- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Flipboard
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Tumblr
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
The networks are rushing to send their anchors and top reporters to Oklahoma to cover the aftermath of the 2-mile-wide tornado that left at least 24 people dead and more than 140 injured Monday.
ABC News weather editor Sam Champion and meteorologist Ginger Zee already are reporting from Oklahoma, while ABC’s Mike Boettcher also is on the scene reporting on the immediate impact from the storm.
STORY: Oklahoma Tornado: Carrie Underwood, Ellen DeGeneres Address Tragedy on Twitter
In addition, ABC News anchor David Muir and Alex Perez are en route to cover the aftermath of the storm, which hit the town of Moore, Okla., population 55,000.
Diane Sawyer led with the story on the East Coast edition of ABC World News and also spoke with Boettcher, who lives in Oklahoma, as well as witnesses who saw the tornado. World News also is updating its broadcast for later feeds in other time zones.
In late-night, ABC News plans to air a special edition of Nightline, anchored by Bill Weir, that will be dedicated to covering the developing story in Oklahoma.
NBC, meanwhile, is sending its Nightly News anchor Brian Williams to Oklahoma, where he will anchor the 6:30 p.m. edition of Tuesday’s show as well as a special primetime hour at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
along with its Today team. The morning show had planned to broadcast from Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday, but Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Natalie Morales and Willie Geist have diverted their trip and will anchor from Oklahoma instead.
CBS correspondent Anna Werner reported live from the site in Oklahoma during Monday night’s CBS Evening News.
Meanwhile, Norah O’Donnell will co-host CBS This Morning from Oklahoma on Tuesday morning, and Scott Pelley will anchor CBS Evening News from there Tuesday night.
STORY: CBS Pulls Tornado-Themed ‘Mike & Molly’ Finale
CNN‘s Indra Petersons will anchor from Oklahoma City. Her assignment comes the same day she was named the network’s weather anchor and correspondent for all programming across multiple platforms. Petersons, who previously was with KABC-TV in Los Angeles, also will be a regular on CNN’s morning show New Day with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira, which debuts June 17.
On Tuesday, MSNBC’s Morning Joe will originate live from Oklahoma, followed by Jansing & Co. and the 11 a.m. ET hour of MSNBC Live. The network’s Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinsk, Chris Jansing and Thomas Roberts will anchor their respective shows from Oklahoma. Jansing and Roberts also will contribute to MSNBC’s reporting throughout the day.
Other anchors and correspondents from NBC News, MSNBC and corporate sibling The Weather Channel will report from Oklahoma across all platforms, including Lester Holt, Ann Curry, Harry Smith, Kate Snow, Anne Thompson, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Janet Shamlian, Jim Cantore, Mike Bettes and Mike Seidel.
Meanwhile, CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight reworked its planned Monday night show, which had included guest Donald Trump, in favor of covering the tornado, as did Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor and Hannity and MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show. As of Monday night, all three cable networks were sticking with wall-to-wall coverage of the devastation in Oklahoma.
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day