Killer tornadoes struck Oklahoma earlier today and the troubling drama was carried live on most American cable news networks. CNN has this summary:
A deadly string of tornadoes and thunderstorms rampaged Tuesday through central Oklahoma, killing at least two people, injuring many others and destroying homes and vehicles, officials said.
Canadian County Sheriff Randall Edwards told CNN a large tornado that crossed I-40 near El Reno destroyed residences and caused a gas leak at an energy plant west of the state capital.
County Emergency Management Director Jerry Smith told CNN the storm, which eventually moved past Calumet and Edmond, north of Oklahoma City, killed two and caused numerous injuries.
The twister injured motorists on I-40 and U.S. 81, Smith said. Deputies were attending to the injured, and there were reports of property damage in the area.
Another tornado was seen at Chickasha, about 40 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. It later reached Newcastle, before pushing through Moore and Norman, suburbs of Oklahoma City.
VIDEOS:
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It destroys a home near Oklahoma City:
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The view from a chopper:
The tornado forms while on the air (there were several reports such as this):
FOOTNOTE: When the tornadoes hit I was in my car listening to CNN’s and MSNBC’s tornado coverage. It was live since each network hooked up with local feeds — and it was compelling and tragic just listening to it.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.