Deadly Tornado Rips Through City

The slow-moving storm started its swath of destruction Monday afternoon as tornadoes created havoc from Strecker in Caddo County through the state's central section.

The largest of the tornadoes stayed on the ground for more than an hour.

At least one person was killed and three were injured in Oklahoma City when the tornado destroyed about 100 homes in the Country Place Estates along SW 134 between Pennsylvania and May avenues, said Fire District Chief Glenn Clark.

As the storm moved into the metro area, the Oklahoma City School District opened all its schools for storm shelters.

The tornado struck hardest in Moore, near dusk. The destruction was several blocks wide, and initial reports indicated hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed.

Forecasters said the tornado would register as an F-5, the strongest classifications for twisters.

Oklahoma City police dispatcher John Zondol said at least 400 houses had been destroyed.

"It's the worse I've ever seen. It's far worse than last summer's," he said, referring to a June tornado that caused extensive damage but no fatalities in northwest Oklahoma City.

"We are getting so many injuries we are just tagging them and bringing them in," said Shara Findley, a spokeswoman for Hillcrest Health Center in Oklahoma City. "We're getting everything you can think of."

She said she had seen no deaths, but about 100 people had been brought in by 8:30 p.m.

The massive twister destroyed homes and other buildings as it moved through southwest Oklahoma City into Moore and then through the Midwest City area, near Tinker Air Force Base.