UPDATE: Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office Revises Death Toll Down To 24, Including 7 Children
Dozens Killed In Massive Tornado Near Oklahoma City
A massive tornado ripped through the southern suburbs of Oklahoma City, Monday afternoon, killing
at least 51 people24 people, according to the state medical examiner’s office.The death toll was expected to rise.
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.
Read More: Massive Tornado Blasts Through Oklahoma City Suburbs (Slideshow)
Oklahoma GOP Sen. Tom Coburn Will Seek To Offset Tornado Aid
Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn will seek to offset federal aid to victims of a massive tornado that blasted through Oklahoma City suburbs on Monday with cuts elsewhere in the budget.
“That’s always been his position [to offset disaster aid],” a spokesman told the Huffington Post Monday night. “He supported offsets to the bill funding the OKC bombing recovery effort.”
Read More: Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) on Sandy Relief
Cole called it “hypocritical” for lawmakers whose districts have benefited from federal aid after previous disasters to require sweeping spending cuts in order to authorize the storm aid. “We have never done that in the past in a disaster, and we certainly shouldn’t do so now,” Cole said.