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Show 7 May 6, 1999 un inter by Capt. Rich Curry to.tomad rspods cessing line was formed to register people's names so others could know their loved ones were still alive. Standing at the perimeter of .what once was Del City, Okla., only 100 feet away from the base, twisted homes could be seen in the glare of portable 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs A TINKER AFB, Okla. (AFPN) tornado ripped through central Oklahoma Monday, carving a mile-wid- e path of destruction that stretched 25 miles from Norman, north past Oklahoma City. The twister, with winds clocked at more than 250 mph, flattened hundreds of homes, killed scores of people and left thousands homeless. For those in its path, it was devastating. Within minutes after the tornado had passed, Tinker AFB threw open its doors. Reservists from Air Force Reserve Command's 507th Air RefuControl eling Wing and 513th Air active-dutGroup, along with their counterparts, hurriedly put together a makeshift hotel for hundreds of people left with literally nothing more than the clothes on their backs.. We're going to do everything we can to support this military l units. Across the road where a thriving residential com- munity once stood, there was nothing but splinters and rubble. The tornado, which had earlier been disaster. And that's still not going to be enough. headed directly for Tinker, swerved at the last minute, plowing through the heavily populated area. The twister skirted the perimeter of the base then thrust on northward through Midwest City, Okla., immediately' north of the base, again destroying everything in its path. The fence that once sep- Col Mark Pillar y light-al- . lay flattened on the ground from the tornado's blow. sparing their families. Others said they were never so scared in their lives. There were also stories of courage. "I saw the twister go past my home," said SrA. Scott Branscum of Moore, Okla. "It was only 150 yards away. The noise sounded like a jet engine revving up, only it just kept getting louder and louder. My wife and I had our children in the bathtub. Our home had some damage, but some of my neighbor's homes just aren't there now." Immediately after making sure his family was safe, the aeromedical technician from the Reserve group's 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron got in his car to drive to the base. It was a trip that would take him four hours. "I stopped by an elderly housing complex to help. It was a terrible sight. Totally destroyed," said Branscum, who said he pulled eight bodies from with open arms and warm kindness. the debris. "We're going to do everything we "I heard a woman screaming. She A Tinker estimate says preliminary can to support this disaster,'" said Col. was buried under five feet of rubble,''' on the moderate damage Immediately after the storm had Mark Pillar, 507th ARW vice com- sustained extreme northwest corner of the base. said Branscum, who worked frantipassed, 507th ARW members took a mander. "And that's still not going to There was no aircraft damage. The cally with several other strangers to 5 out of its hangar to make be enough." unit All across the base military mem- base's industrial capability is still intact. dig the woman out. room for survivors. Dozens of trucks "A wall had fallen on top of her," he rolled up to the hangar doors, bring- bers rushed to help throughout the No work interruption is anticipated. famsaid. "But by some miracle her walker, on information Relatives seeking ing with them the basics of survival. evening hours. e teams formed ily members stationed at Tinker, or which had fallen on top of her, saved In the hangar, volunteers began to formed a brace and kept set up food lines and more than 300 to search the rubble. Medical tech- family members of persons being tem- the woman. Itfrom call crushing her. She everything cots. Bus after bus rolled up to the nicians reported to the base hospital, porarily sheltered on base may 5 had a dislocated shoulder and cuts, or (405) hangar doors bringing more survivors fitness center and 507th ARW hangar (405) but she was all right." were The stories survivors' of what will most likely become known to provide care for those injured. At all Most lost their worldly (Courtesy of Air Force Reserve Comas the worst tornado disaster in his- the 507th ARW hangar, one of three thanked God for mand News Service) tory. 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