Oaklahoma Tornado
Oklahoma Tornado On Monday may 20th, 2013 a devastating tornado ripped through the small town of Moore, Oklahoma. This tornado was part of an outbreak of tornados that began in the plains on the 19th. Many towns were affected by Monday’s tornado however Moore got the brute of it. Moore is just 20 minutes south of Oklahoma City. The final death toll is 24 people; this was considered a miracle considering the amount of damage. Many rescue crews worked day and night to try to save as many people as they could. Everyone had to work together for it to be organized. Moore, Oklahoma is a town of 55,000 people. The first tornado warning was issued at exactly 2:40pm. This was 16 minutes before touch down of the massive twister. An average warning only goes out 8-10 minutes before a tornado. During this massive tornado outbreak, 28 tornados were reported touching down in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois and Iowa. Tornados are rated on how severe they are on a scale called the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which is named after the man who invented it, Dr. Theodore Fujita. The Enhanced Fujita Scale goes from EF-0 (light damage) to EF-5 (incredible damage). EF-0 tornados are 65-85mph (105-137km/h) winds. EF-5 tornados are greater than 200mph (322km/h) winds. The national weather service originally classified the tornado that tore through Moore as an EF-4, but later changed it to an EF-5. This tornado was 2 miles wide at its widest point and traveled a 17 mile long path. Authorities said this was the deadliest tornado in the United States since 161 people died in Missouri 2 years ago. Over 13,000 homes were damaged or destroyed by this life shattering tornado. Originally 51 people were reported dead directly from the tornado and injuries sustained from it. That number later dropped to 24 people. It was said that bodies were counted multiple times in the field and reported but the official number came from the coroner’s office. Out of those 24 dead, 9 of them were