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5 died when Oklahoma family fled to drainage tunnel to escape tornadoes . (Daily Oklahoman)
Much more, including interviews with the survivors and a video, at the link.Frightened by a TV meteorologists warning to get underground, Virginia Shrum fled with her family and a friend to a long drainage tunnel behind their Oklahoma City apartment on May 31 to escape an approaching tornado.
It became a death trap.
In all, 11 people from the apartment sought shelter in the concrete tunnel, which starts at SW 15 just west of Interstate 44 and ends a quarter-mile away at the Oklahoma River.
Five died.
Four of the dead were children, ages 4 and younger. The body of one a baby girl has not been recovered.
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Before fleeing the apartment, there were arguments about what to do. Timothy Shrum urged going to the drainage tunnel.
Alvin Hennington said, I kept telling him, No. No. No. Lets go into the closet. I dont trust that.
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I had a bad feeling from the beginning. I didnt pay attention to what I was feeling and we went down there anyway, Virginia Shrum said.
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