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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKFOR livestream reporter breaks down on air, confirms Plaza Tower Elementary school...
...had children in at the time the tornado struck. Just got this report via phone on air. He's physically running to the school, reported he can see people trying to free children with their bare hands. He interviewed a man who said he was pulling third graders out of the rubble of Plaza Tower.
Image of Plaza Tower Elementary (from Twitter:
UPDATE: Reporter on the scene right now. Watch LIVE.
At least 15 (and up to 75) children trapped under debris according to "Lance", reporter. 75 children were in hallway when tornado hit. Woman injured on ground. Volunteers trying to free children. Parents are not being allowed to get onto the debris pile because of potential for downed power lines, gas leaks, etc.
Reporter reports seeing one child being freed from rubble who hugged an adult (presumably parent) who was removed/evacuated from scene.
Reporter indicates that possibly 30 children may have been rescued already.
Cinder block walls gone, reporter indicates that everything collapsed in on itself, first responders are on a 10 foot pile of debris looking for those trapped.
(Sorry folks, very chaotic reporting, trying to pull details out of what's being said)
PB
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)uppityperson
(115,677 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)Fuck being a reporter, be a hero today and save some of those kids! This is horrendous on a scale we rarely see. SAVE THOSE KIDS!
Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)...fear of making the situation worse.
PB
Rex
(65,616 posts)It is amazing what happens when a persons humanity kicks into overdrive.
OKNancy
(41,832 posts)survived.. had 80 horses. He thinks only one survived.
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)Wait Wut
(8,492 posts)I'm done. I can't not fucking cry.
niyad
(113,323 posts)redqueen
(115,103 posts)Please let that be true... Please...
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)From the report I believe the children were found alive and so was the teacher but the reporter indicated that someone had told them the teacher was "in bad shape" and might not survive. This is from the KFOR livestream just now.
And there are fuckers out there who say we pay teachers too much.
PB
Lone_Star_Dem
(28,158 posts)Way back when I used to sub, the teachers I worked with cared deeply for their charges. I don't doubt any of them would have done less for their children than this caring person did.
I learned a lot about the profession during those years, and I'll always respect teachers.
EC
(12,287 posts)why on earth haven't they dug shelters for the schools?
Socratic Method Man
(2 posts)probably budget.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)I lived on a hill the tornadoes crossed every spring. Lost some trees and had some spooky nights, but it never hit the house.
I had a storm cellar and well house but never used them. Luck of the draw and a little prayer.
The F-5 that hit Jarrell, TX took up houses on slabs, roads, etc. Those who survived who were directly in the path were in the older homes with storm cellars.
Newer ones didn't have storm cellars. Being in a hallway or bath does not protect you then. It was quite a horrible day.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)The rich can build their shelters. The not-so-rich will just have to take their chances.
secondvariety
(1,245 posts)Damn.
pacalo
(24,721 posts)it is now believed that there are 22 fatalities. It will be dark soon, meaning that the search will come to a halt.
This is just awful.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)LadyHawkAZ
(6,199 posts)DCBob
(24,689 posts)Its only been a few hours.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)I'm pretty sure if there was even a chance they would be doing everything possible. These first responders live in these communities.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)However, there could always be some pockets of safety even under massive rubble.
My Pet Goat
(413 posts)They will push to pronounce the "effort has now shifted to recovery" even when they don't know for a fact everyone is dead and even when history suggests there's a good chance someone will be found alive even days later.
They can't even control themselves when a bunch of children are buried. Dumb ass reporters. DUMB ASSES!
You can believe none of the first responders working the pile care about what some idiot reporter recklessly trying to break a story thinks.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)I agree with your comments.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)pacalo
(24,721 posts)than previously reported. There are 7 confirmed fatalities & if the reporter's information is correct, the total number will be a lot less than reported earlier.
At another school, Briarwood, there were injuries but no fatalities.
sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)we had a thunder storm and heavy rain that lasted for 6 hours, one clap of thunder after another. I can't recall anything like it. It just went on and on.
Mortos
(2,390 posts)He broke down after reporting that there are more than 2 dozen kids bodies in the rubble that need to be recovered. 7 have been removed from beneath the school in a pool of water. He is reporting they drowned. This is just horrific for my Oklahoma brothers and sisters.
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)prayers. . . I'm in tears