Jordan Sandoval returned to Briarwood Elementary School on Tuesday for the first time in almost 15 months, her hair curled for the start of third grade. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman, Tim Willert is a native Californian with Oklahoma ties who covers K-12 education, including Oklahoma City Public Schools and the state Education Department. Choate’s parents, Sunny and Donny Choate, said they welcome a return to normalcy. Officials said Briarwood Elementary School, also in Moore, was also wrecked by the tornado as well. “When the tornado hit, it was really, really scary,” she said. Briarwood Elementary School was impacted directly by the tornado at EF5 intensity, resulting in the near complete destruction of the school’s classroom buildings and gym. Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, Monday, May 20, 2013. Rebuilt elementary school in Moore reopens after 2013 deadly tornado, Briarwood Elementary back to school (2014-08-19). Briarwood Elementary was hit by a tornado. The tornado struck Briarwood Elementary School (South Oklahoma City), Plaza Towers Elementary School (Moore), and Highland East Junior High School. Seven of those victims died inside Plaza Towers Elementary School, which was … First responder Jim Routon hugs his seven year old neighbor Hezekiah as the two unite at Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south OKC Oklahoma City, OK, Monday, May 20, 2013. Prior... EXPLAINER: Who has been charged in the deadly Capitol riot? The storm destroyed the school building and killed seven third-grade students when the wall they had been seated against while bracing for the tornado collapsed onto them. It’s Oklahoma. Parents said the addition of safe rooms gives them a heightened sense of security. Greysen Hills, 6, could use some playmates, she said. Briarwood and Plaza Towers sustained enough damage to be considered a total loss. This looks really bad – the town is destroyed. Scenes of the damage done to the Briarwood Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma, by the May 20, 2013, tornado. Briarwood student writes emotional essay about surviving the Moore tornado in destroyed school ‘The darkness was everywhere,’ 10-year-old storm survivor writes about living through Moore tornado Read more ›. Chris Combs and her husband Jimmy look over damge at Briarwood Elementary School. Jordan, 9, took cover under her desk during the storm and emerged frightened but uninjured. Plaza Towers Elementary School was flattened by the storm and Briarwood Elementary School was also reportedly severely hit. It's hard to imagine what it must have been like for these children huddled down in this school, this tornado … Two elementary schools were directly impacted by a massive tornado in the Oklahoma City area on Monday, according to local media reports. She appeared hesitant to return Tuesday, despite eight new classrooms that double as safe rooms. Kids are reportedly trapped and hurt. Mother Ashley Sandoval clutched Jordan’s 5-year-old brother and fought back tears as they waited to enter the newly constructed building. The t… Log in or subscribe to read and leave comments. PAUL HELLSTERN / … Prior... New Briarwood Elementary opens after 2013 tornado leveled school in Moore district, OU football: Sooners DE Ronnie Perkins declares for NFL Draft. Sherri Bittle and Cindy Lowe helped save dozens of lives when the tornado hit Briarwood Elementary. Nearby, two homes are under construction. The school was destroyed in last year's May 20th tornado. The thunderstorm that eventually produced the tornado developed less than one hour after the tornado watch was issued, around 2:00 p.m. CDT, across northern Grady County. The school was destroyed in last year's May 20th tornado. Students and parents arrive on the first day of school at the newly rebuilt Briarwood Elementary in Moore, Okla. on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014. Another elementary school, Briarwood Elementary in Oklahoma City, located about 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Plaza Towers, was also hit, but no casualties were reported there. Near SW 149th and Hudson. But what happened in May (2013) was a freak occurrence that hopefully won’t happen again.”, A few feet away, Connor Choate, 10, sported blue sunglasses and said he looked forward to “doing stuff with my friends, like P.E. Before that he covered district, federal and appellate courts in Oklahoma County. Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary in Moore, Okla., after a a tornado destroyed the school on May 20, 2013. After hearing that the tornado was headed toward another school called Briarwood Elementary, David Wheeler left work and drove 100 mph through blinding rain and gusting wind to find his 8 … “These are all new kids to him and new faces,” the mother said. 10 children were among the 24 total killed by the tornado. Kennedy, 10, was in the library for story time when the sirens sounded. 7 of 26. Commenting on NewsOK requires a NewsOK Pro or Oklahoman subscription. Google has shared satellite photos taken before and after the devastating tornado that struck Moore, Oklahomaon May 20, 2013. Briarwood Elementary was also home to several highly emotional reunions between tornado … Its rapid intensification resulted in the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Norman issuing a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Grady, northwestern Cleveland, northern McClain, and southwestern Oklahoma Counties (including southwestern portions of the immediate Oklahoma Cityarea) at 2:12 p.m. CDT. Highland East's gym was for the most part destroyed. MOORE — Moore Public Schools will pay $14,000 each to the families of seven children killed in the May 20, 2013, tornado, ending three years of litigation, officials said Monday. Here’s the first picture coming from Moore. MOORE, Okla. – Briarwood Elementary School took a direct hit from a tornado today and was severely damaged. Oklahoma Tornado: 20 Children Among at Least 51 Dead, 'Horrific' Damage Briarwood Elementary School in Moore, Okla., was severely damaged in storm It’s just part of life. All out buildings were destroyed completely. A child is carried away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, on May 20. Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, Okla, May 20, 2013. Credit: Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman/AP. No one died at the school, but seven students were found dead at nearby Plaza Towers Elementary School. “If they didn’t have the safe rooms, I probably wouldn’t have come back.”. “I’m a lot more confident with the safe rooms here,” said Justin Haney, whose daughter, Hannah, started the fourth grade. It marked a new beginning for hundreds of Briarwood children, who attended classes last year in a nearby church after a powerful tornado leveled the Moore district school May 20, 2013. MASSIVE TORNADO RIPS THROUGH MOORE, OKLAHOMA! Briarwood Elementary didn’t survive the tornado, but everyone who had been inside did. The tornado roared eastward towards Santa Fe Avenue, where at least one fatality occurred in the destruction of a two-story home. “Our house was taken, and we had to relocate. While Briarwood is up and running, the neighborhood surrounding the school is still recovering from the tornado. The new Briarwood, 14901 S Hudson Ave. in Oklahoma City, cost about $12 million to build. “It feels real good,” Kennedy said. Tornadoes happen, things happen, bad things happen. Tim Willert is a native Californian with Oklahoma ties who covers K-12 education, including Oklahoma City Public Schools and the state Education Department. “Even though it’s a new school, it’s still in the same location with the same classmates.”. “What happened happened,” said Chris Willis, the girls’ father. “I think it’s exciting for him to be back in a normal routine,” Sunny Choate said. “I think it will happen again.”. The tornado tore a 12-mile path of destruction that killed 24 people, including nine children, and destroyed Plaza Towers Elementary School and Briarwood Elementary School in Moore. Eyewitness video shows the terror as mile-wide monster tornado roars over Briarwood Elementary. Teachers and students sought shelter in bathrooms when the twister struck. They included 4-year-olds and students set to move onto … Monster Tornado Hits Elementary School Eyewitness video shows the terror as mile-wide monster tornado roars over Briarwood Elementary. “He’s excited just to be able to play with friends; our neighborhood really hasn’t had any kids all summer.”, Students and parents arrive on the first day of school at the newly rebuilt Briarwood Elementary in Moore, Okla. on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman +4 The interactive below compares images of Briarwood Elementary School, Plaza Towers Elementary School and Moore Medical Center taken on April 29, 2013 with images collected on May 22, 2013. As she walked her son to school Tuesday morning, Sara Hills said she looked forward to families returning to the neighborhood. Other students, such as fifth-grader Kennedy Willis, were excited to see old friends and make new acquaintances. A monstrous tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. “Our house is just down the street, and it’s the only one that’s been rebuilt,” Hills said. Near SW 149th and Hudson. Children were reportedly trapped inside the building and were removed from a bathroom. Moore Love. “I’ve been wanting to cry all day, but I’ve been telling myself not to,” Sandoval said. 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S. insurrection with a National Geographic photographer, Behind the Scenes of Our January 2021 Special Issue, ‘2020: The Year in Pictures’, The Making of a Photograph: Commitment March, SpaceX's Starship First High-Altitude Flight, Meet three astronauts selected to train for missions to the moon, Why it actually might be 'survival of the friendliest', Bill Gates: COVID-19 has set back global health for years, How apocalypses paved the way for humans (and terror birds). Signs of damage still exist, including two driveways across the street from the school that lead to vacant lots. The girl and two sisters were picked up by their grandmother before the tornado reached the school. That day, an EF5 tornado tore through portions of southwest Oklahoma City and cut a deadly path through Moore, killing 25 people. There are reinforced tornado shelters in more than 100 schools across Oklahoma, excluding the two that were devastated by a Tornado earlier this … THE TOWN LOOKS DESTROYED– News 9… “I feel confident and nervous.”. Before that he covered district, federal and appellate courts in Oklahoma County. We are excited to share that Moore Public Schools and the MPS Foundation’s annual philanthropic initiative, “Moore Love,” will be throughout the entire year at the three high schools and highlighted during the month of February at ALL 35 schools – elementary, junior high, high schools … Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, Okla, Monday, May 20, 2013. Neighborhood south is “wiped out” after a mile-and-a-half wide tornado ripped through the town. Fifth-grade teacher Robin Dziedzic, a native of Ark City, Kan., shows the inside of her classroom after the school was hit by an EF-5 tornado on May 20, 2013. 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