Tornado country

We weren't sure if we were going to detour around here, given the nearby tornados and threat of more. But the weather abated, and we decided to stay our route as planned, and arrived in Oklahoma City yesterday afternoon.  As we approached the three exits for Shawnee, where the first tornado struck, I was not sure what me might see from the highway, and the first two exits seemed totally normal.  As we approached the third, however, giant old trees lay snapped like twigs, and debris filled the land and some heavily damaged buildings were visible from the highway.  Moore, where the most devastation occurred, is south of us, and we will not encounter it, but the images on the evening news are daunting.

Though we have followed it, as all the nation I am sure has, the news here tells more.  People are volunteering to clean up the debris, which seems the most needed help now, outside of funds, as they have actually asked for no more clothing donations, due to the huge volume that has already arrived.  Work parties are being organized, and someone has set up free laundry service at a nearby Home Depot, where folks can drop off their clothes to be laundered and folded and returned to them.  We are staying at a campground where we have stayed in the past, but had not noticed that they have a storm shelter.

 

Our spot on the 10th hole....all seems very normal here in Oklahoma City, except for the flags at half mast.