Anderson Cooper 360

Dogs heal victims in Oklahoma hospitals

Ella Chick — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:38:33 +0000

Anderson Cooper meets trainer Tim Hetzner who teaches dogs to comfort and heal victims through their unconditional love. He's part of the Lutheran Church Charities organization that travels to where they're most needed after disasters and crisis situations. "It's rewarding to help people .. and to watch what God can do through them," says Hetzner about the Golden Retrievers.

Watch Gary Tuchman's report on a little girl visited by her new four-legged friend today:

Click to watch video

Mother: Not a soul who didn't love daughter

Ella Chick — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:55:27 +0000

A grieving mother experienced every parent's worst nightmare when she saw her daughter, Shannon Quick, die in the Oklahoma tornado. Joy Waldroop tells Anderson Cooper about the horrific ordeal and what she'll miss most about Shannon, a loving mom to two sons.

To donate to Shannon Quick's family, go to www.gofundme.com/30mh60

Who are London terror suspects?

Ella Chick — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:50:36 +0000

CNN's Christiane Amanpour and Nic Robertson give their insight on the brutal murder of a man in broad daylight. The victim was hit with a car and then hacked to death, according to witnesses. The attackers left his body in the middle of a London road. British authorities are calling it an act of terrorism.

The suspects were shot by police and taken into custody. Before officers were on the scene, a man with a meat cleaver in his bloody hands made this statement on video:

"We swear by Almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you until you leave us alone. The only reasons we killed this man this is because Muslims are dying daily. This British soldier is an eye for an eye a tooth for tooth. We apologize that women had to see this today but in our lands our women have to see the same. You people will never be safe. Remove your government. They don't care about you. You think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street when we start busting our guns. Do you think your politicians are going to die? No, it's going to be the average guy like you, and your children. So, get rid of them. Tell them to bring our troops back so we can all live in peace."

Comfort dogs: The calm after the storm

Ella Chick — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:40:48 +0000

Dogs trained by Lutheran Church Charities are in Oklahoma to soothe victims of the tornado. CNN's Gary Tuchman reports.

Oklahoma principal had faith in teachers

Ella Chick — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:38:45 +0000

Principal Shelley Jaques-McMillin talks to Anderson Cooper about how her elementary school, Briarwood, braced for the tornado that destroyed much of Moore, Oklahoma on Monday.

Teacher: Entire room caved in on us

Ella Chick — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:36:42 +0000

Second grade teachers Annette Brown and Gina Janzen describe their fear when they couldn't move or breathe easily after the tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma on Monday.

Tornado hits home for a country star

Ella Chick — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:34:14 +0000

Country singer Toby Keith's hometown, Moore, Oklahoma, was hit hard by a powerful tornado on Monday. He tells Anderson Cooper about the strength of the community and determination to rebuild.

Remembering Oklahoma victims

Ella Chick — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:32:44 +0000

Anderson Cooper pays tribute to the Oklahoma residents who didn't survive the tornado.

Moore superintendent on storm shelters

Ella Chick — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:30:59 +0000

Moore, Oklahoma school Supt. Susan Pierce says she wants tornado shelters in every school but it's an economic challenge.

Tonight on AC360: Hope and heartache in Oklahoma

Ella Chick — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:42:54 +0000

We’ll be reporting live from Moore, Oklahoma again tonight with the latest developments on tornado recovery efforts. Anderson visited Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City and talked with some survivors who were injured in Monday’s massive tornado that hit the suburbs. Each of the patients he spoke with are recovering from their wounds and facing immense grief at the same time. They each lost a family member when the twister hit. They will share their remarkable stories.

John King got an up-close look at the damage at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma. He’ll share that video with you tonight and new details on the children who were killed there. And, Anderson will talk with the principal of the other school destroyed by the tornado – Briarwood Elementary. You’ll hear how all the students there survived.

Anderson also met with country music star Toby Keith. Moore is his hometown and his sister was affected by the storm. Keith is back in town to help residents recover. “These Sooners are going to dig out,” he said.

And, Gary Tuchman went to a hospital today to see some four-legged disaster volunteers in action. They are so-called comfort dogs. The dogs and their handlers are helping soothe the pain for survivors.

Join us at 8 and 10 p.m. ET for these stories and much more.

To donate to the family of Shannon quick, a victim of the tornado, go to www.gofundme.com/30mh60

To help other victims, donate to the American Red Cross:
www.redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999
1-800-REDCROSS

Inside a personal tornado shelter

Ella Chick — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:47:15 +0000

CNN's Gary Tuchman takes a look at a metal storm shelter in Moore that survived the deadly Oklahoma tornado while the house above it was completely destroyed. At least 24 people, including nine children, died in the region after the winds, peaking around 200 miles per hour, pummeled the town.

The sliding door of the shelter reveals a small space that could hold a few family members and a limited amount of belongings for a short period of time. In this particular shelter, there are materials inside although the owners didn't use it on Monday because they left the area.

If you're wondering why every school and home isn't equipped with a sturdy shelter, Gary says it's not economically feasible, and it's not required by law. A small-sized shelter can cost thousands of dollars.

Woman rescued from crumbled Oklahoma home

Ella Chick — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:40:28 +0000

It took six people to pull Barbara Jarrell from the wreckage of her house after the tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma on Monday. She believes the rafters pinning her to the ground was fortunate because it prevented her from getting sucked out of her home by the powerful winds.

"The glasses all start breaking, popping out. My ears started popping. I felt the suction ... I heard my house just flying apart," she says. She survived the storm, but immediately after panic set in because no one could hear Jarrell screaming for help.

Even the sound of a bullhorn app on her phone couldn't be heard above the rubble. She was able to call her brother but service was going in and out.

It was a man walking by who finally stopped where Jarrell's home once stood and heard her cries. A group of people worked together to lift the beams and slide her out.

Jarrell's daughter Tiffany says her "heart stopped" when she found out what happened to her mom. It was about an hour before they were reunited.

To their relief, the women were able to find their two cats on Tuesday. Ralphie and JJ were buried in the debris, but are now safely back with their family.

Teacher hid kids in closet during twister

Ella Chick — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:27:43 +0000

Janice Brim heeded her husband's advice and found a safe place to protect her students at Plaza Towers Elementary during the Oklahoma tornado. Mark Brim, who works in construction, had warned that a hallway would not be adequate.

Immediately after the storm hit, Mark raced to his wife's school. When he saw the destruction, he feared the worst. He remembers thinking, "There's no way that anybody could walk away from this."

Tragically, there were fatalities in the school, but Janice and the five children who were with her survived. "I told the kids 'We may get rained on if it lifts the roof off. We are hanging tight. We're going to stay strong right here,'" she tells Anderson Cooper. The couple believes seeking shelter in the closet was a lifesaving decision.

Neighbors helped pull Janice and her students from the crushed school. Mark was there as Janice emerged from the rubble and both stayed on the scene to help others.

Father, aunt grieve for 9-year-old tornado victim

Ella Chick — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:14:22 +0000

Janae Hornsby didn't survive the deadly tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma on Monday. Her family remembers her as a sweet, fun and unique child. Janae's father is praying it's a mistake; he says he hasn't yet accepted the painful reality that his daughter isn't coming back.

Teacher used music to calm children during tornado

Ella Chick — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:05:10 +0000

Anderson Cooper talks with teacher Waynel Mayes about what it was like in her classroom when the tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma on Monday. Plaza Towers Elementary School was destroyed as winds that peaked around 200 mph caused widespread damage in the town.

Mayes gave instruments to her students and told them to play loudly and sing "Jesus Loves Me" as a way to drown out the frightening sounds of the storm passing through. "I said, 'When you get scared, you can scream, but keep playing, keep playing, keep playing. And we did it," she says.

The school had practiced emergency safety procedures, and Mayes says it helped that the students listened to directions when the disaster hit. Residents pulled her and the children from the rubble into a chaotic scene as parents frantically searched for their loved ones.

Trenda Purcell found her son Kamden waiting with Mayes. The incredibly emotional moment was caught on camera. Purcell was overjoyed to see her son alive. "I was praising her (Mayes) because I just feel that she helped keep him safe," she says.

In response, Mayes repeatedly told Purcell how brave Kamden was during the ordeal. "They were the heroes, because they listened to all the teachers," she says about her young students.

Reality after deadly tornado

Ella Chick — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:02:41 +0000

Residents begin to process the scope of the damage and loss in Oklahoma the day after the deadly tornado hit. Anderson Cooper reports.

Moore mayor on school safety in tornadoes

Ella Chick — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:58:54 +0000

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis talk to Anderson Cooper about the tornado that killed seven children in Plaza Towers Elementary School on Monday.

Doctors protected patients during twister

Ella Chick — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:50:21 +0000

Emergency room Dr. Stephanie Barnhart helped coordinate the plan that saved patients at Moore Medical Center during the tornado. Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.

Tonight on AC360: Catastrophe in Oklahoma

Ella Chick — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:54:34 +0000

A day after a twister 1.3 miles wide ravaged the city of Moore, Oklahoma, the scope of the damage is evident. At least 24 people died, including nine children. Some of the youngest victims who lost their lives were in Plaza Towers Elementary School, which collapsed in the storm.

The estimated peak wind was about 200 mph, which would put the tornado in the most powerful category, an EF5, according to the National Weather Service. Today more than 40,000 customers are still without power, a utility spokesman said

This afternoon Anderson Cooper was standing in front of twisted metal and layers of debris. The bowling alley would have been completely unrecognizable except for the bowling balls scattered in the wreckage. That scene is replicated throughout the town – pile after pile of crumbled buildings and homes.

As residents face tremendous loss and suffering, heroes have risen to the occasion. Anderson will talk with a teacher who protected her students, and he'll interview eyewitnesses who survived the wrath of the storms. He'll also ask Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis about the status of recovery operations. Anderson, Gary Tuchman and our team of reporters are live on the scene at 8 and 10 p.m. ET.

TO HELP, DONATE TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
http://www.redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999
1-800-REDCROSS

AND VISIT CNN.COM/IMPACT

Check out photos taken by our producers and photojournalists covering the aftermath in Oklahoma:

Moore, Oklahoma. Photo credit: Anderson Cooper

Moore, Oklahoma. Credit: Neil Hallsworth

Moore, Oklahoma. Photo credit: Susan Chun

Toby Keith: Hometown storm 'devastating'

Ella Chick — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:46:45 +0000

Country singer Toby Keith talks to Anderson Cooper about the massive tornado that hit the town where he grew up on Monday. Earlier in the evening he tweeted a message of support for the Moore, Oklahoma community:

Hometown got hit for the gazillionth time. Rise again Moore Oklahoma. Godspeed.Prayin – T

— Toby Keith (@TobyKeithMusic) May 20, 2013

"I grew up in those neighborhoods that got hit today ... it's just devastating," he said on AC360. Keith believes the destruction would be worse if it weren't for the work of the state meteorologists and media preparing residents when they knew the storm was coming.

Dozens of people did not survive, and the death toll is expected to rise. Of the known fatalities, officials report nine are children. Some of the kids who died were in Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore. Rescue crews are desperately trying to find students and staff buried in wreckage.