Oklahoma Tornado Open Thread

[Content Note: Death; injury.]

Here is the latest. Please note that the same guidelines re: photos and politicizing remain in effect for this thread.

New York Times—Vast Oklahoma Tornado Kills at Least 91:

A giant tornado, a mile wide or more, killed at least 91 people, 20 of them children, as it tore across parts of Oklahoma City and its suburbs Monday afternoon, flattening homes, flinging cars through the air and crushing at least two schools.

The injured flooded into hospitals, and the authorities said many people remained trapped, even as rescue workers struggled to make their way through debris-clogged streets to the devastated suburb of Moore, where much of the damage occurred.

Amy Elliott, the spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City medical examiner, said at least 91 people had died, including the children, and officials said that toll was likely to climb. Hospitals reported at least 145 people injured, 70 of them children.

KFOR reports officials have confirmed 91 fatalities, and that 101 people were found alive in the rubble overnight.

The Guardian—Facebook Page Set Up:

A Facebook page has been set up asking people to post any pictures or documents they have found in their yard or in the street after the tornado in the hope of reuniting them with their owners. One woman said she lives more than 100 miles away in Tulsa and found a picture of a woman in her flower bed.

People are also sharing pictures of missing people, including a four-year-old girl.

On the same page people have posted pictures of lost and found animals.

There is also a dedicated site for lost and found pets as a result of the tornado.

FEMA—President Declares Disaster for Oklahoma: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Oklahoma to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and tornadoes beginning May 18, 2013, and continuing. ...Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster."

Roll Call—Coburn Wants Tornado Disaster Aid to Be Offset: "The tornado damage near Oklahoma City is still being assessed and the death toll is expected to rise, but already Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., says he will insist that any federal disaster aid be paid for with cuts elsewhere. CQ Roll Call reporter Jennifer Scholtes wrote for CQ.com Monday evening that Coburn said he would 'absolutely' demand offsets for any federal aid that Congress provides. Coburn added, Scholtes wrote, that it is too early to guess at a damage toll but that he knows for certain he will fight to make sure disaster funding that the federal government contributes is paid for."

Please consider this an Open Thread to share information as it becomes available, to provide links to local services and charitable support, to report in if you're an Oklahoma Shaker, and for considerate discussion. I'm so sorry, Oklahomans.