Midwest girls check in...

[Melissa Bennett]

just want to see how everyone is surviving these storms. Hope you are all safe and please check in when you can.

[Libby Pritchett]

I'm safe! We spent a lot of time in the basement yesterday, but we didn't have any damage. A tornado touched down just about 5 miles from here, so we were very fortunate.

Unfortunately, we're supposed to have more bad weather coming, so I don't think we're out of the woods yet.

I've heard on fb from Tara, Stacy, and Britt who are all in Oklahoma. SO scary about the devastation in Moore, OK today.

[Melissa Bennett]

I know, I just saw on the news about Moore. Weren't they hit a few years ago by a huge tornado?

[pewtertm]

Our family was blessed...there was a rotation that passed over us on the west side of town (in our mobile home YIKES), but it didn't lower. But the south side (near where Tara is) got hit hard.

Melissa...Moore was hit May 3, 1999 and those winds were the highest ever recorded (300+ mph). Right now reporters are saying that today's damage looks even worse. Live streaming footage on www.news9.com if anyone is interested. Just be warned, it's extremely depressing...and sometimes graphic.

[MamaBee]

Many PT and prayers for those involved!!! So scary!!

[marlathrall]

I'm from Oklahoma, but live in the panhandle where it's much dryer and tornados are an extreme rarity. Please pray for all those in the OKC area. Things are really, really bad and there was at least one school with children inside leveled. I'm just heartbroken.

[marlathrall]

I just read on the news that all the children have been found with only minor injuries. That's good news!

[KristinCB]

Oh what a relief, marla

What is the best news site to follow for accurate details?

[NeverendingJen]

Kristin, I tend to lean towards CNN for a major news source.

[Darcy Baldwin]

Kristin - the thing about it right now is that thing are going to be rolling in from every direction - as of about 20 min ago, they still couldn't even report a single casualty because the information just wasn't getting out. Early on, they're relying on word of mouth and twitter from reporters and people on the ground. So any major news outlet is probably best for where you are if you can do CNN or Fox there.

[MissKim]

We spent an hour in our tornado shelter yesterday. It sounded awful but went southeast of us. I had a window broken in my classroom by hail. Our school lost power for six hours last night. We had to throw out a bunch of milk.

Thinking of Moore today. Any teacher's worst nightmare is a tornado at dismissal. My heart aches for the students and staff.

[joelsgirl]

So scary!

[MommaTrish]

My cousin and a handful of others from her fire station have all been sent to somewhere there to go and help.

[rach3975]

I hope you're all safe! I've been out of touch all day and am just hearing about this now.

[lingovise]

i cannot imagine how terrifying that must be! hoping all are safe. loads of love going out for those that have been in the direct path of such destruction. ♥

[hollyxann]

I can not imagine what any of you are going through. My heart is very heavy and aches. They have confirmed that the death toll is currently at 37....7 of those kids from the elementary school.

[Milmomma]

We are southwest of OKC, and were luckily enough not to be in the path of the multiple tornadoes yesterday or today. The whole thing is so sad. Horrible timing with the schools getting out right as they were coming into town.

[kscwgirl]

24 third graders dead from one of the two elementary schools hit. I had to turn it off. I have a third grader and I can't take it.

We are okay up here, had some high winds and thunderstorms last night but nothing bad. Headed our way again tonight and we are under a tornado watch now.

[Lyd]

Yeesh. So sad. I don't know how you guys handle living in the middle of tornado-land. Everyone stay safe, and check in when you can.

[YepBrook]

This is so so so awful.

[carrie1977]

My heart aches for all those affected by this.

[nun69]

so awful...I saw that Tara posted that her and her family are safe and they didn't have any damage, but I am praying for all those in Moore today~

[marlathrall]

The local news stations are reporting 91 dead now. They did pull 101 people out alive over night.

[Keely~B]

I'm glad that everyone's doing okay so far. I spent last night waiting for word from family, luckily they're okay. The waiting was horrible. My heart breaks for the entire community and all those suffering losses. It's hard to wrap your brain around all that destruction. I know there are more storms in the forecast today so I'm still keeping all those in the path in my thoughts as well.

[Darcy Baldwin]

Glad to hear that your family was safe, too, Keely!

[pewtertm]

The official death count has been revised from 51 down to 24. Not sure how the ME got that wrong, but it's a good change. The numbers will be going up again though.

[taracotta7]

We are safe and had minor hail damage. My husband on the other hand is really struggling. He is a police officer and was helping yesterday. He was part of the team at Plaza Towers Elementary. He was in charge of the morgue there and identifying bodies with the school yearbook. It is too much. SO much is not being reported in death counts because people have not been identified and family members have not been notified. The numbers are going to sky rocket. I am sure of it. Steve alone identified 7 children just in the first hour he was there. He said there are people dead in cars, in fields.........they just can't get to them all. The ME is totally overwhelmed with trying to get to all the bodies.

It is just too much. My home town (Moore) has been devastated by THREE huge tornadoes in just 13 years time. It is just overwhelming. We didn't sleep well last night. Steve is just seeing those precious faces and can't wrap his mind around it. We are having more thunderstorms today with hail but doesn't look to be more tornados.

Please continue to pray. If you want to help, the best way is donate to the red cross and have it marked for Moore relief efforts. Thank you everyone for your prayers, thoughts, text, fb messages.........I am overwhelmed by the love and support we have received.

[Darcy Baldwin]

Oh God, Tara, my heart breaks for you ..and Steve, and all of those living in the area and effected. I'm so very sorry. We're praying for all the first responders, the 2nd responders, and folks coming in to help, for people whose lives have been changed, and all of those who have lost their homes, their health, and their family members. ((HUGS))

We're bracing for the weather today - have just been placed under a tornado watch, and can't help but be uber-jittery after yesterday. Normally that just means we're mindful of the weather and keep an eye out, but rarely does anything come of it. Today...we give it much more weight.

[taracotta7]

Stay safe Darcy!!!! Keep us posted.

[lorigaud]

OMG Tara... my heart is just hurting for you and your husband. That must be just horrendous for you to deal with; I can't even imagine. I'll keep you and everyone affected in my thoughts and prayers.

[Lyd]

Oh Tara - I just can't even imagine!! Poor Steve . . . that has got to be the worst job in the world--so heartbreaking!

Sending prayers and love to you and all the others who have been affected!

[glumirk]

Wow. What a nightmare to live through, Tara! I can't imagine being the one who has to see and identify those precious children who were taken so early.

Thanks for telling us. Now I can pray a little differently for those first responders to be comforted through this devastation.

[LJSDesigns]

How devastating. Tara, thank your husband for me. I can not imagine having to do work like that. It takes an especially strong person to take on such a heartbreaking duty. I will be texting my donation to the red cross now and I will continue to pray.

[Melissa Bennett]

Keely, I am so glad you finally heard from your family and they are okay. Tara, my heart goes out to you and your family and community. <3

[marlathrall]

I'm so sorry Tara. I cannot imagine how Steve must feel...

[nun69]

so sorry to hear that Tara and I was thinking about Steve all day yesterday wondering where he might be helping....sending him lots of {{HUGS}} from across the USA ♥

[staciahall]

I'm glad that your family is safe, Tara and just can't imagine just how difficult that would be for your husband. I'm sure they will have resources to help him and his co-workers, I hope that they take advantage of them if needed. Such a tough job.....

[abm234]

I'm so sorry Tara! I'm sure this will be life changing for him. I pray for you and your community. Such devastation is unimaginable!

[alinalove]

oh my. how devastating this is. i am thinking of you all and especially you and your husband, tara!

[rach3975]

What a heartbreaking thing for your husband to go through, Tara! Our thoughts are with him and the entire community.

[taracotta7]

Thank you girls! Glad everyone in our area from this community was safe!

[kscwgirl]

Oh Tara. that makes me cry. Huge hugs and love to you and Steve. <3

[Sherri Tierney]

Tara, I've been thinking about you and praying for your community. I will add prayers for you and your husband specifically. I can't even imagine.

We had two nights of severe weather with tornadoes dropping all around us but nothing in our immediate area. Everything skirted by for the most part. We have some wind damage but that is nothing. The first night I put the kids in the hallway on a cot to sleep for a while because a tree falling on our roof frightened me. The second night we ended up going to the school I work at and utilizing the storm shelter there.

All of this has my nerves on edge. We made the decision to start the process of having an underground storm shelter put in.