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22 people survived tornado in bank vault
Jan Davis & Teresa Price of Tinker Federal Credit Union in Moore, Oklahoma describe how they hid in a vault along with 12 other workers and eight bank members as the building was destroyed.
"It was crowded" says Davis, "but if there were more people we would have crowded them right in." (Video)
The credit union posted the following photos to their Facebook page.
This is the vault where 14 TFCU employees and eight members rode out yesterday's tornado in Moore and emerged safely afterward. (From Tinker Federal Credit Union Facebook Page)
From Tinker Federal Credit Union Facebook page
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I think(with all due respects) that it is time to take this weather issue very high in the level of urgency... I do not know what can be done in terms of financial obligations, but, with a Masters in Public Budgeting and a whole lots of personal loan debt, I think that I would not mine volunteering my idea to help for free my fellow Americans. I think that we as Americans need to start a volunteer type system throughout the year in which all Americans can continuously add money safely that will be routed to assist in the rebuilding of the entire Midwest. I think that we should start floor plan per floor and rebuild as securely as possible to safe all Americans. This should not be happening in this country, and yes, I do blame Obama, for his poor leadership and understanding in construction manners, etc. I think that if the FEDS can not assist in the proper manner, then, all Americans need to start volunteering to rebuild sound infrastructure!!!!!!!!!
A similar situation played out in Joplin when some Kroger employees decided it would be best to move employees and customers into their huge, heavy refrigerator. It saved all their lives as the rest of the store was destroyed.
Happy their all ok
I am surprised the vault sustained as much damage as it did.
nice to see a bit of good news. I feel for those who were lost, but thankful that it wasnt worse. All of the US stands with you Oklahoma.
Did you know a young couple came running up to this bank as a safe haven and the bank turned them away.
due to a liability they did not let them in the vault, but they let the guests of the bank in?
really why would they not let them in but they allowed the guests
maybe because they were mixed race?
I don't know but good news they made it out ok
Vault Boy for Real
Concrete works.
Wonder if this the same bank that turned a couple away and wouldn't let them into the vault, so they had to run for shelter under a bridge deck....
No, it was not. KOCO has an interview with that couple, and they said it was an IBC bank that turned them away.
Every home should be equipped with a tornado vault.
New definition of "safe"
I had mentioned this very thing on a post the other day. A vault makes a good shelter. Now I know where I would, go right to the bank a few blocks from me and put myself on deposit till the tornado passes.
they finally had enough time to read. but all of their eye glasses were broken in the tornado so, ironically, they weren't able to now.
How many hours were they in that vault?
They were probably only in there for 20 minutes, that's usually how long it takes from the time the sirens go off until it's all over.
Sad that we build structures strong enough to protect our money, but that most of those who perished had no similar protection.
What a profound statement! Couldn't have said it better myself. When the rebuilding occurs there should be a mandate that every school have a sizable shelter, big enough to handle all the students and as many of the surrounding residents as well.
This is where government is welcomed to intrude. Let our government fund these shelters 100%.
Money is way more important DUH!
It is sad, but everyone had the option when they had their house built. Most decided against it to save 15-20K.
What happened in Oklahoma is tragic. It seems that after tragedies there's often a knee-jerk reaction - "we have to do something." The reality is that living is not risk free. The other reality is that safe rooms (and bank vaults) come with a price tag. School safe rooms run $150 to $240 per square foot or $600,000 to $1 million per room. There are 1812 public schools in Oklahoma. About 100 of them have safe rooms. Retrofitting the remaining 1700 schools would cost $1 – $1.7 billion. A hefty price tag does not mean we should not consider a change. It does mean that we should take a long hard look at whether it's the most effective use of money. For example, changing Oklahoma law to require booster seats for children 8 years and under and providing free booster seats for all kids would cost less and potentially save more lives.
VERY good point.
Well I think it's just the way they build homes in US... They are suppose to stay there for maybe 50 years and then they had to be easily to demolish to put a new one, that's why there is so much damage every time. I'm from Europe and our homes are build to stay there for ages, I saw house after tornado there- it only lost the roof and windows, other than that was just fine...
Hats off to the quick thinking. Looks like a bank vault is the construction spec needed to survive an EF 5. Something to think about when considering safe rooms for public buildings in tornado prone areas. Someone should look up the cost of that vault at the time the bank was constructed and take it from there. I sincerely wish the good people of Oklahoma all the best in getting back on their feet. So awful to have such devastation.
So the town's money has more protection than the town's children.
The bank was smarter than the parents. The bank spent the money needed to protect what was important to them. The parents did not.
obviously its going to take money to rebuild the town and not the kids
Yeah because a 50,000 dollar vault is going to stock 300 children.
That's a good vault.
The real valuables in that bank vault, were able to walk out.
Did they inventory the bank vault yet? :p
Quick thinking!
Many quick thinking heroes in this tragedy! Thank you!
Great plug for how safe & secure your money is.
WOW...Amazing is all I can say...So glad to read good stories with all of the heartbreaking stories in this terrible situation!
All of the geniuses recommending we build homes out of cement and brick need to look at this picture.
Yes, look at all the WOOD structure with a cement/brick facade. (That means a fake exterior about an inch thick usually preformed to fit).
Most of the concrete and brick structures (fully built) are maybe missing roofs, or a few walls leaning, but nowhere near destroyed.
Take it from someone who has been building all kinds of buildings in tornado alley for 25 years. They're better, I see it daily.
Darn good spot to ride things out. Those credit union members really got their money's worth on their membership.
amazing
This is a nice story. Thank God the bank manage was quick on his feet.
Glad you all made it out safely. My heart goes out to those who were not as fortunate.
See,... It pays to be a member of a credit union.
I want one of those instead of a basement!
Get them in the VAULT! /mal
It's unbelievable!
Now THATS a good place to keep your money! surviving an F5 Tornado?
Don't mean to be nit picky but Credit Unions are not banks! (Although they like to act like they are without paying the same taxes as banks) Glad all the employees survived!
It's called a "safe room" 😉
I'm sure the first one to make a theft wise crack got popped a good one too. Glad they were able to use what they had.
Perhaps everyone needs a bank vault in their home!
but did they make any "withdrawals" 🙂
they deserve at least the petty cash drawer.
maybe the safe company could pitch in. good ad too. not even tornadoes can breach our safe.
so sad they can build shelters to protect ther mony but not the kids in school
is that legal?
.
WoW ! ! !
.
Glad they All are ok 🙂
Brillant