Moore, Oklahoma Tornado: One Year Later Not All Wounds Are Healed [Graphic Images]

It’s hard to believe that is has been one year since the deadly Moore, Oklahoma tornado flattened the small, peaceful town, and it is apparent that many of the wounds have yet to heal.

A year ago today, 24-people were killed in one of the most devastating tornadoes in US history, which was classified as an EF5 on the Fujita scale.

For many, on this first year anniversary of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado, the memories and sounds are still fresh. They will forever remember where they were or what they were doing.

The EF5 left a 17-mile path of destruction and an unrecognizable landscape for both residents and first responders that came to the scene to assist those in need.

The Plaza Tower Elementary School was completely destroyed and is about to be re-dedicated in the fall, but many of the students will not forget the classmates that were lost on the day when Moore, Oklahoma was hit by the powerful tornado.

Christopher Legg was one of the young students killed when a wall in his school caved and fell on him and others. His enthusiasm and love of life left an indelible mark on teachers and peers alike, but the terrifying storm left many of the children traumatized, and now that tornado season is back, there is a frail calm.

For many of the kids, the scars suffered as a result of the tornado that devastated the town of Moore are apparent with the onset of bad weather or any loud sound that comes with the Oklahoma storms common to this time of the year.

“He’s still got his triggers,” said Kai Heuangpraseuth’s mother Jacalyn Russell. “It’s not really the rain. He likes the rain. It’s more the wind, and sounds that sound similar… like the trains.”

Kai will return to Plaza Towers Elementary, built on the same spot where seven of his classmates died a year ago, and while teachers and staff try to avoid using the word tornado in their daily interactions with the children, it is apparent that the little ones were deeply distressed by the Moore, Oklahoma monster storm.

Principal Amy Simpson, who rode out the Moore, Oklahoma tornado in a bathroom with five other school staff members, says:

“Just the word scares them. The hardest part about that is that the kids are reminded each time someone gives something to us that their friends are gone.”

Danni Legg, Christopher’s mother, has become an advocate of storm shelters in all Oklahoma schools and is launching a campaign for the state house. She believes, “If more shelters can come out of this, it will be worth it for Chris. Yes, seven children’s lives were lost, but if half a million Oklahoma students and staff can be protected, it will make this hurt a little less.”

The Moore, Oklahoma tornado is the deadliest since the Joplin, Missouri tornado killed 158 people in 2011.

[Images via Bing]