Yale-Tulane ESF- 8 Special Report - Moore OK Tornado - 22 May 2013

SITUATIONSITUATION

YALE - TULANE ESF-8 SPECIAL REPORTYALE - TULANE ESF-8 SPECIAL REPORT

MOORE MOORE OKLAHOMA - TORNADOOKLAHOMA - TORNADO

SITUATION MAPSITUATION MAP

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

FEMATWITTER | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | BLOG

HHSPUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY – ASPRTWITTER | FACEBOOK

CDCTWITTER | FACEBOOK

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE, NORMAN OK

NOAA NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS LABORATORY

EPA

ORGANIZATIONAMERICAN RED CROSSSALVATION ARMY

OKLAHOMATWITTER | FACEBOOK

AS OF 22 May 2013, 0900 HRS

INJURED DEAD 237 24

HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AFTER A TORNADO

DISASTER DISTRESS

HEALTH AND MEDICALHEALTH AND MEDICAL

OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENTTWITTER | FACEBOOK

OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

OKLAHOMA VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER

STATE GOVERNMENT

OTHER RESOURCES DIMRC - Tornadoes

OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

INITIAL DAMAGE SURVEY MAP

FEDERAL RESPONSEFEDERAL RESPONSE

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

SHELTER AND MASS CARESHELTER AND MASS CARE

WEATHER

BACKGROUND

WHERE: MOORE OKLAHOMA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES• START LOCATION: Newcastle/Grady County, OK• END LOCATION : Moore OK/Cleveland County, OK

WHEN: 20 MAY 2013• START TIME: 2:45 PM CDT• END TIME: 3:35 PM CDT

WHAT: On Monday, 20 May 2013, beginning at 2:45 PM CDT for approximately 50 minutes, an EF-5 Tornado impacted the towns of Moore, Newcastle, and southern portions of Oklahoma City, causing widespread destruction.

• RATING: EF-5• PEAK WINDS: 200-210 MPH• PATH LENGTH: 17 Miles• PATH WIDTH: 1.3 Miles• DURATION: Approximately 50 minutes on the ground

INJURED: 237 people were injured. The injuries include 148 individuals who sustained cuts or pierces, 85 individuals who were struck by objects, and four individuals who were struck by vehicles and/or other large objects.

DEAD: 24 people were killed by the storm. Nine of the fatalities were children.

SITUATION MAP

SOURCE: NYT

INITIAL DAMAGE SURVEY MAP

SITUATION

Due to widespread tornado damage, the State Emergency Operations Center remains activated

DAMAGES:•Plaza Towers Elementary School and Briarwood Elementary School took direct hits

•Moore Medical Center, sustained direct hit

•Approximately 2400 homes have been damaged or destroyed

•The Federal Emergency Management Agency is assisting OEM in the process of assessing damage to structures. The assessment is ongoing due to the wide scope of damage sustained in the affected area.

SCHOOLS: Classes at Moore Public Schools have been canceled for the remainder of the school year. Graduations will continue as planned

TRANSPORTATION: Northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 35 through Moore have been reopened. However, the public is encouraged to avoid the area if at all possible. All I-35 off ramps in the Moore area remain closed.

DECLARATIONS:•Governor Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency for Oklahoma

•On 20 May 2013, President Obama declared major disaster exists in the State of Oklahoma, and offered federal aid to those impacted in the following counties: Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma, and Pottawatomie, with funding for hazard mitigation measures available statewide.

WATER: • The power is back on at the Draper Water Treatment Plant. Residents and businesses will soon see the water pressure return to normal.

•As water quality crews bring the water system, they will flush the pipelines and monitor the water quality.

•The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has no reason to believe the water in the pipeline is unsafe to drink. However, those who completely lost water service or whose homes sustained structural damage are encouraged to voluntarily boil water before consumption as a voluntary precautionary measure.

OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD: The Oklahoma National Guard remains activated, with 122 members deployed in 46 vehicles throughout the area. The Guard is also assisting with providing drinking water to the area.

OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PATROL: Reports 86 law enforcement personnel from state and federal agencies on 49 perimeter checkpoints.

CITY OF MOORE: Officials report they have enough responders on scene at this time, and ask that additional resources and volunteers please stay away from the affected area unless specifically requested.

SHELTERS AND MASS CARE

AMERICAN RED CROSS: An estimated 306 individuals are in American Red Cross shelters. The American Red Cross has opened the following shelters:

• St. Andrew's United Methodist Church - 2727 SW 119, Oklahoma City

• Newcastle Storm Shelter - 851 N Carr, Newcastle• Moore Community Center - 201 S Howard, Moore• First Baptist Church of Moore - 301 NE 27th St., Moore• The American Red Cross encourages the use of their website,

www.safeandwell.org, which is designed to help family and friends reunite.

• Additionally, the following American Red Cross shelters from Sunday remain open:

• Carney Senior Center - 301 Maple Avenue, Carney• Shawnee High School Athletic Center - 1001 N Kennedy,

Shawnee• Little Axe Resource Center - 1970 156 Ave NE, Norman

OU: The University of Oklahoma Housing & Food Services is open for those displaced by the tornadoes. For more information, please call 405-325-2511.

FEED THE CHILDREN: Feed The Children will be accepting donations of diapers, canned goods, non-perishable food and snack items, water and sports drinks, and cash donations at the following locations in Oklahoma City:

1. McCormick Warehouse at 29 N McCormick from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2. First Baptist Church at 1201 N Robinson3. KOCO at 1300 W Britton Road4. Faith Tabernacle Church at I-40 and Portland

SALVATION ARMY: •The Salvation Army had five canteens deployed to the Moore area Tuesday afternoon, with two more en route.

•The Salvation Army is coordinating with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief for meal preparation for the Salvation Army and American Red Cross to then distribute.

AMERICORPS: The Joplin chapter of AmeriCorps was en route to assist in response efforts on Tuesday afternoon.

SOUCRE: OEM SITUATION UPDATE 4 MAY 21, 2013 10 P.M Orlando Sentinel.

TYSON FOODS: is providing disaster relief support. The company’s Meals that Matter™ disaster relief trailer and cooking teams from several Tyson plant locations arrived in Moore on Tuesday to begin providing meals to victims and relief workers. Depending upon the need, the trailer and cooking teams could be on site two to three weeks

Feeding Children Everywhere warehouse in Longwood , FL fill thousands of small plastic bags with lentils, rice and dehydrated vegetables .

The Bank of America volunteers packaged the nearly 7,000 baggies — enough for almost 21,000 meals — into cardboard boxes. The food will be shipped to Oklahoma City to help feed the thousands of people left homeless by this week's tornado

FEDERAL RESPONSEFEDERAL RESPONSE

DISASTER SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE TEAMS: • Three Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams arrived on 21 MAY 2013

to perform the Assess, Inform, and Report (AIR) Missions, a tool to help federal, state, local, tribal and territorial partners gather detailed information on the affected areas during the critical first hours, days and weeks after a disaster strikes.

• DSATs will address immediate and emerging needs of disaster survivors including: on-site registration, applicant status checks, on-the-spot needs assessments, and access to partners offering survivor services.

NATIONAL RESPONSE COORDINATION CENTER FEMA activated the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C., a multi-agency coordination center that provides overall coordination of the federal response to natural disasters and emergencies, to support state requests for assistance.

FEMA’S REGION VI RESPONSE COORDINATION CENTER (RRCC) located in Denton, Texas remains activated.

PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAMS: Preliminary damage assessment teams, comprised of representatives from the state, FEMA and the Small Business Administration, are on the ground and began their assessments on 21 May 2013

SEARCH AND RESCUE: Three national Urban Search and Rescue Teams (Texas Task Force 1, Nebraska Task Force 1 and Tennessee Task Force 1) and an Incident Support Team have been deployed to support the immediate response efforts.

INCIDENT MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAMS: One national and two regional IMATs are deployed to the state emergency operations center in Oklahoma City to coordinate with state and local officials in support of recovery operations.

FCO: Sandy Coachman has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.

MOBILE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SUPPORT: Two Mobile Emergency Response Support Teams are in Oklahoma to provide self-sustaining telecommunications, logistics, and operations support elements, to assist in the immediate response needs and additional teams are being deployed.

SOURCE: FEMA BLOG – 21 MAY 2013

HEALTH AND MEDICALHEALTH AND MEDICAL

MENTAL HEALTH•The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) has established an emergency response center within the tornado disaster zone in Moore at the Cleveland County Health Department, 424 S Eastern Ave. in Moore.

•ODMHSAS is also coordinating volunteer efforts and providing mandatory training for behavioral health professionals wishing to assist with services for those in need.

•Licensed mental health professionals, certified case managers or certified recovery support specialists who would like to assist victims should call (405) 522-3908.

•To be admitted into the disaster zone, volunteers must have received training and hold a valid identification badge. Badges will be issued by the ODMHSAS at the completion of training.

TETANUS SHOTS: The Oklahoma City-County Health Department will be offering tetanus shots to rescue workers, volunteers and residents in affected areas.

SOURCE: FEMA BLOG – 21 MAY 2013

HOSPITALSMoore Hospital was damaged by the tornado Monday. Thirteen patients were transported to area hospitals.

Due to low water pressure Tuesday, Oklahoma Heart Hospital South relocated 14 patients.

A Moore Medical Center patient sits in the parking lot after a tornado damaged the hospital on Monday. SOURCE: Alonzo Adams/AP

OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS (OKMRCIndividuals who want to volunteer to help with disaster relief should register on the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC) website at www.okmrc.org. OKMRC is designed to bring together different healthcare-related organizations and members of the community, including physicians, nurses, public health workers, and other medical professionals. In addition, volunteers without a background in medical training are needed.

Aerial photo shows damage to Moore Medical Center. SOURCE:AP Photo/Steve Gooch

HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AFTER A TORNADOINJURIES •Injury may result from the direct impact of a tornado, or it may occur afterward when people walk among debris and enter damaged buildings.

•A study of injuries after a tornado in Marion, Illinois, showed that 50 percent of the tornado-related injuries were suffered during rescue attempts, cleanup, and other post-tornado activities.

GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS •Monitor battery-powered radio or television for emergency information.

•Be careful when entering any structure that has been damaged.

•Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves, and gloves when handling or walking on or near debris.

•Be aware of hazards from exposed nails and broken glass.

•Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines. Report electrical hazards to the police and the utility company.

•Use battery-powered lanterns.

•Never use generators, pressure washers, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, basement, garage, or camper—or even outside near an open window, door, or vent. Carbon monoxide (co)--an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death if you breathe it--from these sources can build up in your home, garage, or camper and poison the people and animals inside. Seek prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseated.

•Hang up displaced telephone receivers that may have been knocked off by the tornado, but stay off the telephone, except to report an emergency.

•Cooperate fully with public safety officials.

During a tornado, people face hazards from extremely high winds and risk being struck by flying and falling objects. After a tornado, the wreckage left behind poses additional injury risks

•Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Tornadoes Information on what to do to safeguard your health and safety prior to, during and after a tornado

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Clean Up Safely After a Disaster Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist individuals, families and rescue workers with safe and proper methods of disaster clean up. Topics include carbon monoxide exposure, chain saw injuries, chemical hazards, smoke from burning debris, electrical hazards, and cleaning and sanitizing with bleach.

• BusinessUSA - Disaster Cleanup Disaster clean up resources to assist business owners determine the most responsible clean up and disposal methods, and how best to protect employees during the recovery process.

•BusinessUSA - Tornado Preparedness - A checklist to prepare your business before, during, and after a tornado

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - Tornado Preparedness and Response is designed to help businesses and their employees prepare for tornadoes, and to provide information about hazards that workers may face in the aftermath of a tornado.

SIGNS OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS RELATED TO TORNADOES AND SEVERE STORM

•Eating or sleeping too much or too little•Pulling away from people and things•Having low or no energy•Feeling numb or like nothing matters•Having unexplained aches and pains like constant stomachaches or headaches•Feeling helpless or hopeless•Excessive smoking, drinking or using drugs (including prescription medication)•Feeling unusually confused or forgetful•Worrying a lot of the time; feeling guilty but not sure why•Feeling like you have to keep busy•Hyper-vigilant- constantly thinking that something is going to happen, including when forecasts for any storm are issued whether or not they have the chance to produce tornadoes or other severe weather•Constant yelling or fighting with family and friends; irritable*•Having thoughts and memories related to the storm that you can't seem to get out of your head; nightmares•'Triggers' such as sights or sounds that 'take you back' to the storm; sweating or heart racing when you experience these triggers•Unable to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or other dependents, trouble showing up to work or school on time or at all (excessive absences), trouble concentrating and getting things done, etc.•Thinking of hurting or killing yourself or someone else.

Severe storms that produce tornadoes, strong wind gusts, lightning strikes, flash floods and other damaging effects can trigger emotional distress in those that experience them: survivors in impacted areas (including children and teens), loved ones of victims, those who have suffered damaged to or who have lost completely residential or business property, and first responders, rescue & recovery workers are all at risk.

DISTRESS SYMPTOMS AFTER A TORNADO

Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 orText TalkWithUs to 66746

TTY for Deaf/Hearing Impaired:1-800-846-8517

Feeling stressed?If you or someone you know has been affected by a disaster and needs immediate assistance, please call this toll-free number for information, support, and counseling. You will be connected to the nearest crisis center.

Information and Referrals Within Tornado or Severe Storm-Impacted Areas: The national '2-1-1' system offers up-to-the-minute, local, disaster-specific information and resources. Visit http://www.211.org to locate a center serving a tornado or severe storm-impacted area or just dial '2-1-1'.

SOURCE: SAMHSA – Disaster Distress A boy is pulled from beneath a collapsed wall at the Plaza Towers Elementary School following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. Sue Ogrocki | AP

TORNADOES

• Nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds.

• Appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour.

• Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.

• Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible.

• Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.

• A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

NOTE: The Enhanced Fujita Scale, implemented in February 2007, is used by meteorologists to rate tornado damage on a scale from EF0 to EF5. The EF Scale incorporates more damage indicators and degrees of damage than the original Fujita Scale, allowing more detailed analysis and better correlation between damage and wind speed.

DESTRUCTIVE VORTEXRotating winds inside a super cell may spawn tornadoes. The tornado that hit Moore, Okla., on Monday was particularly large and powerful.

Unstable conditions produce an updraft of warm, moist air

As the storm forms, cooler air wrapping in from behind causes the rising air to spin. This is called a mesocyclone.

As the mesocyclone intensifies, it may produce violent rotating winds at the surface — a tornado.

Severe weather is common in the Plains in late spring along the so-called dry line, where cool, dry air from the Rockies meets warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico.

SOURCE: Ready.gov

WHY SO MANY TORNADOES NEAR OKLAHOMA CITY?

SOURCE: LA Times