Scars linger one year after deadly tornado in Moore, Oklahoma
Digital Reporter
Monday, May 19, 2014, 3:29 PM -
Tuesday marks one year since a monster tornado devastated the city of Moore, Oklahoma. The twister carved a 27-kilometre-long path of destruction on May 20th last year.
Homes and businesses were severely damaged, along with a hospital and two elementary schools.
STORM HUNTERS: Tune in on TV for regular Storm Hunters updates LIVE from Tornado Alley
BELOW: EF4 structural damage to Plaza Towers Elementary School, 2013
BELOW: Plaza Towers debris lingers, one year after the storm
The powerful EF-5 tornado left 25 people dead.
Storm hunters and Weather Network meteorologists Jaclyn Whittal and Mark Robinson were chasing at the time, and watched with horror as the deadly tornado bore down on Moore.
BELOW: 2013 Moore tornado aftermath overwhelms Storm Hunters
Now, one year later, they have returned to Moore, where they say the resiliency of the city is nothing short of inspiring.
RETRACING STEPS: One year after 2013's tornado outbreak
The word HOPE at Briarwood Elementary school.
Moore, OK #moorestrong @stormhunterTWN @MMillaire_MM pic.twitter.com/EnqM14I9zX
— Jaclyn Whittal (@jwhittalTWN) May 17, 2014
"I feel really happy to see there's such great progress with the rebuilding efforts," said Whittal. "I'm very shocked to see how much has been done in only one year. Life has certainly moved on here, it's a new beginning, it doesn't look like the same area."
Volunteer efforts continue to change the landscape of Moore everyday.
CANADA'S TORNADO ALLEY: Everything you need to know
"I was surprised that there was still church volunteer efforts, one year later. We met some great people that were building a fence for a family," she added.
Tornado Alley is often visited in late spring and early summer by dangerous, sometimes violent, tornadoes. Part of the reason why is that the "dryline" -- a front separating moist Gulf of Mexico air from dry air from the Southwest -- often sits across these states, helping spawn tornado-producing thunderstorms.
BELOW: How tornadoes toss around heavy debris
Mark and Jaclyn are currently on a three-week chasing assignment in Tornado Alley, where they're providing daily updates on The Weather Network on TV and theweathernetwork.com.
Follow their adventures on Twitter: @JWhittalTWN and StormhunterTWN
