Deadly tornado rips through Oklahoma City suburbs, killing dozens

Oklahomans are literally picking up the pieces after a devastating tornado roared through the southern suburbs of Oklahoma City, killing, according to reports, at least 24 people — many children — and leaving hundreds homeless.

The death toll had been reported as high as 91, but Tuesday morning Oklahoma City officials revised that down, saying some fatalaties may have been double-counted in the confusion.

In addition to the 24 people who were killed, hundreds were injured, including dozens of children. The death toll is already one of the deadliest tornadoes in Oklahoma history, nearly as deadly as a tornado that tore through a similar swatch of Oklahoma City in 1999. Among the dead are nine children.

But there was good news. Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb said 101 survivors had been found in the rubble, and the operation remained a search and rescue operation. And as reporters, which were widely praised for getting information about the tornado out in time for people to take action and potentially save their own lives, were interviewing survivors more small bits of good news was emerging. 

An elderly woman who whether the storm in an interior room of her house thought she’d lost her dog. But as she spoke with reporters, the dog suddenly crawled out of the rubble of the woman’s home, and into her arms.

Lamb said searches expected to find bodies on Tuesday, meaning the death toll is likely to continue to rise, but they expected to find survivors as well.

The tornado, which slammed directly into two elementary schools, was packed with winds of at least 200 mph, but many experts say that windspeed will be revised upward as officials are better able to evaluate the damage.

Moore Police Sgt. Jeremy Lewis said the entire community had been evacuated so searchers, many accompanied by dogs, could hear people who are still alive and trapped — either in storm shelters or beneath rubble.

“This tornado has affected our entire city. It went right through the heart of our city,” he said to KFOR TV. “It took out the heart of our city.”

Lewis said the death toll in Moore, part of the larger total, was 19, including seven children from Plaza Towers Elementary School

Lamb, the lieutenant governor, urged those looking to help to visit okdisasterhelp.org. The Red Cross is also accepting donations, which can be made by texting REDCROSS to 90999. A $10 donation will be added to your phone bill.

President Barack Obama is expected to address the nation about the Oklahoma tragedy at 10 a.m. ET, 9 a.m. CT.