Somehow I didn't quite realize the scale of the destruction in Oklahoma last night, but reading the reports this morning, it's hard not to cry at my desk. 91 people confirmed dead so far, and that number is likely to rise. It's so awful.

One of our good friends is from Oklahoma, and her (grown) children and grandchildren are still there. One daughter lives in Moore, and her house was untouched (and she and her kids are safe). That's amazing. Several of them lived in the town next to Moore, and others lived about 5 miles away. They're all okay, thank god, but it seems like such a close call, and just plain luck.

I just had an extensive conversation with a woman on the subway who told me that the weather has been crazy since Sputnik! That's what did it -- all the going to space.

In case anyone was wondering.

Of course. It's all so obvious now.

I just got home from an interview, and so I guess I could go into work, but I don't wanna! Meh.

One daughter lives in Moore, and her house was untouched (and she and her kids are safe). That's amazing.

I'm so glad your friend's kids and grandkids are all okay! M found out last night that his cousin has just recently moved to Moore with his new wife, but their home was spared as well. I am so relieved that nobody we know was hurt, though it's hard to feel very happy about that when there are so many people who can't say the same.

The story about the daycare where the kids were all herded into the bathrooms to ride out the storm is the one that really got me, for obvious reasons. The staff members brought them to the safest space they could reach, covered them with blankets, and sang "You Are My Sunshine" to them while the storm ripped off the roof of the building. They all survived.

The staff members brought them to the safest space they could reach, covered them with blankets, and sang "You Are My Sunshine" to them while the storm ripped off the roof of the building. They all survived.

Damn.

Yeah, that 91 total sounded kind of high to me last night (based on what I had been reading). I still haven't watched news coverage beyond Maddow last night. I don't like inaccurate early reports. They make me freak out.

The emergency personnel are still looking for people, but the mayor apparently was confident that the 24 is the number. I don't know.

Also, here is a list of a few local orgs that are accepting financial donations: [link]

As bad as it is, if the people hadn't been well-prepared and serious about their safety, the toll would have been much much worse.