We returned to Moore, OK on Thursday May 23, 2013 to help with cleanup.
Difficult to describe what we saw, heard, felt, but this is our best attempt.
If you would like to view a map of the tornado's path while looking at our page,
Driving south on Sooner Rd, looking to the west: trees stripped of foliage and redecorated with debris.
Crossing I-35 on the SW 19th overpass,
heading toward Walmart/Arby's area.
On SW 19th, heading west from the I-35 overpass.
At Walmart...amazed at all the people helping to feed/help anyone and everyone.
Helping hands were busy...
Was glad to see USAA there ready to help.
Heading east on SW 19th toward S. Eastern.
After we were unsuccessful in finding anyone at Arby's where we sheltered we headed over to the volunteer HQ.
Driving north on S.Eastern...nearing the intersection with SE 12th.
Driving north on S. Eastern...looking to the east.
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
(intersection with S.9th St)
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
(yes it's fake...someone has a twisted sense of humor)
(no...my guys didn't do it)
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east...
approaching the corner of SE 8th St
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
What is left of a house on the north corner of the intersection with SE 8th St :(
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the southwest.
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
Driving north on S.Eastern...looking to the east.
Eastmoor Estates
Work Zone 2 command post at S. Janeway and 4th
Walking east on SW 4th St, looking toward the south
Walking east on SW 4th St, looking toward the south
Walking east on SW 4th St, looking toward the southeast
Looking at the location where 7-11 used to be on SW 4th &
S. Telephone Rd
Walking east on SW 4th St, looking toward the east
Standing in parking lot at 7-11, looking east across
S. Telephone Road
Standing in S. Telephone Road, looking west
Standing in S. Telephone Road, looking east toward
Moore Medical Center
Walking south on S. Telephone Road, looking south west
Walking south on S. Telephone Road, looking west
Standing in S. Telephone Road, looking east toward
Moore Medical Center
Standing in S. Telephone Road, looking northeast
Walking south on S. Telephone Road, looking west
Walking south on S. Telephone Road, looking west
at intersection with SW 6th St
Walking south on S. Telephone Road, looking southwest
toward Kings Manor
Walking south on S. Telephone Road, looking east
at news crews in parking lot at SW 7th St
Walking south on S. Telephone Road, looking southeast
at the Warren IMAX
(where we had just seen the new
Star Trek movie right before the storm hit)
Street we were assigned to work...SW 10th
rooftop "pierced" with a tree limb
Josh with his "Holes" pose (movie reference).
We were all in better moods after working with a family in their backyard. The work wasn't finished when we had to leave, but the family was grateful and said that now the work seems a lot less overwhelming. We were glad to "pass it on"...the kindness that we received after the ice storm crippled our city in 2010.
Walking north on S. Telephone Rd
Warren sign peppered with holes
Walking north on S. Telephone Rd
Trees "decorated" with twisted metal on west side of road
Boards & shards of metal embedded in the hospital building
Tigger!
Medical Center
Walking north on S. Telephone Rd
looking northwest
Walking north on S. Telephone Rd
looking at car mangled near the hospital
Walking toward intersection of SW 4th St & S. Telephone Rd
7-11 parking lot, looking west
7-11 parking lot, looking north
7-11 parking lot, looking south
Walking west on SW 4th St, looking toward south
Walking west on SW 4th St, looking toward south
at sign for Tom Strouhal Little River
Heading east on SW 4th St...
looking south toward I-35 in front of Warren Theater area.
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(left click to enlarge each photo)
*VOLUNTEER NOTICE FROM THE CITY OF MOORE*
The City of Moore is instituting a new volunteer process, to be managed by ServeMoore.com, which is an open coalition of local churches and city governments. A hotline for volunteers, donations and needs has been established:
1-866-484-3500 -to be staffed 6 days a week from 8am to 8pm. Note: you should always be able to speak with a live person if you call! It's completely local and well staffed.
The City of Moore strongly suggests that, whenever possible, volunteer operations are conducted through this hotline - especially for large groups. It is important for the city to keep track of hours volunteered, because FEMA will reimburse Moore for the dollar value of those hours. Please help us out!
For today, Saturday, the ServeMoore volunteer plan is as follows:
If you are a local volunteer or part of a local group that has FEWER than 25 people, and you would like to help clean up city and private property, you may head directly to Frontline Church, at 200 S Howard Ave. You will dispatched directly from there to a job site.
If you are coming in from out of state to volunteer, regardless of your group size, please call the hotline to be dispatched to a staging location in Moore. This will allow us to efficiently allocate labor and resources to places most in need.
We are still looking for owners and operators of heavy machinery. Please contact the hotline if you are able to volunteer your equipment, or write info@servemoore.com.
Lastly, please know that we have not forgotten those communities beyond Moore that were also damaged by the May 19/20 tornadoes, and we hope that you won't either. The ServeMoore volunteer coordination is an effort to assist all OK communities with labor and donations, not just Moore. Thank you for helping Oklahomans recover and return to their lives.
