The destruction was wide in Moore, Okla., after a massive tornado tore through on Monday. (Reuters/Landov)

Death Toll Climbing In Oklahoma Tornado Tragedy

May 21, 2013 — As it roared through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, packing winds of up to 200 mph, the twister flattened buildings. Searchers continue to look for survivors and those who were killed.

(We're following the news from Oklahoma, where a tornado devastated the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday. Most recent update: 6:45 a.m. ET.)

As Tuesday dawned, the official death toll from the monster tornado that roared through Moore, Okla., on Monday stood at 51.

But Amy Elliott, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma state medical examiner's office, was warning that officials believe at least another 40 people had been killed. Some of those are thought to be children in one of the schools that destroyed by the powerful storm.

More than 200 people were injured when the storm's winds (said to have been blowing at up to 200 mph) leveled buildings across a wide swath of land. The cost — in lives and damage — from the storm is expected to exceed that from a tornado that devastated the same part of the nation in May 1999. That twister left behind "46 dead and 800 injured, more than 8,000 homes damaged or destroyed, and total property damage of nearly $1.5 billion," as NOAA has reported.

Tuesday was bringing incredible stories — some of survival, some of heartbreaking loss.

On Morning Edition, NPR's Wade Goodwyn reported that 4th, 5th and 6th graders attending Moore's Plaza Towers Elementary School had been evacuated to a nearby church, where they found shelter. "Kindergarteners through 3rd grade children hunkered down at the school," Wade reported. At least seven children died in the destroyed school's basement. Searchers were continuing to look for more victims.

Meanwhile, forecasters were warning that more severe weather was possible in the area Tuesday — and across much of the nation's midsection. According to the National Weather Service, the threat extends "from the Great Lakes across the Mississippi River Valley and into central Texas." What to watch for: "very large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes."

As we reported Monday, President Obama has signed a disaster declaration late Monday, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area.

We'll be following the news as the day continues. So hit your refresh button to make sure you're seeing our latest updates. We'll add related posts as well. Note: As happens during news events such as this, there will be information that later proves to have been incorrect. We'll focus on what's being reported by NPR and other news trusted news outlets, and on information provided by officials with direct knowledge of the situation. If some information proves to have been wrong, we'll correct the record and explain what happened.

Update at 6:45 a.m. ET. News Conference Expected; Lightning And Rain In Area:

TV crews in Moore are packing up to head for shelter as raise resumes and lightning can be seen in the sky. Meanwhile, CNN says police officials expect to hold a news conference at 8 a.m. ET.

Update at 6:35 a.m. ET. How To Help, Where To Go For Information:

The White House blog has a post that outlines "Resources and Information for Those Affected by Oklahoma Tornadoes."

Update at 6:30 a.m. ET. President Obama To Address Nation:

The president is expected to make a statement about the tragedy in Oklahoma at 10 a.m. ET.

Related posts:

— VIDEO: A Time-Lapse Of The Tornado In Oklahoma.

— Measuring The Power Of Deadly Tornadoes.

— A Brief History Of Oklahoma Tornadoes.

— Tweets Capture 'Shock And Awe' At Tornado's Deadly Power.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

The destruction was wide in Moore, Okla., after a massive tornado tore through on Monday. (Reuters/Landov)

Unclear Laws May Have Contributed to Tax-Exempt Controversy

May 21, 2013 (Morning Edition) — IRS and Treasury officials can expect a hard time in their appearances on Capitol Hill Tuesday. A key question that so far has not gotten much attention: How did it come to be that social welfare organizations became vehicles for political activity?

The destruction was wide in Moore, Okla., after a massive tornado tore through on Monday. (Reuters/Landov)

Fox News Reporter James Rosen Caught Up In Federal Probe

May 21, 2013 (Morning Edition) — There is word of another controversial leak investigation by the Department of Justice. The target is Fox News reporter James Rosen, who was monitored by the department after breaking a story about North Korea's nuclear weapons program in 2009.

The destruction was wide in Moore, Okla., after a massive tornado tore through on Monday. (Reuters/Landov)

Tumblr Users Urge New Owner Yahoo To Keep The Site Weird

May 21, 2013 (Morning Edition / WNYC Radio) — When news of Yahoo's purchase of Tumblr first hit, Tumblr users took their reactions online. The posts were quirky and sharp with plenty of worry about the future.

The destruction was wide in Moore, Okla., after a massive tornado tore through on Monday. (Reuters/Landov)

Young People Cast Out Of Italy's Welfare System

May 21, 2013 (Morning Edition / WNYC Radio) — In Italy, the youth jobless rate is nudging 40 percent, a record high in post-war history. Demographer Stefano Rosina says the Italian welfare system has always been skewed toward the middle-aged and elderly, leaving Italian youths with no political or trade union representation.