My heart is so heavy today. The devastation in my home state is unthinkable. About just 20 miles south of where I live, which is not that far, and an area that we are no strangers to, was the largest tornado in the history of tornados in the world (as quoted by Mike Morgan, chief meteorologist at KFOR). This tornado took a path 20 miles long and it was 2 1/2 miles wide. Having been hit with storms, getting worse as each day has passed, the past three days Oklahoma has seen its fair share of Thunder. And that’s not in a good way. Businesses were lost, homes were lost, but the most tragic of all is the lives that were lost. The innocent children at school who never made it home, the people who were at work who never finished their day’s work, and as of now, we still don’t have a final number. As I write this, 55 confirmed fatalities. So sad, but even ONE is one too many.
I took this shot as the storm began, it just touched down at this point and was an F3… soon thereafter, it was an F5.
The only thing I can say about this sad event is that as horrible as it is, I’m thankful that we aren’t mourning over an event that was man-made. This was a natural disaster, and no disasters are good, but this at least was not created by man.
Being a parent, I can’t imagine recieving such news of horror. I know tonight I will be holding my children a bit closer and not taking any moment for granted. I can’t even fathom what those parents are going through who won’t be able to do this tonight.
For those who don’t live near, or those who wish to contribute to help, you can contribute TEXT BASED DONATION INFORMATION: STORM to 80888 for The Salvation Army USA. REDCROSS to 90999 for Redcross, or FOOD to 32333 for Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Each text is for $10 charged to your phone bill.
For those who do wish to donate items who live locally,
the Salvation Army will have a drop off station at KFOR taking donations for any of the above items.
Prayers to all for courage and strength. Kudos to the Oklahoma weather team who did an amazing job in warning all of us for what was to come, but no warning prepared us for what devastation truly presented itself. Thanks to everyone helping, rescuing, donating, working to help begin to bring this community back to whole. A day that will never be forgotten.
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