10th Anniversary of Devastating Moore, Oklahoma Tornado

Remembering the EF-5 Tragedy

May 20, 2023

On May 20, 2023, the community of Moore, Oklahoma, remembers the 10th anniversary of the devastating EF-5 tornado that tore through the heart of the city. The tornado, part of the Tornado outbreak of May 1821 2013 and Tornadoes of 2013, left a trail of destruction and claimed 24 lives.

At 2:56 p.m. on that fateful day, the massive tornado touched down in Newcastle, near Oklahoma City. It quickly grew in size and intensity, reaching EF-5 status with wind speeds estimated at 200 miles per hour. The tornado carved a path of destruction through Moore, leaving behind a landscape of flattened homes, businesses, and schools.

The tornado's impact was devastating. Twenty-four people were killed, including seven children. Hundreds more were injured, and thousands of homes were destroyed. The damage was estimated at $2 billion, making the Moore tornado one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

In the years since the tornado, the Moore community has shown remarkable resilience and strength. The city has rebuilt and recovered, and new businesses and homes have sprung up in the areas that were once devastated. However, the memory of the tornado remains vivid, and the community continues to honor the victims and celebrate the survivors.

On the 10th anniversary of the tornado, members of the Moore community gathered at Norman Regional Moore Hospital to hold a memorial service. The service included a candlelight vigil, a reading of the names of the victims, and a moment of silence.

"We will never forget the lives that were lost," Mayor Glenn Lewis said at the service. "But we will also remember the strength and resilience of our community. Together, we have rebuilt our city and our lives, and we will continue to move forward with hope and determination."