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Moore, Oklahoma, Tornado's Path of Destructiontonight. Abc's weather editor, sam champion how powerful this storm really was. So sam been in seven ef-5 tornado zones just since greensburg, kansas, that tornado was so horrifying how powerful that tornado was.
And as we said, more storms on the way tonight. Abc's weather editor, sam champion is on the ground. He's covered these storms for a decade. Tonight he tells us what he is seeing about how powerful this storm really was. So sam, at one point we heard today it might have been the most severe storm . Now we're hearing it's the second level, maybe an ef-4? Reporter: Yeah, we need to just remind people that we are not categorizing the level of distress and horror that goes on these families that are under a storm . From my personal family experience, it's devastating. You lose everything, even in your family survives, and it takes decades and decades to recover from an event like this. But we look at the damage and categorize and better understand the strength of the storm . There are 28 different indicators from vegetation, to power lines, to the way cars and pushed and moved, to the damage on federal buildings that we look at. And the type of damage has to fit the criteria to get that level up to ef-5. Five is rarified tornadoes, very few tornadoes ever get there. But unfortunately I've been in seven ef-5 tornado zones just since 2007. It's been happening a lot too much recently. Take a look at this first picture. Plaza tower school. There are masonry walls torn apart. The entire structure is damaged and the area is coated with dirt and debris. But many walls are still intact. When you look at this building, you think that's an ef-4 damage because of the strength of the way the building is done. And the entire building isn't damaged or demolished. In the storm , there will be many levels of damage. Because you can catch the storm as it develops, or as it passes by, or you can catch the edge of the storm . But that's what happens when you look there. When you look at another picture, this is a horrifying picture, this shows the clear path of a storm , through a community, through an area of homes. You can see these homes are completely wiped out. This is the one that makes you grrour heart because these homes are flattened. On their foundation. Then I know we're talking about an epic event. I know we're talking about an ef-4, closer to an ef-5. When we go to greensburg, kansas, that tornado was so horrifying, it looked like they already cleaned the community. The debris was miles away from where it was taken off. The foundations were completely clean. Almost not a speck of dirt on them because that's how powerful that tornado was.
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Tornado Outbreak: Destruction in the Heartlandthat part of tornado Alley. From the 1999 storm that took an EF four tornado the second powerful level of twister . Cutting National Weather Service says minutes. The tornado in these Oklahoma the sky the severe weather and action
The destruction is widespread. And devastating. Preliminarily classified as an EF four tornado the second most powerful level of twister . Cutting -- -- -- miles wide at least twelve miles long. -- National Weather Service says it may have been on the ground -- longest forty minutes. The tornado in these Oklahoma City suburbs just the latest assault to a region already reeling from a weekend of severe storms. Needed just portrait like a -- just run right does senator Evan. A local television helicopter capturing the pictures from up in the sky the severe weather and action below. Look closely and you can see the flashes as the power lines and transformers. Are ripped apart. Well there's -
Nightline 05/20: Massive Tornado Devastates Oklahoma City Area, Dozens Killedanother day of storm sirens just National Weather Service. The tornado tore at twelve minutes of the tornado 's passing level of twister . Cutting National Weather Service says minutes. The tornado in these the sky the severe weather and action
The destruction is widespread. And devastating. Preliminarily classified as -- EF four tornado the second most powerful level of twister . Cutting -- -- -- miles wide and at least twelve miles long. -- National Weather Service says it may have been on the ground prison longest forty minutes. The tornado in these Oklahoma City suburbs just the latest assault to a region already reeling from a weekend of severe storms. Needed just portrait like a -- just run right does senator Evan. A local television helicopter capturing the pictures from up in the sky the severe weather and action below. Look closely and you can see the flashes as the power lines and transformers. Are ripped apart. Well there's a huge avalanche. Bright various it is just rip it up everything at its plant. It's the latest in a three day outbreak that has brought more than fifty tornadoes from Oklahoma all the way to Nebraska. -- my god. 6:30 PM. Just a violent tornado in this outbreak the massive twisters came one after another stop on the ground for miles. Dozens of Storm Chasers in pursuit. Brett get back here we got -- got the and if if -- an amendment. This was Sunday night in Shawnee Oklahoma. Listen as the sirens -- A warning to residents to take cover immediately. -- There was also advanced warning for the massive twister from him. Baltimore well. The National Weather Service says it was issued at 2:40 PM a full sixteen minutes before the storm actually touch the ground. A warning that no doubt help save lives. This part of Oklahoma is no stranger to deadly tornadoes. Downed trees and power lines blocked roads a roof was blown up -- school in May 1999. The town was hit. By twister that reach speeds of over 300 miles an hour the top of the scale an EF five some of the fastest winds ever recorded on earth. 36 people were killed. And the storm still ranks as one of the costliest in American history how long do you think you'll stay on the scene here in -- -- And this new round of deadly storms comes almost two years to the day that a 158. People were killed. In Joplin Missouri. Enough they'll help suction is pulling. Wednesday marks the two year anniversary of the storm that also left more than 1000 people injured. It's still ranks is the deadliest in modern US history. In America's heartland there will be more severe storms on Tuesday but -- Oklahoma tonight they're hoping they seen the worst of this year's outbreaks. In everything from happening. And you -- the treasure. Of the tornado . And everything. Going everywhere for Nightline I'm Sam Champion in Shawnee Oklahoma. Thanks to -- and coming up we'll check in with -
Massive Tornado Devastates Oklahoma City Area, Dozens Killedday of whaling storm sirens just routine about this twister one so big time the first tornado warning went it. But the tornado that poured Just massive tornado here. You're the National Weather Service. The
It was another day of whaling storm sirens just south of Oklahoma City this afternoon another round of tornado drills in schools where duck and cover is ritual. But there was nothing routine about this twister one so big. It erased entire sections of the city of more like an atmosphere chain -- ripped apart a number ofof the hope and -- At 2:40 PM local time the first tornado warning went out -- And just sixteen minutes later the darkening skies over Oklahoma turned deadly. -- he's turning with winds up to 200 miles per hour when it. But the tornado that poured down in the suburbs of Oklahoma City today it was a monster. Just massive tornado here. You're seeing from Bob mills -- -- -- we got power -- is its and a heavily -- in a heavily populated area right now here in look at the look at the turning motion. -- all there's a huge splash. -- there is it is just rip it up everything in its past. Preliminary rating ES floor by the National Weather Service. The tornado tore -- twelve mile long gash in the earth from New Castle to more. It is -- Yeah I cannot read rightof rescuers could be seen digging through debris within minutes of the tornado's passing by we -- Going also walls -- for people. There are people crawling -- from everywhere and anywhere. Basically just a war -- out -- storm -- and then. We heard of Evelyn need help we came in then -- pulled up over here. And over the area at the 7-Eleven trying to pool cooler doors off and everything and they got there a record check in. And sadly -- found. A man and then a woman in a small -- More than fifty people are reported dead. Among them children from the plaza towers elementary school one of two schools filled with students that link directly in the tornado's path. There have been some. Casualties. I do not have. Lieutenant governor Todd -- spoke with bill -- earlier tonight. One school -
Extreme Weather : Oklahoma Tornadoabout this massive tornado . I die I'll tell dropped the worst tornado of the Doubt we will some pictures from storm chaser video as we this the National Weather Service has this the ground. This tornado was about two miles
in lake thunderbird Oklahoma. So Sam tell us more about this massive tornado . I die I'll tell you this is an incredible sight isn't the third day by the way that violent storms have been in this area in the third day. Seems to have dropped the worst tornado of the -- Doubt we will show you some pictures from storm chaser video as we talk about this the National Weather Service has this storm right now at a preliminary. Copycat category here as an EF -- this is rarefied territory for tornadoes there are some reports this thing was on the ground for forty minutes covering twelve miles -- that time. There are some reports that day on the ground. This tornado was about two miles wide and we won't know until we can get -- and look at the debris field there. You can see the tornado filling the sky. Another amazing thing about this tornado is on the radar would have first popped out -- new castle and by the -- -- is being called the New -- more tornado because it started. In -- accountable when it dropped out it was just a finger. Of a tornado barely a funnel cloud but within an hour it became this monster storm that was roared -- -- just about as quickly. As all the details have told us that Joplin storm developed so. We'll show you some aerials of the damage now because this storm . Has been covered with Storm Chasers and local television from start. To finish and now you're looking at the rubble the unbelievable debris field you heard ginger in the field walking around there. And we've heard reports that some of the foundations were completely cleared and that puts it definitely -- that EF four it may be even higher. Category -- it's capable of taking a foundation and clearing -- of debris as the storm leaves the area so it looks like it's been swept already. By a big tractor but it hasn't been yet it was just the storm that did that damage and other areas. Buildings just shattered then you look at major construction and you see major cement construction. Also being damaged this is very unusual in the signature of a very large and very powerful tornado . Folks have been digging through the debris and lifting up these heavy pieces of -- debris whether it's wallboard or siding or -
Tornado Rips Through Moore, OklahomaThe National Weather Service says tornado had wind speeds up to 200 mph.
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GMA LIVE! (05.21.13)hits from a tornado with virtually news extreme weather team has chasing devastating EF five tornado that rolled more Oklahoma tornado of 1999 it was on southern storm and we ended woman there's severe weather we go in the
guys don't have basements I grew up with a basement woman there's severe weather we go in the basement. And they sent right that the ground can't have it. So what people here need to deal -- -- have a storm shelter they build them there these small plaza like structures that can survive almost every thing. And that is what is necessary in the future and certainly for individuals if not big places obviously -- schools. So I did you very quickly the weather today we know that more not -- the direct line with the storms to come but there are still a lot of storm concerns -- in the surrounding region. This is a very slow moving system the same type of energy now moves in the north Texas. Parts of Arkansas and Louisiana that's where the tornado threat is today severe weather threat. Goes from about the midwest all the way down to parts of the southeast so excuse. Pension -- -- part of the extreme weather can there again he will be reporting across ABC news platforms. All day long. I mean when you think about the idea of of a storm shelter that can survive almost anything in what hit yesterday. Was more removed and almost every morning minutes just felt like connect -
Monster Twisters Caught on Tapenight to severe weather would take ginger. David storm chasing all brought the tornado big think know there a tornado on the ground But as wild weather weekend so illuminates this twister in Sanford reports of severe weather in just the
us that in the last 24 hours if this Sunday night to severe weather would take -- -- far more populated areas. That's exactly what's unfolding at this hour it's believed there's been significant damage. All of that developing right balance on -- bringing ginger who is just outside Wichita Kansas tonight the sky darkening just as she was getting ready to come on the -- with us ginger. David -- storm chasing all afternoon and looked behind me -- The storm that brought the tornado big think -- Wichita Kansas it is now moving off to our north and east we know there -- a tornado on the ground near Oklahoma City -- them very active and fluid situation we will bring you the latest details about the night. But as wild weather weekend so far. -- across the campus landscape multiple violent tornado watch as lightning illuminates this twister in Sanford Kansas. That tornado also touched down near Roosevelt where it was -- from every angle possible. -- hail pounding down. -- -- this windshield in Nebraska. In Oklahoma City sixty miles per hour winds toppled power lines and as it as just another -- There's been more than 300 reports of severe weather in just the last two days major highways and turning into rivers these semis stuck in North Dakota. And in Georgia parts of Atlanta under water roads crumbled after up to seven inches of rain fell overnight. Steady an intense downpour flooding that yards this place at submerged by the rising waters. Earlier Brendan from -- two. Seeks. -- -- And again across the plains today Storm Chasers like me are bracing for more. David the threat is far from over let me show you this Matt tonight here's who needs to be concerned anywhere from Oklahoma City to Kansas City that's -- immediate threat. But the large severe weather threat goes to Minnesota to Texas. And tomorrow the storm moves slowly to the east from Chicago down to Texas all of the planes included here going to be another tornadic and severe weather day.
