welcome to this special edition of "starting point." i'm john berman. >> i'm krcriscokris cuomo. the death toll stands at 24, nine children. 2400 people were rescued alive. the numbers are not expected to change less than 48 hours after the tornado turned its fury on this community. the home, moore, oklahoma. the national weather service confirmed the twister that tore apart moore was on ef-5. maximum winds, 210 miles an hour. one of the most ferocious storms. >> they don't go higher than ef-5. insurance claims are expected to top $1 billion here.

2400 homes damaged or destroyed. 10,000 people affected by the twister was 1.3 miles wide. i want to look at this video shot by charles. he is one of the lucky ones. he road out the storm in a shelter. these pictures were taken from inside the shelter. it gives a picture of what it's like to be inside a tornado from ground level as it's happening. >> somewhere we never want to be. we want to understand it to have better preergs. >> one of the things we are doing here is we get a sense from a ground and another from the air. you can really get a sense of the air from the force of this tornado, the path it took, the randomens of who was affected and who wasn't. here is the look from above. >> we are going take you through the tornado's path from

beginning to end. if you look down here, you'll see a brown line. it starts with debris field going in this direction. that is actually the tornado's trail. it's going to get much more dramatic as we get near a populated area. you can trace with your finger a line where the torrent went. the path is the obvious. it's about a block and a half wide. you notice it by seeing everything that's destroyed. everything that looks like paper on the ground, they are homes, timber, roofs, cars. 16 minutes. that was the warning window before it touched down. then a ten minute window during which it went from heavy wind to destroying everything in its path. >> oh my god! >> this is where the tornado was. look at the difference between life and death, between losing everything and losing nothing.

over the water, it looks like it disappears, then touches land and destruction resumes. scientists say debris from the tornado can hit ten times as high as we are right now into the air. look at the trees. looks like people pulled them up and laid them down like they were weeding their garden. they are huge, rooted pine trees. cars littered along the trail. they were never there. they were tossed like toys. when you look at the debris, you can understand why search and rescue is difficult. it's hard to get into the areas. once you do, to find your way through the homes is like digging through a hay stack. it is one that this community has seen before. in 1999 and 2003, terrible tornados here that carved almost the same path for this community. this part of the community shows the randomness and intensity of

the tornado. a block away, they have been spared. this part of the debris trail ends at a school where children lost their lives. the randomness, that's what strikes you from above. the length almost 20 miles long that it went. the randomness, one block away. people's homes are fine. a block like this. >> the trail, that brown line that you were describing there. it's amazing to see it from the sky. >> it gives us better appreciation of people that made it through in moore, oklahoma. >> that's a look from above. so many stories on the ground. one family who knows about the power of a storm like this. the lee's. their home was demolishes in this tornado. they believe good things are just around the corner for them. they are with their son josh. james is profoundly deaf. his wife will sign for him.

some will say this is the perfect marriage. you tell him everything he needs to know, it's perfect. it's perfect. he's a perfect listener. >> perfect. always. >> you were in good spirits? >> yes. >> you are dealing with loss. what is this like for you to not have the same home to go home to? >> well, i was at work and i had no idea what was going on and saw on tv there was a storm and he was trying to get through his work to get back and get his car because he was in a company car. he came all the way from edmond trying to get through the traffic and everything. he couldn't get through to us. i couldn't get through, so my son-in-law called and said my wife was safe and my son was safe. my mother-in-law confirmed it.

we was just -- you know, so much grief. there needs to be shelters. we need to have basements or cellars or a safe room for our kids in the schools. just so grateful my family was okay. >> safety concerns will be questioned going forward. from your perspective, is experiencing a tornado different for you because you don't deal with the sound, the horrible sound that is make everyone so frightened? how is it different for you? >> you know, just being there and seeing my family. i know that we are going go through grieving time. it's overwhelming because our house is gone. i had an old chevy say that was passed down that was my grandfathers. my dad just passed away a month ago to the day that we buried him that the tornado hit. you know, he was a veteran.

we wanted to have his flag. so, just thing that is are sentimental that are hard to get back. >> it's hard. >> you know. >> we have been looking hard for the cat. it's hard, realizing that everything is gone. >> your mom gave us pictures, sent us pictures of your house. what's it been like to see this house you grew up in? >> it doesn't look the same. it doesn't look like the same place. it looks like a different world, really. i mean, it's crazy to think that i don't have a place to live, but, i mean, at least i have my family. >> sure do. >> i mean there's people at the elementary where i went to school at and there are kids they haven't found yet. it's awful. >> our heart goes out to all the

families that are still looking, that have lost their children. i just can't imagine it. i work at a school, i'm fortunate at the school i work, at the high school, we had a safe room. the may 3rd tornado destroyed the high school. we had a safe room, we were all in it. at the same time, my son was one mile away and there was no shelter and no safe room. my dad tried to pick him up, but they wouldn't let him leave because the storm was that close. i'm grateful my dad got back home. all my family is safe. it's wonderful. we have a big concern because we need shelters. we need safe rooms for our kids. at the same time, i know that i just can't believe how many blessings and how strong our family, our friends and the support we've got and how big our god is.

we are overwhelmed by the blessings we receive. our insurance has been amazing. >> where will you stay now? >> right now, the first night, we spent the night with my mom and dad. we got back to our house at like, 6:00, on monday night and went through things. it was hard, you know? we found some valuables. we know there's still treasures under the rubble. but, it took us like two hours just to get two or three miles from where our house was to my folks house. we got there, they had no water. it was okay. there was a place to stay. family. it was okay. right now, we are staying in a hotel that our insurance is taking care of. so, we are getting blessing after blessing. there's a rainbow everywhere. with god, all things are

possible. >> we are so sorry for your loss but so thrilled for you that you are all okay and surrounded by each other and by these blessings that you speak of. thank you so much. thank you so much for being with us this morning. we really appreciate it and wish you the best of luck. >> thank you. ahead on "starting point," what now for people like the lee's and those left homeless. we'll speak with fema administrator, craig fugate. >> we're following the other top stories, jodi arias speaking in her defense, pleading for her life. will her words help? we'll hear what nancy grace thinks. [ female announcer ] switch to swiffer 360 duster extender,

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welcome back to "starting point." in a few hours, an arizona jury begins deliberations. they must decide whether jodi arias will get life or death. she says she can teach fellow inmates to read and donate her hair to locks of love. casey wine an has more. >> reporter: p pain she's caused the family of travis alexander, the former boyfriend she brutally murdered in 2008. nothing drove that point home for more more than when i heard them speak. i never meant to cause them so much pain. i didn't know i was capable of such violence. for that, i'm going to be sorry for the rest of my life. >> reporter: the rest of the statement was in sharp contrast to the interview she gave to

reporters minutes after her conviction. then she spoke of suicide saying she would prefer the death penalty. >> i didn't know i could become employed and self-reliant. i didn't know if i got life there are many things i can do to affect positive change and contribute in a meaningful way. in prison, they have programs i can start and people i can help. >> reporter: she promised to continue her practice of donating hair to cancer victims, teach spanish and sign language to other inmates. she displayed the t-shirt she's been selling to raise money for survivor victims even though the jury doesn't believe she's a survivor of domestic abuse. >> i'm supporting this cause because it's very, very important to me. >> reporter: as she waits for

the jury to decide if she'll be executed. she sat for a round of media interviews. >> you had opportunities to apologize. it doesn't seem like you did it today. why didn't you? >> i did apologize to them. >> i never heard you say i'm sorry. >> i don't think i used those two words but i feel i made my remorse, if i didn't adequately convey it, i regret that. >> do you want to do it now? >> well, there's nothing i can do to take back what i did. i wish i could. i really, really wish i could. >> tuesday, she began pleading for the jury to spare her life, acknowledging the pain she caused travis alexander, the boyfriend she brutally murdered in 2008. without witnesses testifying on her behalf, she showed her artwork and family photos.

every time i have had the thought or desire to commit suicide, there's one element that almost always caused me to waiver. they are sitti inting right ove there, they are my family. either way, i'm going to spend the rest of my life in prison. it will either be shortened or not. if it's shortened, the people it will hurt most is my family. please, please don't do that to them. >> the alexander family watched in silence, their faces saying everything. >> joining me is nancy grace. she knows the arias trial like no other. good morning. i have to tell you, you know, some of these things she says she wants to do to become a meaningful contributor to the prison society. let's listen to what she plans to do if she's spared her life. >> if i get permission, i would like to implement a recycling

program. the woman's prison houses thousands of women and each week huge loads of waste are hauled off. i would like to start a book club or reading group. something that brings people together in a positive way. i have designed a t-shirt, this is the t-shirt. which 100% of the proceeds go to support non-profit organizations which assist other victims of domestic violence. >> what kind of alternate reality is she spinning here? she's being removed from society to be punished and taken out of the public for a reason yet talking about contributing to society in these ways. >> well, i'm all for contributing to society. what i'm not for is continuing to blame your murder victim and everybody but yourself in your

final plea. what she said to the jury, shockingly, was not the end of jodi arias' statement. like when she got the guilty verdict, she plopped down in front of cameras and gave yet another series of tell-all interviews after demanding hair and make up. look, speaking as a crime victim myself, when i went through the murder of my fiance, i could hardly speak, i couldn't think or eat. i find it amazing she has the where with all to demand hair and make up. the finger pointing went on into the evening where she blamed her lawyers. she said she was betrayed by the jury and says she never -- she wished she never met alexander, seeming to blame him and the relationship for her brutal act of murder. >> what is her point sitting down with the media after she gives this 19 minute plea to spare her the death penalty. why is she doing this, do you

think? >> i have been wondering about that a lot. she seems to suggest that the real reason that many people hate her, it's one of the questions posed to her last night in the late night hours. she's sitting down for interviews while the travis alexander family is reeling, they can't eat or sleep, they are nauseous, missing work, missing their family at home to be there. she's giving interviews. during the interview, she said i think the reason some people hate me is psychologists have told me people enjoy the persecution of others. some kind of twisted form of maybe where you enjoy the misery of others. instead of the fact she slaughtered an unarmed man 29 stab wounds and a gunshot wound. what i'm getting at is she's in an alternate universe and enjoys being on camera and the limelight. look, you might as well give in.

this is the jodi arias show. she's been pulling the strings from the get go. she pulled her whole defense, now blaming everybody but herself. >> in the 19 minutes to the jury, she showed them her artwork, showed family pictures and talked of giving her hair to locks of love. do you think this generosity, this i don't know, this desire to be a contributing member of society, even if it's behind bars, is this genuine? >> i don't believe that anything she said changed however the jury already feels. i am not one to throw a stone at doing a good deed, all right. i found it interesting she never mentioned mormonism. she said she was a devout christian, latter day saint. all of that seemed to go out the window. last night, she said she's not really religious, she's more spiritual. and she no longer believes in

hell. that's convenient. this is a fine time to decide there's no penalty for murder. >> nice to see you. thank you for your common tear throughout this process. nan say grace at 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. eastern on hln. don't forgot to see "behind bar." nancy goes behind the bars to talk to female inmates. more tough questions today for the irs. congress may not get all the answers its looking foor. that's next. you are watching "starting point." changing the world is exhausting business.

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welcome back to "starting point." in a few hours the irs official at the center of investigation for audits is expected to invoke her fifth amendment rights to congress. lois may not say anything but she's spoken about the matter. dan lothian has more. >> reporter: she's at the center of the storm, the head of the unit accused of targeting conservative groups seeking tax exempt status and the first to admit publicly it was done. >> they used names like tea party and patriot. they selected cases because they had those names in the title. that was wrong. it was absolutely incorrect. it was insensitive and inappropriate. >> reporter: her lawyers informed congress despite a subpoena to testify, today, learner will invoke her fifth amendment right and refuse to

answer questions. her bosses were in the cross fire. the acting commissioner saying he did not hold back information from congress. >> i did not lie, sir. >> you lied by omission. you knew it was going on and you knew we asked. you should have told us. >> i answered the questions. i answered them truthfully. >> former irs commissioner answers didn't seem to settle commissioner concerns. >> senator, it's easy, i was -- >> i understand the words. what i'm saying is this happened on my watch and i accept that. >> you are not personally responsible. >> i'm deeply regrettable that it happened. >> let's move on. >> i'm trying to figure out how people knew what they knew and when they knew it. we are asking precise questions. >> admitting the white house was not just told about the irs in

april but was part of how they should roll out the revelations. >> there were discussions about the timing of the release of the information and the findings of the report. >> reporter: facing one tough question after another, carney continued to push back. >> we can go down the list, what about the president's birth certificate. >> some white house officials and treasury officials discussed aspects of the matter, the president was deliberately kept out of the loop to prevent suspicions of presidential meddling. christine? >> thanks. let's go to john and chris in oklahoma where they are covering the devastation and now recovery of moving forward this week. hi, guys. >> thanks so much, christine. the sun is rising here in moore, oklahoma. a much nicer day to pick through the debris. the damage is astounding with thousands of homes gone.

all around us, the homes have been flattened. i want to show these aerials now. what happens to all the people left homeless. all the people that lived in the houses below. we will get answers from fema administrator, craig fugate, coming up. >> we are going tell you about the stories of people that made it through here. one woman had moments to spare with her newborn baby. you have to hear this. you are watching a special edition of "starting point" live in moore, oklahoma. new car! hey! [squeals] ♪ [ewh!] [baby crying] the great thing about a subaru is you don't have to put up with that new car smell for long. introducing the versatile, all-new subaru forester. love. it's what makes a subaru,

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200-mile-an-hour winds brought them to their knees. this is one of the most powerful in this country's record. as the search and rescue transitions into recovery operation. >> national weather service confirms the tornado that blew threw they are monday afternoon killing 24 people, they have confirmed it was an ef-5 tornado. the scale does not go higher than five. 2400 homes damaged. 10,000 people affected. damage is expected to top $1 billion. show you video of the storm. you can see the funnel cloud forming seven minutes after it was issued by the national weather service on monday. within minutes, what, six minutes? >> ten minutes from gusting winds to this tornado having the ability to destroy everything in its path. >> it happened so fast. of course, you have seen the path here in moore, oklahoma.

>> the big federal agency dealing with this is fema. they have deployed over 300 officials to the affected area. fema administrator, craig fugate is with us from oklahoma city. can you hear us? great. >> yes, i can. >> all right. it's great to have you with us. what can you tell us about the situation on the ground and how you are managing the needs of the people in this community going forward? >> well, as you pointed out, search and rescue teams have about completed their job. now the initial step is recovery. for folks who didn't have insurance, we are going out and getting them assistance. we are asking people to register with fema at 800-621-fema or go to disasterassistance.gov. we are going neighborhood to neighborhood to make sure people are getting the help they need.

>> we are standing in one of those neighborhoods, mr. fugate, that's been leveled here. homes around us. we have talked to a lot of families who have been left homeless. what kind of long term measures will you implement to give these people housing and shelter? >> the first steps will be, there's an ability to get them assistance where they can get money to rent a place for a couple months. we will work with them. if they didn't have insurance, work with partner agencies like hud and volunteer agencies on what it takes to rebuild homes in the neighborhoods. >> when this community starts to come together, more and more questions are going to come about what can be done going forward to keep people safe in situations. argument can many made that the loss is low given the properties of the tornado. what do you think going forward about safe rooms, about more

shelters in schools. what do you think about that? >> we support it. again, here in oklahoma, they have received over past disasters applied over $57 million to safe rooms in homes and schools. more than any other state. again, anytime a disaster happens, there's more calls for it. it's not only the buildi ining rooms, but being built to certain standards. if somebody sells or says they build a safe room, it's designed for these type of events. we want to make sure people are getting what they pay for and the protection that is being built. >> important to point outlet, make sure you are getting the right kind. a lot of politics is wrapped up in disaster relief aid. this is going to top $1 billion. are you confident fema will get the money it needs to help

oklahoma rebuild and not get caught up in the politics? >> knowing how this works, look at the funding we already received. we got full allocation last year with the sandy supplemental funds. we are looking to continue the response here as well as the previous disasters. if we have another hurricane, we may need more money. right now, we are in good shape to support the response here as well as sandy and other disasters. >> one of the concerns on the ground, mr. fugate, is staying power. the media is here. you all are here. one month, three months, five months down the road, the need is still great. will the commitment be the same? >> it will be the same as we have been everywhere else. like we told the folks in joplin two years ago, we are not going anywhere until the work is done. two years later, we are still helping them rebuild. we stay until the job is done.

>> craig fugate, fema administrator, thank you for being with us. we know you are on the ground serving the damage here. the need is great. we are grateful you are helping provide those in need here. thank you so much. >> thank you. as we told you, the national weather service revised the strength of this twister. it's now an ef-5. winds topping 200 miles per hour making one of the strongest storms ever to hit the u.s. we are joined by meteorologist peterson. edra, spell it out for us, again. how do they determine the strength of a tornado? >> it's a big misconception. we have seen video over and over where it starts small and grows so fast. there's a huge tornado out there. they cycle, they grow. they may intensify and weaken. you can see that so clearly here in this map. how do we figure out the damage? we go out afterwards. we survey the damage and say it

probably took 200-mile-an-hour wind for this damage to occur. they have preliminary gone out and can see we have seeing ef-5 damage around briarwood elementary school. you saw it clearly on the path, not every location on the path had that kind of intensity. the moore medical center, around it, we are seeing ef-3 damage close to where you are standing. i want to show you one of the ways we look at that. here is the before picture of the moore medical center. let me show you what it looks like after. one thing we look for for an ef-5 wind is to be able to see the damage or two-story buildings eliminated. it had trouble moving forward. we did have great shots here. you are seeing portions of the medical center standing. it's not what we are seeing now. it's the reason it's not an ef-5. we are still seeing some of the structure intact. let me show you the before, one

more time. you have the two-story building. then the second after, that is not completely demolished. that's the reason it's an ef-3. i want you to look around. we had it as an ef-5 damage, but the winds are only 160 to 200 miles per hour. the winds are way stronger than that. the damage you are seeing, if you spin around, that is not ef-5. >> no, we do see walls standing here. some parts of the neighborhood where there's nothing left. there are walls where we are now. you are right. ef-5 is very, very strong in certain parts of the line of this storm. >> when you live through something like this and your house is destroyed, you don't care what ef it is. >> you are right. ahead on "starting point," five days after receiving a c-section a woman had to race to her car to flee the tornado.

>> fight or flight. you stand there in fear or get in the car and go. >> this is an amazing story. her terrifying escape, next. you are watching "starting point." ♪ [ female announcer ] from more efficient payments. ♪ to more efficient pick-ups. ♪ wireless is limitless.

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the relief effort is now under way here in moore, oklahoma. fema and red cross workers are arriving on the ground. >> financial donations are the best way to help people in moore, if you live outside the town. they need flashlights, batteries and tetanus shots because of the rusty nails, people are exposed to that. pamela brown joins us live. you have been covering some of the relief efforts. >> i have. it's incredible to see theout

pouring of people wanting to help. there's donation baskets and people really wanting to help. there's an incredible showing of resolve in the wake of so much tragedy. speaking with so many survivors and so many stories, including a new mother trying to save herself and her five-day old baby when the tornado hit. candice cradles her 6-day-old baby in her arms overcome with emotion and gratitude for this moment. >> i was wondering if i was going to be able to, you know, see him grow up. if the tornado was going turn and come for us next or if we were going to make it to the hospital at all. >> she only had moments to grab her newborn baby boy and jump in the car when monday's tornado carved a path of catastrophic destruction in moore, oklahoma. >> fight or flight instinct. either stand there and stare at it in fear or get in the car and

go. that's what we did. we were literally throwing things in the truck and jumping in. it was not easy five days after a c-spection. >> packed in the truck, all she could see out the back window was this image captured on her brother's cell phone, a monster twister headed right toward them. >> this massive dark gray just swirling tornado just barrelling down behind us. >> it looked like it was right on the path to you? >> yeah, it did. >> she and her boyfriend say they missed the tornado by mere seconds and watched as a 7-eleven was lowered. >> if i would have waited ten seconds we would have been gone. my 5-year-old was between my legs on the floor. >> reporter: with so many left without homes, they resilience

strengthened by survival. >> i'm going to be okay. we're going to get back. that's what we are known for, come back and arms swinging. >> reporter: oklahoma's governor echoed that spirit with her own resolved. >> we will rebuild. we have seen time and time again the strength of our people, the courage, the perseverance. we have come back much stronger after the tragedies we have been through. >> reporter: as for candice, her life uprooted. she'll stay at temporary housing at the university of oklahoma. incredibly, though, she had no complaints. >> i'm thankful i'm here and there's volunteers helping with everything. and that, you know, we have a place to go. >> she said that connor slept through the entire ordeal. you can imagine what a story she has to tell her little boy one day. >> they will always have this

moment together. she has what matters most. >> what a lovely story. >> on "starting point" we are hearing from people that lost loved ones. we are going to have from the parents of janae. what they say about their little girl. you are watching "starting point."

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good morning. welcome back to "starting point." new developments in the investigation to the deadly attacks on u.s. diplomats in benghazi, libya.

a seniorry public i h republica tells cnn that they now have names to go along with the people in the attack. the lawmaker couldn't say how many had been identified. eric garcetti defeated wendy gruel to become the next mayor of los angeles. he will replace an tonigtonio villaraigosa. this is l.a.'s first jewish mayor. thank you, los angeles, the hard work begins, but i am honored to lead the city for the next four years. let's make this a great city again. let's go to chris and john in oklahoma, following the aftermath of that powerful, powerful tornado earlier this week. hi, guys. >> all right. thank you, christine. the whole painful process of recovery is beginning for people who have lost so much here. for families like the hornsbies, this is an especially painful time. 9-year-old janae a third grader

at plaza towers, one of the kids that didn't survive when the tornado hit. we spoke with janae's father, an iraq war vet and her aunt. >> when you first saw it, what did you think? >> my heart just sank and i started worrying and panicking. i just needed to find my baby. i just kept waiting and hoping i would find her. looking through the other kids that had gotten out and just waiting. >> when did you get word about her? >> this morning. >> reporter: where were you? what happened? >> i was at first baptist church. they opened a shelter for parents that hadn't found their kids. >> reporter: what do you want people to know about your daughter? >> she was the best kid anybody could have. she was -- she was janae, she was, you know, a ball of energy. a ball of love. >> reporter: your face lights up when you say her name.

>> yeah, that's my baby. >> reporter: you are nodding your head. >> there is no other kid like her. we are a unique bunch and all of our uniqueness balled up to one and she is the sweetest thing, the bossiest thing, the most fun, always trying to make us laugh. a sweet baby. sweet baby. >> reporter: does it seem real yet? >> no, it still ain't sunk in. i am still hoping, you know, for that call to say we made a mistake, you know. i just pray that's what it is. you know, that's all i can hope for, but i just have to take it as it is. >> reporter: how do you face something like this? >> just got to face it minute by minute, day by day. there is no way to face it. just got to be strong and carry on. >> reporter: does it seem real

to you? >> at moments. you know, when it hurts, it feels real. but then i can laugh and talk, and then something will happen and it hurts, and the pain is real. the pain is real. i have a daughter who is 14. >> how did you tell your daughter? >> honestly. i broke down and she was nearby. and i don't think she knew if it was a relief sob or a pained sob. and then she asked me is she okay. and i just -- i told her she didn't make it. >> life is not fair, you have to take what life gives you. i can sit and swell on it and let it ruin me or i can make my

baby proud and keep pushing on, like i know she would want me to do. >> every loss of a child like that changes a family forever. >> it's hard to hear. >> it really is, and it gives you perspective on why people who lost a home knows so much more could be sacrificed in a storm like this. as we follow what happens with the tornado here in moore, oklahoma and hearing stories of loss, the worst is the children, so much damage and so little time. we'll take you up into the sky for a look overhead. where you can really clearly see this tornado's path. >> and also continue to hear the stories of the heroes in the disaster. so many. we'll meet a doctor who saved lives moments before the tornado ripped her hospital to shreds. it's an amazing story. you're watching a special edition of "starting point," live from moore, oklahoma. ♪

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from search and rescue to

recovery. >> the operation refocuses from looking to survivors to searching for victims. we'll take you on a tour of the swath of destruction. >> look at the trees, it looked like they were pulled up and laid down. just like weeding their garden. these are full growth pine trees. >> one of the e.r. doctors that helped evacuate hundreds of patients from moore medical center. >> i don't feel like i can take credit for that. doing my job, and doing what i had to do. >> and throwing mattresses on top of patients, all in a desperate effort to protect them from the storm. >> they had jack hammers, they had saws, cutting through metal, sledgehammers, they were desperately trying to get under the debris. >> men and women, professionals, regular folks, all headed straight for moore, oklahoma. coming up, desperate search for survivors and the heartbreaking

discoveries. >> 24 people lost their lives here in moore, oklahoma, including 9 children. you remember, yesterday the government came out with numbers much higher than that, a little bit of solace. those numbers are not expected to change. part of the story of this epic tornado here. >> search and rescue mission here is now really transitioning into a recovery operation. the national weather service confirming that the tornado that carved up this town was an ef-5, winds topping out at 210 miles an hour. >> reporter: according to state insurance officials, damage claims likely to top $10 million. 2400 homes damaged or destroyed. hard to imagine what it's like to put this into perspective. 200-mile-an-hour winds, only 10 minutes to prepare. we took to the skies to look at

the path this tornado took, and the randomness, the violence, is so clear. take a look. we'll take you through the tornado's path from beginning to end. if you look down here, you will see a brown line, it starts with the debris field and goes in this direction. that is actually the tornado's trail. as you see it will get much more dramatic as we get to the populated area. you literally can trace your finger a line where the tornado went. the path is completely obvious. it's about a block and a half wide, and you notice it just by seeing everything that's destroyed. everything that looks just like paper on the ground, those are homes, timbers, roofs, those are cars. there are two major time components here. 16 minutes, the warning window before the tornado touched down and a ten-minute window, during which this went from heavy wind to a tornado having the ability to destroy everything in its path.

>> oh, my god! >> this is where the tornado was. look at the difference. >> and over water, you will see, looks like where it touches down on land again, the destruction results. 2,500 feet above the ground. scientists say debris from the tornado can get ten times as high as we are into the air. look at the trees, looks like people pulled them up and laid them down like they were weeding the garden, but those are huge growth pine trees. cars weren't parked there, tossed like toys. when you look at the debris down there, you can understand why search and rescue is so difficult. it's hard to get into the areas, once you do to fight your way throw those homes like digging through a haystack. one of the worst parts about the tornado, it's one this community has seen before. tornadoes here that carved

almost the same path through this community. this part of the community shows randomness and intensity of the tornado. some folks just holding on and then a block away has been spared and this part of the debris field ends at a school where children lost their lives. as remarkable as the devastation, what's more impressive is the resolve of the community to come back and the knowledge that they know how to recovery. they understand how devastating this is. and they've lived it before. >> there is a steely confidence here among the people of moore, oklahoma. really remarkable. interesting to see the damage from above. the sky ohio look. and we see it in vivid terms here on the ground level. big picture and small picture. i went through this neighborhood we're standing in right now, and so many small signs of the lives changed and the devastation that's been caused.

just one street, just one neighborhood. but countless reminders of the enormity of what happened here. the living room set with no living room. a muni van in a space that defies the laws of physics. >> we give you a sense of the power of this storm, this is a guard rail this heavy piece of twisted metal. part of a highway which is a few blocks that way. somehow this tornado moved this guard rail from the highway right to here, this shows you how powerful it is. but there is another sight i want to show you which gives you a sense of the damage that this storm could do. it's a simple, small image. this. a kid's toy. a little car or truck here. it's part of someone's life, we haven't seen anyone at this house today. someone's life that will be changed forever. >> in yard after yard, giant wooden splinters, spears

sticking out of the ground. and in the middle of all of the debris, the muck, the middle of lives that have been torn apart, now there is this rain falling down on all these people trying to piece their lives back together. the rain falling on richard jones in his living room. >> so show me where you rode out the storm? >> right in here. here in this bathtub here. two youngest grandkids, i laid over them, and the daughter laid over me, a mattress over top of us. >> how many of you were in here? >> four and a dog. >> reporter: what did it sound like when the tornado went through? >> unreal, like the whole house was ripping apart. i was waiting to be sucked out at any moment. i knew the house was being destroyed. you could hear glass breaking, just shattering. it was unreal. very unreal. >> reporter: how long did it last? >> my daughter said 90 seconds, and it felt like wherever.

>> when you came out, what did you think about what you saw? >> i don't know how we lived. i mean, you can go outside and see the destruction, just unreal. very unreal. luckily we're all here and alive. >> reporter: richard jones, surrounded by his family. we met a lot of families on the street, chris, over the last day. so interesting, they were smiling and it really struck me that these people could still find some joy in just being together. despite everything that's happened here. >> the faith and perspective helping so many people. somebody who had to live this as a leader in a community, lieutenant governor todd lamb. yesterday morning, getting ready to see what was out there, and how people were doing in the community. what hit you? >> the pure devastation and the horrific scenes. we were together yesterday morning, about 5:50 in the morning, 6:00 a.m., still just seeing images on television, i

was at the emergency operations center all evening the night before. seeing it first hand as you can attest to, pure devastation, absolutely horrific. you see amongst the rubble and devastation, families huddled together pulling things out of the rubble. smiling, the best they can. we lost life here, but families are picking themselves up, strong, resilient. a very, very strong faith and we'll move on, we have hope. >> frustrating to see destruction around you? you can make the difference you want to make as quickly as you want to make it. >> very frustrating. you run for office, want to serve and give back. that's why i'm in public life. so little you can do. visiting with you about relief efforts, rebuilding schools and things that need to happen, but it can be frustrating. but at the same time, everybody who can be helpful is being

helpful. so many groups, agencies, organizes here on site. helping to make a difference. >> any chance there was good fortune in this? there isn't more loss of life? we saw how widespread the devastation is? >> it's odd to say, a tough balance to strike when we say we're fortunate. but we don't want to lose one life. so the fact that it's 24, not 25, if the number was 100 and it wasn't 101. >> we were worried about that. >> right. with the initial reports. the enormity of this tornado, and the violence of this tornado, the destruction that has occurred and wiped out businesses, flattened neighborhoods, wiped them out, obliterated, we have 24, it's a blessing to some degree. still tragically lost 24 lives. >> let me ask a question. a lot of people are asking about shelters, particularly in schools. a state rep proposed a bond

issue to fund shelters in schools it seems to a lot of people shelters really should be part of the school system. >> your question is an important question to ask. right now i'm focused on recovery and relief effort. congressman cole, we're in his congressional district. i saw him this morning briefly. i look forward to meeting with him and get his thoughts on his hometown, where he group, where his family was and is, and get his thoughts on federal legislation as opposed to just state legislation. >> thank you very muff to help, go to cnn.com/impact. the state motto is labor conquers all. >> that's right. >> and you have work to bring the community back. >> thank you, all, again, for covering it. thank you, cnn, if you weren't here telling what was going on, people wouldn't realize the devastation in moore, oklahoma. >> ahead on "starting point,"

we'll speak with a family who lost so much and one mother's last-minute escape with her three sons, an incredible story. that next. >> and dr. sanjay gupta speaking with an e.r. doctor whose cocom and level headedness saved lives. how did she keep her cool? we'll find out on this special edition of "starting point." [ s your prescription medication give you the burden of constipation? turn to senokot-s tablets. senokot-s has a natural vegetable laxative ingredient plus the comfort of a stool softener for gentle, overnight relief of occasional constipation. go to senokot-s.com for savings. but he with a chuckle replied that maybe it couldn't, but he would be one who wouldn't say so till he tried. ♪ somebody scoffed, "oh, you'll never do that." "at least no one has ever done it." but he took off his coat and he took off his hat,

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welcome back to moore, oklahoma. survivors picking up remains, sifting through pieces of their homes, looking for photographs, mementos, anything that might remain. our guest knows of the powerful destructive power first hand. she and her three sons escaped their home with minutes to

spare. let me ask you right off the bat. you and boys all okay? >> they are fine. with their daddy right now, so that's the main thing. they are safe, they are happy, they are content at the moment. >> now, your story of escape here, fairly harrowing, walk us through this? >> okay. well, pretty much, my work let us out early, they knew the storm was coming, they had been hit before and had been flattened, so i left, went and grabbed my youngest from daycare, who was next door. ran to the school, grabbed my other two, and when i got there, sirens started going off. we aren't letting kids out. sirens stopped. let us take our kids then. grabbed them, went home. i got there, i put them in the coat closet. because hell was coming down at this time. i turned on nbc news, listened to mike morgan, and he started telling us where it's at, what's

going on, i'm like, all right, i need to see what's going on here. he said if you live in this area, where is where i live, fourth and eastern area, he said get out now. if you have no shelter. if you have shelter, get in it. but if you don't, get out. he said don't stay in the closet. don't get in the bathtub or the bathroom. it's not safe, go. it's too huge. they were comparing it to the may 3rd tornado big time. i was like, okay, boys, we're out of here. my middle one crying, he was scared. my middle one grabs our inside dog. >> how old are the boys? >> 11, 7 and 6. >> okay. you got some young ones. don't know how to do this. >> they don't know what's going on. they know a tornado is coming, bad weather is out there, and they are like, okay, it's is our

house going to go away? what's going to happen? i get in the car, get out. i even turned my alarm on to my house. my house alarm. and we zoomed. when i left. i went as fast as i could. i went basically toward 19th street, turned left and went east. kept going until i got to sooner road, and went south toward far norman. listening to the radio, and telling us where the storm was at. i was running, that's what mike morgan told us. getting close to 19th and 4th. i knew them areas, and i was like, okay, i know where i'm going. i could see behind me the blackness, the dark, and i said, boys, it's right behind us, you can see it you can see it. when i got down, i knew i could turn and come back toward the house. i turned and i could see it

moving away. started taking pictures of that. i took pictures of the tornado leaving. >> we have pictures of your house. >> it's scary. when i walked up, i was astounded. what happened? my home is gone. i -- i probably did like any normal person did. i hyper ventilated a little bit, i can't believe this is happening. i cried. because i lost everything except for my children. i worried about my two outside dogs that were left there. we ran. i mean, we literally lan and luckily they are alive. one of them got injured, he will have to lose his right eye because of the storm. and we just -- we're lucky. and i started thinking, i have my children, and everything will be okay. i will rebuild my house.

it's a house. it's a structure, yeah, a lot of memories in it. my pictures from childhood. i mean, pictures i took when i was in sixth grade. i mean, up to now. stuff that i got when i was in the navy. i mean, it's all gone, but i know i can still remember it. i can still remember where everything was in that house, still see the pictures in my mind, and i'll have to keep it that way. yesterday, i was able to get some stuff out. i'll survive. my kids are happy. >> you know you made the most important choice. you got what matters most out of that house. >> yes. my three kids. >> and now you move forward. >> and you have friends helping chip in here. >> friends and family. my sister and niece came down yesterday and my brother-in-law, they came down, i had a friend

that came over from norman, she camory and just started pulling stuff out. high schoolers, never met these kids before and they started pulling stuff out, and they are from moore high school. and just helping me. you need help? yeah, we just started pulling stuff out. >> we hear stories of how the community is coming together and you're an example of how moore will get back on its feet. thank you you and your boys are fine. thank you for doing the work to raise money. >> thank you for being a good friend. >> go to cnn.com/impact. cnn.com/impact and figure out how to help people. >> ahead on "starting point" how do peel in moore, how do people in this town begin the arduous task of rebuilding? rescue turns to recovery and we look at what the next steps are. we went out and asked people a simple question:

how old is the oldest person you've known? we gave people a sticker and had them show us. we learned a lot of us have known someone who's lived well into their 90s. and that's a great thing. but even though we're living longer, one thing that hasn't changed much is the official retirement age. ♪ the question is how do you make sure you have the money you need to enjoy all of these years. ♪

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this knust just in to cnn. an fbi shot and killed a suspect in florida who know boston bombing suspect tamerlan tsavraev. the agent was conducting official duties in orlando when the man was shot and killed. we'll bring you more information throughout the morning as it becomes available. developing this morning in the investigation into the deadly attack on u.s. diplomats in benghazi, libya a senior

rerr republican lawmaker says that they have names to go along with the people involved in the attack. the lawmaker couldn't say how many have been identified. eric holder said there were new twibtive and concrete developments. minding your business. gains for the year have been impressive for stocks. dow, s & p 500, up 17% in 2013. nasdaq, up 15% and in washington, a grilling for apple ceo tim cook. accused of a senate panel of using every means necessary to avoid paying billions of dollars in taxes. senator carl levin says that apple has sought the oholy grai of tax avoidance. tim cook defends the company. >> we pay all of the taxes we owe, every single dollar. we not only comply with the laws, but we comply with the spirit of the laws. >> some on the committee noted

the irony of congress criticizing apple for using some of the legal loopholes congress created. oth others complimented its injen eauity and praised its products. back to oklahoma. >> coming up on "starting point," for some, the difference between life and death. why are oklahoma homes and facilities not equipped with storm shelters? the big question here. we'll go inside one, after the break. when our little girl was born,

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welcome back to tornado-ravaged moore, oklahoma. john berman with chris cuomo. some 60,000 people who call this city home are trying to get back on their feet. >> a deadly twister packing 200 mile an hour winds hit this community. rescue operations here to you into recovery. homeland security, janet napolitano will travel to moore,

meet with state and local officials to ensure that first responders are receiving the help they need as well as community. >> national weather service confirming the 1.3 mile wide tornado that really blew through her monday afternoon, it was an ef-5 tornado. doesn't get higher than that. damaged 2,400 homes. 10,000 people directly impacted by the storm. we expect insurance claims to top $1 billion. >> take a look at this video. a funnel cloud forming just seven minute after a tornado warning issued by the national weather service on monday. within moments, literally, a ten-minute window with high winds growing into what's known as a grinder. minutes later, carving up moore, oklahoma. >> moore medical center took a direct hit from the storm you have seen some amazing pictures, but amazingly hundreds of people inside. workers, patients, and families got to safety without injury. >> take a look at the hospital,

virtually destroyed. we have with us dr. sanjay gupta. he went back with the head of the hospital's e.r. take a listen to the interview. >> you were the e.r. doc on call in a hospital that was in the middle of one of the biggest storms in u.s. history. everybody did well in your hospital. how are you feeling about that today? >> i don't think it's hit me really. and i just can't feel like i can take any credit for that. i was just doing my job and knew what i it to do. i can't even imagine. very emotional. i'm like wow, everything did get out. and words can't describe how i feel, and i did keep getting a lot of thank yous. >>

>>. >> sanjay, she is so humbled about all of this. >> this is 34 years old i expected a wise old surgeon. nobody got a scratch on them in that hospital. remarkable when you look at the images. this is the second time a hospital has been in the path of the storm. joplin, we heard about it. and here again. we set up a triage area in the parking lot. >> what kind of injuries are we talking about here? >> talking about spinal cord injuries, impalement. you look around here, anything could potential be a source of essentially sharp nell. you get the primary wave, and then the secondary wave and the tertiary wave, where people are floating themselves and being pushed against immovable objects.

you look historically. worry about head and brain injuries, and we didn't see that many this time. in the hospital, for example, when we got into the inner corridors, took mattresses, put them over people's heads to prevent that from happening. >> on the outside, but what you feel on the inside. >> it can be significant. this may be surprising to some people. sometimes because of the force of the storm, you can get pressure changes that can actually cause, for example, perforations in intestines. >> we're not even talking about ptsd. there are latent injuries. >> without obvious external signs of injury, you could have that. it shows up a couple of days later. if somebody comes in delayed because of physical injuries, the ptsd, mental injuries, a lot of it you would expect. with children, it's interesting. they say that sometimes in the first few days, kids seem absolutely fine, no problems, it

can show up a few days later. don't let your guard down. >> i am worried about kids that see houses like this destroy. the only house they ever lived in. >> thepermanence is different when you are a kid. the school, their home, everything affected, but that seems to be the key. >> also important, though, the message you gave to families, pay attention to kids in the week or two after this, to see what may not resolve itself. >> just because they seem in these first few days, not a problem, again, not to let their guard down. and it can show up in different ways, poor sleeping, eating, acting out in certain ways and have you talked about this. but half of tornado-related injuries occur in the first few days after the storm. >> going around the cleanup, the debris field. >> you probably heard, they had a need for tetanus, shots, for

example, at one of the shelters, they usually last anywhere seven to ten years. a lot of people stepping on nails, that is important. things like that. >> talking about the search and recovery effort here. massive, and that was interesting. a fire chief just stepped on a nail as sanjay was saying one of the dangers is the debris. thank you so much for being us with. we appreciate it. your teams have been sifting through this town again and again and again. why don't you give us an update on the status? overnight, from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. >> yes, and when i got back to the command post this morning, i left late last night, they had told me we are through with the school, we have finished at the school. numbers have not changed, which makes us very happy and so we have one more area that we're kind of concentrating on.

by mid afternoon, early evening we hope to release lots of people, pretty well through with search and rescue efforts. >> something difficult to talk about and important in understanding the situation. we know kids were lost in the school. >> yes, sir. >> we hear information that there was a basement, that's where the kids were, there was flooding. are there circumstances that you can explain to help make sense. >> everything i've been told, they were in a classroom. not in the basement. i cannot confirm that but from everything i've been told, i'm pretty safe in saying that. >> not morbid interest. it's concern. >> they were in a classroom and nothing to do with flooding as to what i understand. >> an important distinction. the missing, communication based. people can't get cell phone or lost their cell phones. do you know anything about missing? >> last might when i left, we only had two people that we hadn't been able to confirm for sure where they were at. and then again, i think it's people that saw the tornado coming, got in the car, left,

hasn't been able to make phone communications or -- a lot of people get scared, leave, think they are safe. contact your family, let them know you are safe. have you everybody else worried to death about where you are, did you leave? we don't know where you are. please contact your family if you haven't and let them know. >> we've been talking about lives lost 24 certainly too many. but when you walk through the damage, it's shocking it wasn't more lives lost. the injuries not as bad as you might expect. why is that do you think? >> moore is pretty resilient, and as you know, we've had several tornadoes through the area. our citizens pay a lot of the attention to the weather. they are used to this. pay a lot of attention to the weather and they heed the warnings, and, you know, you have the damage, you have the things still happening and you can prepare a lot. but if you can't get in a

cellar, get underground, you are going to have injuries and lives lost possibly, depending on the stage of the tornado and everything. and one is too many. 24 is way, way too many. but thank god it wasn't 51 or the 91 we heard earlier. >> timing. i was up in the air yesterday taking a look at the debris field, what it was like, 13 miles, 20 miles, whatever way you want to calculate it. whatever numbers you want to use, what kind of time does it take to go through, say with confidence, okay, we've been everywhere, we know who is at places, we know the situation, how long does it take? >> you know when the tornado started and you probably know somewhat about the time we got in the field later that afternoon. i can pretty well assure you by late this afternoon, we will be

done. >> dogs have come through here twice. this neighborhood, the dogs have gone house to house, not just once, twice. >> we want to do our due diligence. our citizens in this community deserve the best we can give them. people all over chrome and the nation have come in to help, we want to be sure they understand. we've done our very best for them and we've checked every structure, every house, every business, every vehicle to our utmost best to be sure that there is nobody left anywhere, up accounted for that we could have found. >> that's great news. thank you so much for joining us. we wish you the best of luck. have you been working around the clock, and still more work to do here, we appreciate it. >> thank you for your coverage. >> before we leave, we need to you sign a release and we have dr. sanjay gupta to check out your foot. we saw you take that nail in the foot. one of the most catastrophic tornadoes in american history.

two years later, joplin, missouri, what we're talking about and remembering the loss as witnesses have seen all too familiar in neighboring oklahoma. joplin residents are lending a helping hahn. a special edition of "starting point." tony used priceline to book this 4 star hotel. tell 'em why.

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oklahoma has barely begun the recovery effort after the deadly tornado here. no one better knows the suffering in moore than the people in joplin, missouri. today marks two years to the day since the tornado there killed 161 people, miguel marquez on this somber anniversary. good morning, miguel. >> reporter: good morning there, john. 5:41 p.m. two years ago when this category 5 storm ripped through here, and everywhere you look in this city, you can still see signs of it. if you look off to the distance, you can see the trees, still bare. everywhere you look in the town, you can see signs of the tornado. this parking lot you are looking at, actually where medical buildings that were once here. the storm ripped a 22-mile hole

right through the heart of this city. it killed 161 people, 1,100 injured. a sign once stood here is gone and right across the street here, that was the hospital, st. john's, a nine-story building completely gone. rebuilding it and won't be finished until 2015. of the 7,500 homes that were damaged or destroyed here, about 84% of them are back up and running, 90% of businesses are back up and running or have a plan to get back up and running. the big thing here, though, moore is 50,000 people, but the same number of people here, 225 miles apart, right down the i-44 corridor, and the population here in joplin has dropped by about 6%. something they want to get back. this storm caused about $3 billion in damages, and they are pouring billions into it in order to rebuild the town, have a rebirth. today is supposed to be a

celebration. but because what's happens right down the street, it is not. john. >> miguel. interesting to see the sun rise over joplin, missouri, the town, city, has rebuilt, even though there are indelible memories. thank you for joining us. joining us now is joplin's mayor that will be attending anniversary events. two years to the day since the terrible tornado ripped through there. thank you for joining us right now. let me ask you first, as you look at theses this pictures of what's happening where i'm standing in moore, oklahoma. as you look at the images here, what kind of memories does that evoke for you? >> it's an eerie deja vu. that's the first thing that when we see the destruction, it immediately brings back to mind our own tornado that we experienced two years ago. >> this was an ef-5 tornado that

struck here, same strength as joplin. based on your experience, what can you tell the people of moore what they have ahead of them in the coming days, weeks, and months? >> if we can share anything with them, we would like to share that there is hope, as they can see where we are now, we have come a lock way. a long struggle. a road you don't have to tread, but now you have to be on it, make sure -- make sure that you involve your citizens in every line of communication that you do. because they are going to be wondering what's going on, how is the develop going, so we can stress to make sure of that. document everything, anything and everything that you sign, document, because that will come back on you later if you don't have that. one thing we would really like to share is hope. there is hope. devastation doesn't last, but

determination does. >> if you have proven anything, it's that hope does persevere in this. mayor, give us an update. two years to the day since the tornado hit your town. where do thin things stand rig? what is the status of the recovery effort? >> right now, we're looking at 85% to 90% of housing coming back. we have people that have been permitted to rebuild or have rebuilt. looking at about 90% of the businesses that have been back or are permitted to be rebuilt. the morale of joplin is high. although today our hearts are heavy with moore, oklahoma, because it's a shared connection we both have right now. there is different things you can be compared to, but disasters is not one of them. each one is different in its own right. however, we want them to know we have a shared connection right now and our heart goes out to them and we did send emergency responders down there to try to

see if we could be of assistance to them to give back as so many gave back to our city. >> you sent more than just a message of hope. you sent volunteers down here to help out and i know it is appreciated. the mayor of joplin, most missouri, thank you for being with us and our thoughts are still with you as you celebrate this anniversary since the terrible tornado struck your town. we appreciate it. >> thank you very much. ahead here on starting point live from moore, oklahoma, many survivors owe their lives to first responders on the scene. take a look at what it took to reach those people caught in the path of this storm. hmm, it says here that cheerios helps lower cholesterol

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welcome back to "starting point." mayor, says the death toll at 24, and they believe it will stay at 24. we focus on the recovery efforts. we have an emergency medical services authority, emsa, he was one of the first on the scene on monday. what did you see when you first arrived on the scene after the tornado passed through? >> we were on scene as the tornado was coming through. that's how close we tried to get. we do have an immediate response. what we did see, is total devastation. this area at 11th, south, santa

fe. more leveled than this. just piles of debris. no walls. >> and in the first 20 hours, some 100 people pulled from the rubble. that's a lot of lives saved. >> yeah, between 2:00 and midnight, in that ten-hour period, we had 95 emergency calls, between 2:00 and 5:00, we had 69. and we transported 68 out of that whole thing. 32 of those could have been considered life threatening. you can tell about the time it hit by numbers we gathered off our data. >> some efforts going on. they are calling it a recovery operation. colleagues at the plaza towers elementary school. any belief there is still anyone there that might be trapped in the rubble? >> there may not be very much belief, but the hope is always high. one thing we've learned over the years, between the murray building bombing, the tornado of

1999 and this one we never give up hope until we're absolutely positive, so we'll stay on scene, be here for days or weeks, if that ta is what it takes. we'll account for everybody. >> how will the process change for you and your teams over the next several days? >> what we do now, we've scaled back our operations as emergency medical service and really are here -- only one or two ambulances where the recovery process is ongoing. several reasons, in case a responder get hurt we're there immediately to happen them, or if they do miraculously find someone, we can treat them, transfer them. >> you are always ready. when i get here and see this kind of thing, it's simply overwhelming. part of your job, but it still has to affect you. what is the hardest part for you, seeing the devastation? >> the hardest part is trying to

figure out exactly where are we going to start? how will we get this rolling? the hardest part is people coming up to you with a child in their arms and maybe it's lifeless and the parent looking to you, and you have to say, i'm sorry, there is nothing i can do. >> you feel it? >> we do. most of us -- i've been here for 36 years. some of the kids i have here working, digging through this rubble, weren't alive when i started working here and they have children the same age they were trying to extricate, treat, and transport. so, you know, they are -- they are awesome in my eyes. the citizens who transported people self-lessly, and transported them, they are the true heroes. >> we appreciate your efforts,

thank you so much. special edition of "starting point" live from moore, oklahoma. back in just a moment. flying is old hat for business travelers. the act of soaring across an ocean in a three-hundred-ton rocket doesn't raise as much as an eyebrow for these veterans of the sky. however, seeing this little beauty over international waters is enough to bring a traveler to tears. we're putting the wonder back into air travel, one innovation at a time. the new american is arriving.

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coverage on the tornado aftermath in moore, oklahoma. a special edition of "cnn newsroom" with chris cuomo picks up right now. good morning. thank you for joining us. i'm carol costello here in atlanta. >> and i'm chris cuomo here in moore, oklahoma. >> take it away, chris. set the scene for us. >> thank you very much, carol. having a little bit of communication issues there. we know what happened here on monday, carol. the question, how quickly can the community come back? we're told from government officials that what they believe about those who lost their lives here, 24 people, 9 children, those numbers are not expected to