Monday, May 20, 2013

Prayers for Oklahoma

News is coming out of Oklahoma that dozens of school children may be dead after an elementary school took a direct hit from a series of massive and destructive tornadoes. Brave teachers covered children with their own bodies, but unknown numbers have died.



My heart absolutely breaks with this news. I can't fathom the pain these people are experiencing.

And it isn't just the school. Entire subdivisions have been leveled with untold amounts of death and destruction. People have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and in many cases their lives.


This tragedy is still unfolding, so as of this posting no one knows the extent of the destruction or lives lost. Many communications lines are down and cell phone coverage is jammed or congested. But as one news article put it: "Jamie Shelton, the public information officer for Moore [Oklahoma], had pleaded with residents to seek shelter before the storm dissipated. 'It's happening as we speak,' he said. 'People need to take this seriously... Take precaution, be aware. If you're outside the area, please pray for us.'"


Prayers coming.

13 comments:

  1. Today struggling with silly stuff then see these photos and am reminded again how silly my life is. Prayers being sent

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for this thread, Patrice. My family and loved ones in that area are safe, as far as we know, and all prayers are appreciated for the safety and healing of the folks in OKC, Shawnee and elsewhere in the region.

    A.McSp

    ReplyDelete
  3. Patrice,
    Thank you for your prayers. This storm was originally heading our direction and then it changed course and went directly to the city of Moore. The storm was over 1 mile wide, was on the ground for over 30 miles, with a debris cloud over 2 miles across. Pray for the families. The last count that we know of was 51 children confirmed dead, this doesn't include anyone else.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Patrice,
    I messed up my numbers 51 people died, 20 were children as of right now.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The government can subsidize corn growing and solar panels but not storm shelters? I think it's time to change that. Regardless of your beliefs for it's cause climate change is here and the severe storms will continue.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is just heart breaking. There are no words other than those lifted in prayer

    ReplyDelete
  7. Praying for those in the storm's path. Grateful to God that my friends in OK are alright. I know many people will not be able to say that. My heart breaks for those families who have, or will get devastating news.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would like to see "storm shelter hallways" incorporated into schools. They already take everybody into an interior hallway. How hard would it be to reinforce the walls, roof, and doors in that area to help protect against storms? The children are more vulnerable at schools than they are at home. Homes frequently have a "storm closet" or secure basement in places like OKC where severe storms are common.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I grew up in Plainview, TX and experienced the 1973 tornado. My wife survived the 1965 tornado in Hale Center, TX. We both lived through the Pampa, TX tornado of 1994 with our children. We feel their pain and sense of shock.
    We are praying earnestly and continue to watch the news.
    T in DeepEastTexas

    ReplyDelete
  10. I feel so bad for the families who lost children. And very angry and confused.Oklahoma,tornado alley. Why did they not have a basement or tornado shelter for those kids?

    ReplyDelete
  11. As I pray for those families it puts my own problems into perspective. Compared to what they are living through I have no problems. As others have mentioned, I too question how they could build a school, or anything for that matter, in Tornado Alley, without a shelter below ground.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I grew up in Northern California in the 60s and remember the public buildings that had fallout shelter basements. (Macy's Department store comes to mind.) I'm incredulous that schools are not required to have shelters underground in tornado alley. In one of the news stories, it was reported that the tornado appeared within 14 minutes of declaring a tornado watch. It would be impossible to fetch your kids home from school in that amount of time. If the schools act in loco parentis, they should have the means to keep kids safe during emergencies.

    ReplyDelete
  13. They actually did have a basement at one of the schools. The water main broke and flooded the basement. 4 children drowned.

    ReplyDelete