Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office Revises Death Toll Down To 24, Including 7 Children [View all]

[DonViejo]

Source: AP

ASSOCIATED PRESS MAY 21, 2013, 9:39 AM

MOORE, Okla. (AP) — The state medical examiner’s office has revised the death toll from a tornado in an Oklahoma City suburb to 24 people, including seven children.

Spokeswoman Amy Elliot said Tuesday morning that she believes some victims were counted twice in the early chaos of the storm. Authorities said initially that as many as 51 people were dead, including 20 children.

Teams are continuing to search the rubble in Moore, 10 miles south of Oklahoma City, after the Monday afternoon tornado.

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Moore, Okla. Mayor ‘Optimistic That The Loss Of Life Is Over’

TOM KLUDT 8:53 AM EDT, TUESDAY MAY 21, 2013
Moore, Okla. Mayor Glenn Lewis said Tuesday that the number of missing people in his city has dwindled to four after a devastating tornado ripped through the community.

"So we're very optimistic that the loss of life is over and our condolences go out to the families," Lewis said during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "Right now, we're trying to assess the damage. We're looking at making sure there's no more people out there that are needing help. This will be our third and fourth round of checking houses door to door. Our police and fire have done an excellent job. We've had assistance from every major city around us and even small cities around us. The county has been excellent. Everybody's been good to work, and we just, it looks like the FEMA trucks just rolled in, just a few minutes ago."

Lewis said that workers are still going through debris at Plaza Towers Elementary School, which was leveled by the storm. The mayor said that he didn't believe the four people who are still unaccounted for were at the school, adding that he last heard that the death toll stood at 51.

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http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/moore-okla-mayor-optimistic-that-loss-of-life