mile wide to just 4 or 5 houses wide as it strengthened and weakened, grew and retracted. Wherever it hit directly, there's nothing left but piles of debris. Officials estimate 1150 homes totally destroyed, along with a hospital and 2 schools, with another badly damaged. Many businesses are also gone.

Here's what I learned: They're bent, but far from broken. Today, the first day when everyone was off work or out of school, there were more volunteer helpers in the zone of destruction than there were victims by at least a ratio of 10-1. School kids, college students, Boy Scouts from as far away as Austin, TX, church groups from Florida, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and all over Oklahoma flooded the area with help. People grilling food, just driving around handing out water or sandwiches or tools, picking out personal belongings or just shoveling debris. It's incredible! I've now worked something like 25 or 30 disasters of all kinds, all over the nation and in foreign countries, and I've NEVER seen anything like today!

Moore, OK needs your prayers, but they're certainly not lacking in support. And tomorrow, the President of the United States will be there too!

Thank you all for whatever you've done. The people of Moore and the State of Oklahoma will not only survive, but show the rest of the world how it's done.

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Just an update from Moore:

I came home tonight after 5 days on the ground as a damage assessor. I've met probably 500 victims, first responders and volunteer helpers face to face in the midst of the destruction and I can tell you without a doubt that the people of Moore will recover and grow stronger from this awful event. I talked and prayed with teachers, students, firefighters, cops, soldiers from every branch, Red Cross volunteers, FEMA officials, residents, NGO helpers and many, many ordinary people who just came to help.

The tornado was on the ground from Newcastle, OK to about Sooner Road in far SE Oklahoma City, a path of 8 or 10 miles. It's width varied from nearly a mile wide to just 4 or 5 houses wide as it strengthened and weakened, grew and retracted. Wherever it hit directly, there's nothing left but piles of debris. Officials estimate 1150 homes totally destroyed, along with a hospital and 2 schools, with another badly damaged. Many businesses are also gone.

Here's what I learned: They're bent, but far from broken. Today, the first day when everyone was off work or out of school, there were more volunteer helpers in the zone of destruction than there were victims by at least a ratio of 10-1. School kids, college students, Boy Scouts from as far away as Austin, TX, church groups from Florida, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and all over Oklahoma flooded the area with help. People grilling food, just driving around handing out water or sandwiches or tools, picking out personal belongings or just shoveling debris. It's incredible! I've now worked something like 25 or 30 disasters of all kinds, all over the nation and in foreign countries, and I've NEVER seen anything like today!

Moore, OK needs your prayers, but they're certainly not lacking in support. And tomorrow, the President of the United States will be there too!

Thank you all for whatever you've done. The people of Moore and the State of Oklahoma will not only survive, but show the rest of the world how it's done.

I bet we walked by each other wearing Yellow Hats/Shirts!

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by Bass&Catfish2008

I bet we walked by each other wearing Yellow Hats/Shirts!

Really? You were there with us? Doing what?

[stillkit]

I tried to respond to your PM, but it won't let me.

So...I'll respond here:


Well, then, we not only crossed paths, we worked side by side because that's exactly what I was doing with the Oklahoma SBC DR team. I got there about noon on Tuesday and went immediately into the neighborhood behind the wrecked old theater. I left today after we concentrated on ministering to people in zones 6 and 7.

What's your name?

[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by Bass&Catfish2008

I bet we walked by each other wearing Yellow Hats/Shirts!

Originally Posted by stillkit

Just an update from Moore:

I came home tonight after 5 days on the ground as a damage assessor. I've met probably 500 victims, first responders and volunteer helpers face to face in the midst of the destruction and I can tell you without a doubt that the people of Moore will recover and grow stronger from this awful event. I talked and prayed with teachers, students, firefighters, cops, soldiers from every branch, Red Cross volunteers, FEMA officials, residents, NGO helpers and many, many ordinary people who just came to help.

Kudos to both of you. It is heart wrenching.

I remember seeing the damage to residential areas at least a year and half after the May 1999 tornado in Moore.