Oklahoma Tornado Recovery: Stories of hope and resilience
After several tornadoes swept through her home state, Chinh rushed to Oklahoma from Texas to capture the devastating, but inspiring stories of heroes and true Oklahomans. She has reported from Moore, Shawnee, Bethel Acres, El Reno and more.
91-Year-Old Tornado Survivor Meets Pen Pal of 80 Years
Oklahoma City: El Reno, OK, resident Lorraine Thomas not only survived the recent EF-5 tornado that swept through her town, she's also now able to share that experience, for the first time ever, face-to-face with her pen pal of over 80 years, Sadie Fanali. The 91-year-old pen pals were overjoyed to be able to finally meet after hundreds of letters, cards and pictures were exchanged over the past eight decades.
75-Year-Old Widow Rides Out Shawnee Tornado Inside Metal Container
Shawnee: Oklahoma native, Pauline Reeves, has never had to take cover for a tornado until recently. It was her grandson's advice that saved her life when an EF-4 tornado swept through Shawnee, destroying her mobile home and three acres of her land.
Resident Who Loses Everything in Tornado Has New Mission in Life
Moore: 65-year-old Moore resident, Carol Kawaykla, lost everything, including the home she just paid off. Her kids went to Plaza Towers Elementary School just across the street from where their home used to be. The school is now nothing but a slab of concrete, fenced up and surrounded by pieces of hope in the form of drawings, t-shirts and stuffed animals, but all an important reminder of Kawaykla's new mission in life..
Disaster Relief Center Forced to Relocate After Storms
Norman: An organization that has been helping tornado victims becomes a victim itself after severe weather causes more damage to the metro area. But even strong storms could not stop this group from finding another place to continue its mission of helping the community recover.
Farmers Beg Volunteers to Remember Them
El Reno: Volunteers from all over the state and country travel to El Reno to help farmers search for debris in their crop fields. Doing so saves farmers thousands of dollars from possible damages to their equipment.
Young Victims, Students Helping With Tornado Recovery Efforts
Norman: Young volunteers, including kids who have lost their homes and many students, are giving up a part of their summer to help Journey Disaster Relief efforts. Here's why.