Oklahoma Photojournalists in the Midst of the Storm

Photos by Jacob Wallace

Jacob Wallace and Jon Englert of KFOR-TV started their week on May 19 covering a tornado that hit Lincoln County, Okla. Negotiating thrown vehicles and diverted paths, they finally set up their live shot for the 10 p.m. broadcast to report the damage in rural Oklahoma.

On May 20, Jacob and Norris Kyles were sent to Purcell to cover the southern face of a storm moving through Central Oklahoma. On the way, they stopped at the Moore Burger King, where the manager asked them if there would be another storm. They weren’t sure, but were directed 30 minutes south, so it seemed the Burger King would be okay.

Just as the live picture from Purcell was set, they heard the storm had hit Moore. Returning to Moore was difficult and confusing — cars raced on the shoulders, abandoned vehicles and people hunkered under overpasses. The radio traffic and crew monitors told the story, but seeing the devastation in person was stunning. Although the Burger King had been spared, many people and businesses had not. Dazed families, first responders and a sobbing mother holding her child fought against the backdrop of a decimated neighborhood. 

Resilient broadcasters worked through difficult, emotional days covering the devastation of the people and places they hold dear. Although the damage estimate is more than $2 billion, the emotional cost for survivors and broadcasters is harder to calculate. As we have for the victims of Sandy, we send support to our union family and urge members to donate to the American Red Cross to help in the recovery efforts. Go to www.redcross.org or text 90999 to donate $10.

 
Damage from the tornado             From left, KFOR-TV's Jon Englert, Jacob Wallace and Joe Busch.