KFOR livestream reporter breaks down on air, confirms Plaza Tower Elementary school...

[Poll_Blind]

...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]

1. kick.

[uppityperson]

2. Last report, 30kids pulled out, unsure if 45 or 75 left under that.

[hrmjustin]

3. There are no words.

[Rex]

4. Go man go!

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]

12. In his update, he said parents/others are not being allowed on the rubble pile for...

...fear of making the situation worse.

PB

[Rex]

13. I am glad he is there at ground zero helping do what he can.

It is amazing what happens when a persons humanity kicks into overdrive.

[OKNancy]

5. now they are interviewing a fellow who

survived.. had 80 horses. He thinks only one survived.

[Rex]

11. .

[myrna minx]

6. Oh god. No words.

[Wait Wut]

7. That did it.

I'm done. I can't not fucking cry.

[freshwest]

19. +1

[niyad]

8. no words, indeed.

[redqueen]

9. I was just told that someone reported they have storm shelters...

Please let that be true... Please...

[hrmjustin]

10. CNN says 30 kids pulled out alive.

[Poll_Blind]

14. -->Update: One teacher was allegedly found with thier body sheltering 3 children

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

[freshwest]

20. +1

[Lone_Star_Dem]

26. They are a hero.

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]

15. With tornados increasing every year

why on earth haven't they dug shelters for the schools?

[Socratic Method Man]

16. short answer?

probably budget.

[hrmjustin]

18. Welcome to DU my friend!

[hrmjustin]

17. The Rock is too hard. They need to Dynamite it.

[freshwest]

21. I wasn't aware they had that kind of soil there - I was thinking like TX, limestone turned to loam.

[hrmjustin]

35. Horrible twist of faith that they can't get basements.

[freshwest]

40. Basements cost money, some gamble that a tornado will never hit them.

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.

[Dreamer Tatum]

23. False

2013 activity down

[kestrel91316]

39. Shelters for ALL would be evil soshalizm. They won't want that.

The rich can build their shelters. The not-so-rich will just have to take their chances.

[secondvariety]

22. Potentially dozens of causalities at the school.

Damn.

[pacalo]

24. Moments ago it was reported that this is now a "search & recovery" effort...

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]

25. 2 dozem children feared as victims. n/t

[LadyHawkAZ]

27. Just reported 7 bodies found in the school

[DCBob]

29. Not sure I understand why they have given up on survivors.

Its only been a few hours.

[Marrah_G]

30. Not sure, but there must be a reason.

I'm pretty sure if there was even a chance they would be doing everything possible. These first responders live in these communities.

[DCBob]

31. Perhaps the level of devestation makes them think none could survive.

However, there could always be some pockets of safety even under massive rubble.

[My Pet Goat]

33. This is a law controlling all reporters like they are puppets on a string....

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]

34. Yeah, thats a more likely explanation.

I agree with your comments.

[Liberal_in_LA]

38. why should search come to a halt? Bring in those big construction lights.

[pacalo]

41. It was just reported that light trucks are being brought in & the outlook is thought to be better

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]

28. This morning, where I live in SW Virginia,

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]

32. The reporter is Lance West

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]

36. May GOD be with you all in OK

prayers. . . I'm in tears

[MNBrewer]

37. The news of people on foot, walking north toward OKC is just heartbreaking.