Gaylord College student reporters have spent the past year producing a one-hour television show in the practicum course “Gaylord In-depth,” which marks the somber anniversary of the 2013 Moore and El Reno tornadoes.
“Hell in the Heartland: 10 Years” examines those traumatic two weeks in May and explores what has happened in the years following the storms that changed Oklahoma forever.
Executive Producer and OU sophomore Courtney Armstrong says, “Growing up as a student in Moore, my perspective was very limited because I was young at the time. It’s been an incredible experience to look at how much this affected other people across the community.”
During the special, Oklahoma City meteorologists David Payne and Damon Lane recall their efforts covering the story that day while worrying about their own families at home.
Gaylord In-depth reporters also interview the family of Kyle Davis, who was just eight years old when the Moore tornado hit his school, Plaza Towers Elementary, killing Kyle and six other children. The program looks at the efforts of Kyle’s family to install storm shelters in Oklahoma schools over the last decade.
Additionally, “Gaylord In-depth” reporters investigate how weather technology has changed since several experienced storm chasers died in the El Reno tornado. Plus, they look at how weather communications have improved in the past ten years to serve Oklahoma’s growing multi-language communities.
The program also covers how Moore hospitals, businesses, and attractions like Orr Family Farm have recovered and thrived since 2013.
“Hell in the Heartland: 10 Years” can be viewed on the Gaylord News website.
