RELATED VIDEO Hospital emergency-room personnel were able to apply some lessons learned from the Oklahoma City bombing to the tornado victims. CNN's Eileen O'Connor talks with both groups. (May 5) Windows Media 28K 80K Early-warning systems are cutting down on tornado deaths. CNN's Natalie Pawelski investigates. (May 5) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Eric Horng surveys the damage around Wichita, Kansas, as survivors tell their stories (May 5) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Brian Cabell talks with a family that lost nearly everything but each other in the Oklahoma tornadoes (May 5). Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K More reports on the killer tornadoes that hit Oklahoma and Kansas on May 3.        Windows Media Real        28 K 80 K RELATED AUDIO Willow Dean Dudley explains how she survived 374k/20 sec. AIFF or WAV sound NOAA Administrator James Baker explains what a tornado is 374K/20 sec. AIFF or WAV sound New York WABC-TV meteorologist Sam Champion explains why Dudley did the right thing 498KK/30 sec. AIFF or WAV sound IMAGE GALLERY Images from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Images from Kansas More images from Oklahoma  ALSO: Tornado injuries reminiscent of Oklahoma City bombing Tornado revives terrifying memories for Oklahoma City bomb survivors Scientists look for better storm warning systems, stronger housing Twisters come in various degrees of bad  Casualties: Oklahoma: 38 deaths; nearly 700 injured Kansas: 5 deaths; about 100 injured Texas: 1 death; about 11 injured

May 5, 1999
Web posted at: 2:04 p.m. EDT (1804 GMT)

In this story: Winds topped 260 mph in Oklahoma City National Guard troops help prevent looting Storms move into Texas and Arkansas RELATED STORIES, SITES

OKLAHOMA CITY (CNN) -- Tornado Alley residents began another grim day tallying losses Wednesday as the scope of deadly tornadoes that ripped across the U.S. heartland began to become clear.

Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, who spent much of Tuesday surveying shattered neighborhoods around Oklahoma City, on Wednesday visited several smaller, outlying towns that appeared to have been almost wiped off the map by Monday's furious storms.

A similar scenario played out in Texas, where Gov. George W. Bush toured the scene of a tornado that killed a 77-year-old woman in Titus County on Tuesday.

Tornadoes and devastating winds have killed at least 44 people and injured hundreds in the southern Plains since Monday, when 76 twisters swept through five states. The death toll includes at least 38 people in Oklahoma, five in Kansas and one person in Texas.

Winds topped 260 mph in Oklahoma City

One tornado, at least a half-mile wide, struck parts of Oklahoma City with winds topping 260 mph, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. The tornado was classified an F5, the most powerful. The storm carved a 19-mile gash through the area, demolishing about 2,000 homes.

At least 1,500 Kansas businesses and homes were destroyed or heavily damaged.

Monday's tornadoes were the nation's deadliest since 90 were killed in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Ontario on May 31, 1985.

In Oklahoma, the last F5 on record hit Broken Bow in the southeastern part of the state in April 1982, but no one was killed. Monday's twister F-5 twister was the deadliest in the state since April 9, 1947, when 113 died in the western Oklahoma town of Woodward.

Insured losses in Oklahoma City alone could reach $225 million, according to a preliminary estimate from the Southwestern Insurance Information Service, an industry trade group in Austin, Texas.

National Guard troops help prevent looting

In Oklahoma City's hard-hit southern suburbs, police and National Guard troops enforced an all-night curfew to prevent possible looting.

Officials also feared that some storm-struck residents might risk poking through wreckage, including downed power lines and broken gas lines, in attempts to find personal possessions.

Crews using dogs and heavy equipment continued to sift through wreckage on Tuesday, a slow process that likely will take much of the week.

Meanwhile, as dazed and weary storm victims gathered in Red Cross shelters and tried to figure out their next steps, other Oklahomans were flooding relief agencies and charities with donations.

After television stations put out an emergency appeal for everything from bleach and batteries to peanut butter and jelly, donations began pouring in at a rate that stunned even relief organizers.

"I just think it is the right thing to do," one volunteer said as he unloaded paper bags full of groceries at a city donation drop-off point. "Oklahoma is showing the true Oklahoma spirit."

Storms move into Texas and Arkansas

Later Tuesday, new storms struck Texas and Arkansas. One tornado tore through nearly 100 buildings and injured at least 11 people in the northeastern Texas town of DeKalb.

"The only thing I remember is that the lights went off and the roof came off," said James Sckittone, 18, a student at DeKalb High School. "Everybody started crying and praying. It looked like an atomic bomb fell."

In southern Arkansas, thunderstorms also spawned tornadoes, large hail and heavy rain, leaving thousands of people without electricity. Several houses and a church were damaged. No injuries were reported.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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