Massive Tornado in Oklahoma City Area

  

A woman finds a kitten among the devastation.

 
     I do a lot of talking about the importance of planning for man-made and natural disasters. Heck, I even wrote a book about it, and I direct people to that book, as often as I can, and when there is unexpected loss, to my other book as well.   I talk a lot about the importance of being able to evacuate and the importance of being organized to shelter in place, and most of the time, these strategies save lives and often our pets and our property as well.
             Today after a day of scattered tornadoes yesterday the Oklahoma City region was hammered by a very rapidly occurring mile wide tornado which has been determined to have brought winds over 200 mph.   Entire subdivisions are reduced to matchsticks. Cars from a mile away sit where a living room once was.  The Orr Farm lost 75-100 horses in the tornado.   An elementary school took a direct hit, as did a high school, and a hospital.   The National Guard is on their way to the area.  As of this moment we have no idea how many people have been injured, or how many people have been killed.
              As human beings there are many things we can do to help us prepare for, and endure storms.  However, nature is a powerful force.  A storm as large as this, and one which formed so quickly depriving families and schools even from entering the safest areas or structures in preparation, is something that any amount of preparation cannot make tolerable.    In this life we must do all we can to protect our families.  We need shelters and supplies whenever we reside in a place which has tornadoes. We need a good plan for such occurrences.  However, when we are hit with something so devastating, all we can do is help others when we are able and pray to God for strength, support, and His grace.
             Please join me as I send a prayer to the good people of Oklahoma City and anyone adversely impacted by these tornadoes.

               Heavenly Father,

               Please be with and help those who have experienced the Oklahoma City tornadoes.

               Please help the first responders to find those who are trapped in rubble.

               Help the parents comfort their children.

               Guide the surviving pets to find their owners and their families.

               Please Lord, have the right doctors and nurses with the right words waiting for these  frightened people.  Help them to feel your grace and your love in the face of this tragedy and it's challenges. Help our leaders to make the best decisions.  May this tragedy bring out the best in all these people.  

 

 In Jesus name we pray.

               Amen.

 

We are especially concerned about our friend Sandy and her family, and our friend John and his family, as well, who live in tornado ravaged areas.
(Sandy and her family are outside the 30 square miles of devastation, and they are alright, despite the fact that this happened very near where her son works.)


     Thank you all.



Update:  As of May 21st, Oklahoma City officials noted that they had found a number of people in shelters and they revised their figures of the dead to be 24, 7 of those children.    Of course to the families who have lost members this remains devastating.  However, it is joyous to think that fewer people perished in this F4/F5 tornado than was originally believed.

Earthquake in Italy

This is the handiwork of this particular quake. This is in Saint Agostino near Ferrara.  (Picture:  STRINGER/ITALY/REUTERS)

  



    According to the Reuters news service, a 6.0 earthquake occurred in Northern Italy about six hours ago.  Thus far, there have been determined to be at least seven deaths, and Silvio Belusconi has rescheduled a G8 function, in order to be available to the people near the quake area. This quake occurred overnight, and would no doubt have caused more deaths had it occurred during the day.  The predominance of those who died, were factory workers who were working overnight and who died when the factory collapsed.   There is significant damage to some areas.  A medieval castle was badly damaged. The epicenter of the quake,  was  near Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of the Po River Valley, and the tremor was felt as far west as Liguria, bordering France, and the Friuli region bordering Slovenia.   In San Felice Sul Panaro, not only was the Estense Castle from the fourteenth century damaged, but numerous churches there were as well.   The quake may have killed and injured more people had it not been at 4 am, their time. Other sources are now saying that at least fifty people have been severely injured. There was a pre-shock, and this region is experiencing aftershocks also.
          Although Italy does experience periodic quakes, they are generally smaller than this.  Magnitude alone does not determine the level of damage from an earthquake. The depth of the epicenter and what is built there often helps to determine the degree of damage, along with what happens to be built in the area of the epicenter itself.   Today our thoughts are with the Italian people, especially those near Modena,  Bologna, and especially those who have lost family in this quake and the quake aftermath. The quake was also felt as far as Tuscany.
         For the rest of us, it is again time to assess our quake plans, and go room to room, making sure that anything which could fall on a vulnerable person particularly a child, is secured.  Remember that bookcases on walls must never be above the head of a bed, for example.

Damage in this quake.  (Photo: BBC)

Reports of people feeling this quake are far and wide, and are marked on this map.  (Map: Lalate News)