Teacher’s recording captures harrowing moments during tornado
The chilling screams of students and teachers can be heard on a newly released audio recording, which was made as a killer tornado swept through Briarwood Elementary School in Oklahoma City.
The audio, broadcast by KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City on Thursday, was apparently recorded by a teacher, one of many people in the school who sought shelter in a bathroom.
In the recording, teachers can be heard shouting to reassure students as the tornado barrels down.
“You’re OK, you’re OK!” a voice yells, amid students’ screams.
PHOTOS: Powerful tornado slams Oklahoma
Briarwood was heavily damaged, but everyone inside survived.
The twister continued northeast, however, hitting nearby Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla., full on. Plaza Towers collapsed, and seven children died.
Neither school had tornado-safe rooms.
In all, Monday’s tornado killed 24 people, including 10 children.
stephen.ceasar@latimes.com
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Twitter: @stephenceasar
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