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American Morning
Aftermath of Tornado in Moore, Oklahoma
Aired May 09, 2003 - 07:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to begin now with Brian Cabell. He is in Moore, Oklahoma, and he has the very latest on the situation there this morning.
Good morning -- Brian.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
What's remarkable about this tornado that hit yesterday was that it took almost precisely the same path that a tornado took almost exactly four years ago here in Moore, Oklahoma. This one was less severe, only an F-3 supposedly on the Fujita scale, as opposed to an F-5. But take a look behind me. It was severe enough.
These behind me here are brick homes, absolutely destroyed, the roofs gone, the bricks crumbling.
Take a look over here, this bit of steel that's wrapped around something. That is a roof from about 50 yards away tossed over here. And next to that, that is an air-conditioning unit. It has to be several hundred pounds; once again, tossed about 50 yards away.
All told, we know right now of 300 homes and businesses being destroyed, 1,500 or so damaged, 125 people, as you say, injured. That's the preliminary estimate right now. Nobody, amazingly, so far killed apparently by this tornado, but at least 12 people seriously injured.
This hit at 5:15 yesterday. That means it hit at commuter time, a lot of cars on the roadways. In fact, this particular hurricane crossed two major highways. People amazingly managed to get out of the way apparently.
It also hit a General Motors plant, did serious damage there; also hit the Tinker Air Force Base, did serious damage there.
The governor is expected to be coming by, by helicopter, a little later today to survey the damage. And also FEMA officials will be here as well to try to come up with some sort of estimates. We don't have a dollar estimate so far.
But again, the human estimate at this point: 125 people injured, none killed, 12 seriously. Not bad considering what we see behind us. Again, not nearly as serious as it was some four years ago, but certainly for the people of Moore, Oklahoma, bad enough -- Heidi.
COLLINS: The Oklahoma governor hoping to be there soon, and also the Oklahoma City mayor. We'll be waiting to hear from him as well.
Brian Cabell in Moore, Oklahoma this morning, thanks for the update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired May 9, 2003 - 07:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to begin now with Brian Cabell. He is in Moore, Oklahoma, and he has the very latest on the situation there this morning.
Good morning -- Brian.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
What's remarkable about this tornado that hit yesterday was that it took almost precisely the same path that a tornado took almost exactly four years ago here in Moore, Oklahoma. This one was less severe, only an F-3 supposedly on the Fujita scale, as opposed to an F-5. But take a look behind me. It was severe enough.
These behind me here are brick homes, absolutely destroyed, the roofs gone, the bricks crumbling.
Take a look over here, this bit of steel that's wrapped around something. That is a roof from about 50 yards away tossed over here. And next to that, that is an air-conditioning unit. It has to be several hundred pounds; once again, tossed about 50 yards away.
All told, we know right now of 300 homes and businesses being destroyed, 1,500 or so damaged, 125 people, as you say, injured. That's the preliminary estimate right now. Nobody, amazingly, so far killed apparently by this tornado, but at least 12 people seriously injured.
This hit at 5:15 yesterday. That means it hit at commuter time, a lot of cars on the roadways. In fact, this particular hurricane crossed two major highways. People amazingly managed to get out of the way apparently.
It also hit a General Motors plant, did serious damage there; also hit the Tinker Air Force Base, did serious damage there.
The governor is expected to be coming by, by helicopter, a little later today to survey the damage. And also FEMA officials will be here as well to try to come up with some sort of estimates. We don't have a dollar estimate so far.
But again, the human estimate at this point: 125 people injured, none killed, 12 seriously. Not bad considering what we see behind us. Again, not nearly as serious as it was some four years ago, but certainly for the people of Moore, Oklahoma, bad enough -- Heidi.
COLLINS: The Oklahoma governor hoping to be there soon, and also the Oklahoma City mayor. We'll be waiting to hear from him as well.
Brian Cabell in Moore, Oklahoma this morning, thanks for the update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
