Product
Pages
[B]
Belts [C]
Camera
& Lens Holster Cases [D]
Digital
Cases [E]
Lens
Pouches [F]
Film,
Flash Battery & Filter Pouches [L]
Long
Lens Cases [P]
Packs/Backpacks [R]
SafariSack
(TM) [S]
Shoulder
Bags Other
Pages Vital
Stats
Order
Line Customer
Service or Technical Questions Fax Mail E-Mail
Orders or Info Home
Page Click
on any photo Special
Report [Disaster
Recovery Efforts -- All
photos shot by Richard Stum, proprietor of
Kinesis Photo Gear. In
the early evening of May 3rd, 1999, one of
the largest and most destructive tornados
ever recorded swept through the rural and
metro areas surrounding Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma. The windspeed was officially
clocked at 318 MPH, although,
unofficially, there were speeds in excess
of 330 MPH. These speeds qualifies this
storm as an official F5 tornado.
Currently, there is no F6 rating. However,
because of the massive speeds clocked by
local Doppler radars, this tornado was an
"unofficial" F6. Over 50 tornados were
reported in OKC and neighboring areas that
evening. The primary tornado was a mile
wide at times and traveled about 60 miles
in a north-northeasterly direction,
staying on, or near, the ground for four
hours! On
May 9th, a plea went out to members of the
The
Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day
Saints
in surrounding states to volunteer to help
in the overwhelming clean-up effort. As a
member of this church I felt I could, and
should, provide assistance. "...Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least
of these my brethren, ye have done it unto
me." (Matthew 25:40) --
Richard Stum,
May 23, 1999 Page
One of Two This
essay has 43 photos and is divided into
five parts: Above/left
photo: tornado-torn apartment complex near
Moore,a suburb of OKC. [photo
38] For
excellent in-depth articles on this
disaster, visit the following links to
The Oklahoman: Article
about
the destruction in the small community of
Mulhall, north of OKC. Photos
included. Meteorology
facts--how
and why this storm was so big! Part
I -- Destruction and Damage There
was an unusual inversion in the area and
bad weather had been forecast . Between
modern-day doppler radar and tornado
sirens, most people had several hours
warning. [photo
28] Downed
fence and debris. [photo
21] Destruction
near a small ravine in the city.
[photo 22] Downed
power lines in Mulhall, a community of
200, about 40 miles northwest of OKC.
Public utility repair crews can be seen
the background. [photo
23] Destruction
near Moore, OK. Note that on the trees
that were left standing, patches of bark
were stripped clear. [photo
24] Homeowners
were required to hire a contractor (with
the assistance of their insurance company)
to bulldoze their home if it was declared
unsafe (if any home was left standing!).
FEMA, a U.S. Federal Govnt. agency, would
then come along a pick up the debris and
haul it off. [photo 25] An
upside-down mini-van, thrown into the side
of a house in Del City. [photo
26] My
all-time favorite photo from this
experience...a heavy steel I-beam from a
mobile home wrapped around a small tree
like a pretzel. Shot in the Tuttle area,
SW of OKC. [photo 29] A
Baptist Church with serious damage to the
sign but minimal damage to the building.
Across the street the entire neighborhood
was leveled. City of Moore. [photo
30] The
cemetery at Mulhall. Note that all downed
headstones were knocked the same direction
by this powerful force. [photo
31] More
destruction near Moore. [photo
32] This
car was tumbled around like a soda pop
can. Note the 2x6 jammed inside.
[photo 33] The
crumpled water tower in Mulhall. When this
tower hit the ground the rush of water
took out a nearby home. [photo
34] Another
view of the Mulhall water tower. Note the
headless doll in the foreground. Eerie.
[photo 35] Autos
destroyed near Tuttle. Most of these were
righted with a forklift in preparation for
being towed away. [photo
36] The
former Post Office at Mulhall. A trailer
was later brought in to serve this small
community of 200. [photo
37] Debris
and upended cars in the city. The streets
were first cleared of wreckage so
homeowners could make their way to their
property to recover personal belongings.
[photo 39] Part
II -- Rescuing a House in
Muhall Latter-day
Saints from Joplin, Missouri helping
cleanup and reroof a home of a non-member
in Mulhall. This home was under-insured,
so the pro-bono labor was greatly
appreciated. For additional info on the
destruction in this small town, see the
story
by The Oklahoman newspaper.
[photo 01] Close-up
view of the crew in Mulhall. This rural
town of 200 is about 30 miles northwest of
Oklahoma. [photo 02] Tearing
off the excess wood on the Muhall roof.
The damage in Mulhall was not caused by
the main twister that plowed into the
metro area. [photo 03] Different
view, same crew as above. [photo
04] Same
house. Note the innovative substitute for
a wheelbarrow. [photo
05] Volunteers
high on the roof, with detritus from a
less- fortunate neighbor piled up in the
foreground. [photo 06]
(some
are duplicated on
the very top
of this page)
1-888-716-5550
435-462-2266
435-462-2292
Kinesis Photo Gear
11874 E 18500 N #118
Mt Pleasant UT 84647
USA
info@kGearm
www.kGearm
to see it enlarged.
Sizes given are
inside dimensions.
May 3, 1999 Oklahoma City Tornado --
A Photo Essay]
All photos Copyright 1999 Richard
Stum.
Click on any photo to see an enlarged
view.
On May 12th, nine days after the storm
hit, I drove from Denver to OKC. I stayed
for three days, shooting photographs and
assisting in any way I could. 
Page One--
I)
Destruction and damage
II)
Rescuing a house in Mulhall
Page
Two--
III)
Roofing a house in Del City
IV)
Misc. photos and volunteer shots
V)
Notes on photography and this Web
site.
