From NPR - News - May 20, 2013

Deadly Tornado Rips Through Oklahoma City Suburbs

By Eyder Peralta and Sean Powers

A massive tornado ripped through the southern suburbs of Oklahoma City, Monday afternoon, killing at least 51 people, including 20 children, according to the state medical examiner's office. 

The death toll is expected to rise.

Hospitals are treating more than 120 patients, including about 70 children.

Scott Coppenbarger, a spokesman for OU Medical Center, said the hospital has admitted 20 people for treatment due to tornado-related injuries — 12 adults and eight children.

Helicopter images showed large tracts of Moore, Okla., completely leveled by what the National Weather Service says was at least an EF-4 tornado with winds in excess of 166 mph. The tornado stayed on the ground for 40 minutes and traveled 20 miles.

On video aired by KFOR-TV, emergency personnel could be seen sifting through rubble, walking over mounds of twisted debris.

Joe Jolly, a Moore resident, told our Newscast unit that his neighborhood looked like a "war zone."

"I pretty much don't have much of a house right now," he said. "I'm still kind of in shock right now. It was intense... I really don't know what to say. It's a big deal, devastating."

KWTV in Oklahoma reports that hundreds of homes and businesses have been destroyed. Jayme Shelton, a public information officer for the Moore Police Department, told All Things Considered the tornado hit two schools and a hospital. Lance West, a reporter from KFOR, was in front of Plaza Tower Elementary School.

West said rescue workers were looking through what was left of the building, searching for children. One of them was pulled out alive and reunited with his parents.

West said rescue workers were looking through what was left of the building, searching for children. One of them was pulled out alive and reunited with his parents.

"The walls are gone," West said. "Cinderblock walls that are ten inches thick are gone."

Earlier today, the National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for the Oklahoma City metro area.

That's a rare warning from the weather service, which says it issues one "when a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a tornado is imminent or ongoing."

The National Weather Service in Norman, Okla., is tweeting updates. At 4:22 p.m. ET. it warned that:

• "the tornado is so large you may not realize it's a tornado. If you are in Moore, go to shelter NOW!"

This story is breaking, so the news will surely change quickly. We'll concentrate on information from news outlets and authorities at the scene and will update this post as we get more. KFOR is streaming its live coverage.

White House officials says Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano had called Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin to tell her that President Barack Obama has directed federal emergency management officials and his administration to ensure no needs go unmet.

The National Weather Service has issued tornado watches in six states this evening: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.

In Illinois, there is a tornado watch until 1:00 AM CDT for De Witt, Logan, Macon, Marshall, McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties.