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  • Moore, Oklahoma Passes New Tornado-Resistant Building Codes

    Some residents of Moore, Oklahoma are still in the process of rebuilding their homes from damages that were left by last year’s tornado. Buildings were reduced to rubble, cars were left crushed, and walls were what remained of the structures.

    The tornado injured 400 citizens and killed 24 people. It was not the first time the city has experienced that big a catastrophe. Serious tornadoes also ravaged the city in 1999 and 2003.

    On Thursday, the city has approved new residential building codes. It made Moore, Oklahoma the first municipality in the United States to create building rules that state that new homes must be able to endure strong winds that are up to 135 mph instead of the previous 90 mph. The new code is a preventative measure for extensive damages when another tornado strikes.

    Moore’s City Council approved 11 building codes after structural engineers examined the damages that were left by the 2013 tornado.

    The last tornado that hit Moore left damages that took $2 billion to rebuild. According to Oklahoma University civil engineering professor Dr. Chris Ramseyer, building stronger structures and homes will result in minimized destruction and minimized cost of rebuilding.

    Part of the new code also says that hurricane clips, wind-resistant garage doors, and roof sheathing are required. Ramseyer also mentioned the added building requirements will not be a large expense for homeowners. “We’re talking one or two cents per dollar on a home,” he said. This is a small price to pay for the safety of the citizens.

    Residents of Moore are excited about the new code, especially since they have already had a hard time trying to rebuild their homes from the previous tornado.

    With these new building codes already in place, Moore, Oklahoma will hopefully be prepared for the next tornado that may come their way.

    Aftermath from the Tornado that hit Moore last year

    Image via YouTube

  • Garth Brooks Joins Toby Keith, Willie Nelson for Oklahoma Tornado Relief Concert

    Garth Brooks will join a handful of big-name country music stars for a benefit concert to help the victims of last month’s devastating tornados in Oklahoma.

    The relief concert is being headlined by Toby Keith and sponsored by Oklahoma country station 106.1 The Twister. Joining Brooks and Keith are Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn.

    The concert will take place on July 6th at Owen Field in Norman, Oklahoma. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 21st. All of the proceeds will go the the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s May Tornado Relief Fund.

    Toby Keith grew up in Moore and Garth Brooks was born in Norman.

    “I grew up in Moore, I live in Norman and I’ve got lots of family and friends who were directly affected,” he says. “I know these folks and they’re resilient, but we’re going to keep helping them any way we can. I’m proud to get together with some others from around here who are just as committed as I am to supporting these communities,” said Toby Keith.

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    “Once we got the news that the tornado had hit Toby’s hometown, Miss Yearwood and I told Toby we were at his service for whatever he chose to do,” said Garth Brooks. “I am amazed at the human spirit the tornado victims have shown. I am humbled by the giving of the volunteers. It is an honor to get to be a part of this healing process.”

    The concert will not only help the victims of the tornado in Moore, but will also benefit victims of a later tornado that hit just outside of El Reno, Oklahoma. That tornado was officially the widest one ever recorded in U.S. history.

  • Tornado Looters From Across The Country Hit Moore

    Authorities in Moore, Oklahoma say that one man from New York and at least two men from Virginia were among those who have been arrested for looting homes that were hit by massive tornadoes last month.

    The storms, which left 24 people dead and ravaged homes and businesses, have become goldmines for looters looking to pick over the town’s remains; according to The Oklahoman, several feet of copper wire, scrap metal, and personal items were taken by the nearly two dozen people who have been arrested. Among some of the most expensive items reported stolen were a $50,000 watch, a $13,000 watch, a $2,000 fountain pen and a $1,300 hunting camera.

    “We are seeing people take everything from copper to pipes to scrap metal to all kinds of electronics,” police spokesman Jeremy Lewis said. “It’s a misdemeanor crime and not a crime we usually have to deal with.”

    Moore resident Jon Fisher was among those whose house was targeted.

    “The houses are still standing and looters are kicking in doors and taking TVs and appliances,” Fisher said. “They arrested two guys in my neighborhood the night of the tornado who were carrying out a love seat and couch.”

    Officers set up roadblocks around the homes that were destroyed in order to better police who was coming and going in the area right after the storms hit, but the looters found a way in anyway. One of the men arrested, Steven Daniels, told police he was there for the sole purpose of looting, along with two friends. Steve Costello and Justin Wagner were also taken into custody.

    ‘[Daniels] advised he drove from Virginia to Moore … with two other subjects for the purpose of removing steel and copper utility wire from the disaster area,’ an affidavit filed in Cleveland County District Court read.

    In an area so hard hit by the storms–where property is lying everywhere and may go largely unclaimed due to the far-flying effects of the tornado–it may be difficult for police to completely keep the items safe from looters.

  • Google Maps Shows Before/After Moore, Oklahoma Tornado Imagery

    Google has a crisis response map for those affected by the giant tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma. Included in that is imagery of the area from Google Maps.

    Google posted a before/after look at the area to its Google Maps Google+ account today:

    Google Maps

    Google Maps7 hours ago

    We've published post-tornado imagery of Moore, OK on our Google Crisis Response Map ( http://google.org/crisismap/2013-oklahoma-tornado ). Here's a before (collected on 29th April by CNES 2013, Distribution Astrium Services/Spot Image) and after (collected on 22nd May by Digitalglobe) view showing Briarwood elementary school and the surrounding area – http://goo.gl/9pazZ. You can check/uncheck the boxes on the right of the map link to explore more information.

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    In other Google Maps news, the company also revealed that it has been using its Trekker camera device to capture new imager from the Galapagos Islands. This imagery will be making its way to Google Maps later this year. You can see a preview here.

  • Oklahoma Tornado: Bank Vault Saves 24 Lives

    Today, the nation watched as the aftermath of the Moore, Oklahoma F5 tornado poured in. Stories continued as the day went on, and while prayers were said, and people worried for the victims, stories of inspiration presented themselves as well. Whether it was a victim being reunited with her dog, Kevin Durant donating $1 million to Red Cross, or first responders doing everything they could for the victims.

    For 24 people at the Tinker Federal Credit Union in Moore, OK, they were able to find safety in a bank vault, as the building and everything around it was devastated. As you can see by the image below, the vault was able to stay grounded as 200+ MPH winds demolished the aluminum, wood, and everything else in the building around them.

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    Matt Stratton, vice president of marketing for TFCU, said this of reconstruction efforts for the credit union, “I feel certain we will build a new branch there. It’s been a very successful location for us, a very popular branch amongst our members.”

    According to Stratton, employees of the credit union had homes destroyed in the tornado, and he said they’d work with them any way they could. The credit union manager was dedicated to his job as well, staying at the vault until it could be locked and secured.

    [H/T Story & Image: Cutimes.com]