Damage Survey of the Moore, Oklahoma Tornado

On May 4th, the Institute for Disaster Research at Texas Tech University dispatched three survey teams to the Oklahoma City area to conduct a damage survey. The teams had five tasks: 1) to map out the damage path and assign F-scale numbers to the damaged residences, 2) to document the performance of housing, 3) to interview witnesses, 4) to document projectiles, and 5) to determine if there were any above or below ground shelters within the damage path and assess their performance. Both aerial and ground surveys of the damage were conducted. The damage path was divided between the teams for the survey.

This paper will present the observations and findings from the team that surveyed the damage at Moore, Oklahoma where the most intense damage (F-5 rating) occurred. Various modes of house construction were noted. Several dozen types of projectiles were documented. The author returned to the disaster area three months later and made several interesting observations with respect to the quality of construction during the rebuilding efforts.