I’m sitting on my couch, the news is on, and I am completely numb. I can see lightening dancing in the early morning sky outside my window and I pray the rain doesn’t come. The rescue workers need it to stay dry. 
I finally fell asleep around midnight. When I awoke at 6 this morning I immediately began to sob. All I can do is cry and pray – and I’m even finding it hard to pray, except for the occassional word or two lifted up to Jesus.
Yesterday a tornado (they are saying it was an F5) ripped through my town. It took almost the same path as the deadly May 3, 1999 tornado that devestated Moore. Yesterday’s tornado was worse. Many are dead and many are children.
We got our storm shelter installed Friday. Jackson and I were underground, while a massive, eerie, monster of a storm demolished everything in it’s path just blocks from us. People were trying to reach me. I couldn’t call out and could barely get text messages to go through. I prayed the live stream on my Ipad wouldn’t freeze – it didn’t. I watched the storm the majority of the time as it ripped houses from their foundations.
A friend sent a text saying it was safe to come out. I turned on the news, saw ground zero, and fell to the floor and cried.
We were safe. We were alive. Our house was standing. So many were not as lucky.
The hospital where Jackson goes to the doctor is destroyed. The 7-11 where I got gas was leveled and three people lost their lives there. An elementary school became a makeshift grave to so many children. I can’t comprehend it.
I feel completely helpless sitting on my couch. As a reporter, I spent years covering the volitile Oklahoma weather. But nothing I experienced comes close to what I’m watching on my television. I want to help, but just beyond my neighborhood a war zone starts.
Oklahomans have already stepped up and are proving once again to have big, generous hearts. Cars lined up for miles outside the local news station last night and more than $35,000 was donated for relief efforts along with other supplies.
I know there are probably many of you wondering how you can help. You can pray! You can also make a donation to the American Red Cross. It’s super easy. Just text REDCROSS to 90999.
