Frightening Footage of Tornado Slamming Into School

Be prepared, this is difficult to watch.

It’s an ABC  news story with cell phone video taken by teacher huddled with students at a Moore, OK elementary school.

I’ve avoided using photos and such from the kids out of respect for their privacy and the need to respect the fact that they ARE KIDS.

But this video goes to the heart of the courage the teachers had, and the courage the kids and their families will need to heal emotionally from this disaster.

It also resonates with me, I think, because here in Alaska we are so prone to earthquakes that a similar building-destroying Wham-Bam Your-Life-As-You-Know-It-Will-Never-Be-The-Same Event could occur here.

 

How to help Tornado Victims

How to help Tornado Victims

Red Cross and Salvation Army among those taking donations.

Photos from Yahoo News via Flickr.

JING_Tornado_Path_Yahoo_News via Flickr JING_Tornado_Photo_Open_House_Yahoo_News_via_Flickr JING_Tornado_Photo_Power_Line_Crying_Yahoo_News_via_Flickr

This power line struck me as being a woman bending over crying.  It sums it up for me.  A strong, powerful woman brought to her knees in pain.

I don’t have the heart to post any of the children’s photos.

 

Locations for sending financial support are below.

Reprinted from USA Today.

If you’re looking for ways to help residents of Oklahoma, ravaged by a monstrous tornado on Monday, the following relief organizations are working in the area:

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross has several shelters open in Oklahoma and Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles have begun delivering hot meals throughout the affected areas. The Red Cross is also working to link loved ones in Moore who are OK through a website called Safe and Well. Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, donate online, or donate by phone at 1-800-RED CROSS.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is activating disaster response teams and mobile feeding units to help residents and rescuers in Moore, as well as in other locations in the Plains and the Midwest that were impacted by tornadoes. Donate online or text STORM to 80888 to contribute $10 to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts or make a donation by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY. If you’re sending a check make sure you put the words “Oklahoma Tornado Relief” on the check, and mail it to: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK. 73157.

Operation USA

Los Angeles-based international relief agency Operation USA announced it’s providing emergency aid where needed to community-based health organizations across Oklahoma. Donate online, by phone at 1-800-678-7255, or by check made out to Operation USA, 7421 Beverly Blvd., PH, Los Angeles, CA 90036. You can also donate $10 by texting AID to 50555. Corporate donations of bulk quantities of disaster-appropriate supplies are also being requested.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief says it has deployed at least 80 volunteers to respond to severe weather in Oklahoma. Those interested in helping can make a tax-deductible donation to the BGCO’s Disaster Relief ministry online or call (405) 942-3800. You may also send checks to: BGCO Attn: Disaster Relief 3800 N. May Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73112.

Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse, which provided relief to residents of Moore after the devastating tornado in 1999, deployed two Disaster Relief Units from their North Carolina headquarters before dawn on Tuesday. One will be based in Moore, and the other in Shawnee. Samaritan’s Purse is looking for volunteers to help with the relief effort. You can donate online or by phone at 1-800-528-1980. To give by mail, please send donations to: Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000.

Save the Children

Save the Children is mobilizing staff to provide support, relief and recovery services to communities and families in Oklahoma. The organization is prepared to deploy their Child Friendly Space kits in shelters, creating safe play areas for kids. They are also ready to deploy infant and toddler hygiene materials to support young children displaced from their homes. Text TWISTER to 20222 to donate $10 to Save the Children and help the response effort. You can donate online or call 1-800-728-3843.

Operation Blessing International

Operation Blessing International, a Virginia-based humanitarian group, is deploying to Moore, after working on tornado relief in Granbury, Texas, following last week’s storm there. A caravan of OBI emergency equipment was sent to Moore, including a construction unit, mobile command center, trucks full of tools and supplies, and a team of construction foremen. You can donate to the group online or donate by phone at 1-800-730-2537.

Alaska Legislature clarifies that you have a right to defend yourself

Bad Guys not victims need to worry about retreating

 

TLHR May 16 Thurs Rep Mark Newman on HB 24 self defense bill

Alaskans have the right to protect themselves by whatever means if they feel self-defense in necessary. A bill which clarifies that it’s the bad guys that have to worry about retreating is waiting for final clearing before being sent to Governor Sean Parnell for his signature.

               Rep. Mark Newman, a Big Lake Republican, said in his sponsor statement for House Bill 24 that Alaska Statutes already recognize that a person has the right to use deadly force to protect their family, themselves and their property.

However, HB 24 now clarifies that right exists not only in the home but also any other place an person has the right to be. It firmly establishes the individuals’ right to stand their ground and not second guess the consequence of protecting their family or self, said Newman.

Rep. Mark Newman’s comments

               But, “House Bill 24 isn’t a blank check to pull the trigger,” Neuman said.

“The law is clear: a person is only legally allowed to use deadly force when that person reasonably believes the use of deadly force is necessary. Under our bill, if a person is in a public space they don’t have to retreat first and hope your attacker stays put because the legal ramifications are unclear.”

 He added that HB 24 strengthens the legal recognition of a basic human right to defend oneself, by sending a message to the Judiciary and Law Enforcement that it is the criminal who has the duty to retreat.

HB 24 passed the House March 20, and now heads to the Governor for signature. It takes effect 90 days from signature.

Alaska Legislature empowers gasline corporation to lead state in getting natural gasline

What the heck is the AGDC?

Graphic of Alaska with Gas Pipeline in yellow from AGDC website

Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Website

Sponsor Statement for HB4  Posted on House Majority website Feb. 1, 2013

House Bill 4 (HB 4) creates an entity charged with getting Alaska’s natural gas into the hands of Alaskans. HB 4 empowers the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) to lead Alaska into a natural gas future.

For decades, Alaskans have looked to natural gas to ease crippling instate energy costs and air quality problems; to support new industry and jobs; to promote economic development; and to generate state revenue as the resource is commercialized. HB 4 provides AGDC the authority and resources to develop, finance, and operate a 500 million cubic feet per day gas pipeline from the North Slope, serving Fairbanks and Southcentral, at the lowest possible cost, without delay. While pursuing this project, AGDC is structured to be responsive if alternatives materialize that provide greater benefit to Alaskans, including potential partnership with industry on a large-diameter export pipeline. Finally, HB 4 enables AGDC to consider future pipelines that extend the benefits of natural gas to more Alaskans.

 

House creates task force on education

Goals include how best to fund education in Alaska and how to measure accountability for results derived

More information on task force as well as contact information for House Education Committee Chair Lynn Gattis

Goals of the task force include:

  • determining the adequacy and appropriate use of current and future public funding;
  • finding alternative methods of funding;
  • comparison of educational and administrative expenses within school districts;
  • determine whether the allocation of administrative and instructional personnel affects the ability of the districts to provide effective instructional services;
  • finding the effects of pension and health care expenses on total education costs;
  • measures of accountability; and,
  • evaluating the availability of courses that meet the new Alaska standards in each district.

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