The Day of Days
An Oklahoma National Guard documentary about the Guard’s response to the devastating May 20, 2013 Moore tornado.
The Day of Days is a documentary produced by the Oklahoma National Guard that captures the chaos, courage, and community spirit that defined the Guard’s response to one of the most destructive tornadoes in Oklahoma history.
The Story
On May 20, 2013, an EF5 tornado — the most powerful category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale — touched down southwest of Newcastle, Oklahoma, and carved a devastating path directly through the city of Moore. With peak winds exceeding 200 miles per hour and a damage path more than a mile wide, the tornado destroyed thousands of homes, two elementary schools, a medical center, and entire neighborhoods that had stood for generations.
Twenty-four people died. Hundreds more were injured. The Moore community — which had already survived major tornadoes in 1999 and 2003 — faced the unthinkable: a third catastrophic strike in just over a decade.
The Guard’s Response
The Oklahoma National Guard mobilized within hours of the tornado’s passage. The 63rd Civil Support Team deployed immediately to assess hazardous materials threats in the debris field — an essential first step that allowed civilian rescue workers to safely operate in collapsed structures where gas lines, chemicals, and unstable debris created constant hazard.
Guard engineers assisted with debris removal. Guard aviation assets provided aerial reconnaissance and medical evacuation support. Guard security personnel protected damaged properties and maintained order in the chaotic immediate aftermath. At the height of the response, hundreds of Guard members were working in and around Moore alongside FEMA, the Red Cross, Oklahoma Emergency Management, and thousands of civilian volunteers.
A Record of Service
The Day of Days documents these events through the eyes of the Guard members who lived them — the soldiers and airmen who were called from their civilian jobs and families on a Monday afternoon and found themselves, hours later, working in the rubble of a destroyed neighborhood searching for survivors.
The film also captures the community response: the volunteers who drove from across the state, the neighbors who shared food and water, the businesses that donated supplies, and the quiet resilience of Moore residents who had been through it before and refused to be defeated by it again.
For the Guard, The Day of Days is both a tribute and a training document — a reminder of what the Guard exists to do when Oklahoma needs it most, and a record of how it performed when tested by one of the most severe natural disasters in state history.
Keywords: Moore tornado, Oklahoma Strong, Oklahoma National Guard, disaster response, 63rd Civil Support Team
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Day of Days?
The Day of Days is a documentary produced by the Oklahoma National Guard that chronicles the Guard's response to the devastating EF5 tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013. The tornado, one of the most powerful ever recorded, caused catastrophic destruction and claimed 24 lives.
The documentary captures the Guard's rapid mobilization, their search and rescue operations in the immediate aftermath, and their ongoing role in the recovery and rebuilding effort. It serves as both a tribute to the service members who responded and a historical record of one of Oklahoma's most traumatic natural disasters.
What happened during the May 20, 2013 Moore tornado?
The May 20, 2013 Moore tornado was an EF5 tornado — the most powerful category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale — with peak winds estimated at over 200 mph. It carved a path approximately 1.3 miles wide and 17 miles long through the south Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, destroying entire neighborhoods, two elementary schools, and a medical center.
The tornado killed 24 people and injured hundreds more, causing billions of dollars in property damage. At the time, it was considered one of the costliest tornadoes in U.S. history. The Oklahoma National Guard mobilized the 63rd Civil Support Team and other units within hours to assist with search and rescue, debris clearing, and security operations.
What role did the Oklahoma National Guard play in the Moore tornado response?
The Oklahoma National Guard was among the first organized responders to reach Moore after the tornado. The 63rd Civil Support Team (CST) deployed immediately to assess hazardous materials threats in the debris field — a critical early step that allowed rescue workers to safely operate in collapsed structures.
Guard members also provided security to protect damaged properties from looting, assisted with debris removal operations, and supported the coordination of the massive multi-agency response that involved FEMA, the Red Cross, and dozens of state and local agencies. Their training in disaster response made them essential partners in both the immediate rescue phase and the longer-term recovery.
How did the community of Moore recover after the tornado?
Moore's recovery from the 2013 tornado was remarkable for both its speed and the community spirit it demonstrated. Thousands of volunteers from across Oklahoma and the nation arrived within days to assist with debris removal and distribution of emergency supplies. Donations of food, clothing, and building materials poured in from across the country.
The city of Moore had previously been struck by major tornadoes in 1999 and 2003, giving its community and local government experience with disaster recovery. Building codes were strengthened after each event, and many rebuilt structures incorporated storm shelters and reinforced construction that was not standard in the previous decades.
What is the significance of the documentary title 'The Day of Days'?
The title 'The Day of Days' references a phrase used by soldiers and emergency responders to describe a day of overwhelming action — a day when training, preparation, and character are tested to their limits in the face of real-world catastrophe. For the Guard members who responded to the Moore tornado, May 20, 2013, was precisely that kind of day.
The phrase also carries historical resonance, having been used to describe D-Day in World War II — the culminating moment of years of preparation and the defining test of a generation of service members. The filmmakers' choice of this title connects the Guard's disaster response mission to a broader tradition of American service in moments of crisis.
How can I learn more about the Oklahoma National Guard's disaster response capabilities?
The Oklahoma National Guard maintains a robust domestic operations capability, including the 63rd Civil Support Team for CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) threats, aviation units equipped for search and rescue, engineer units for debris clearance, and a full-time emergency management staff that coordinates with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
Oklahoma is one of the most tornado-prone states in the nation, and the Guard's disaster response training reflects that reality. Guard members participate regularly in exercises simulating major weather events, infrastructure failures, and mass casualty incidents to ensure they can respond effectively when the real thing occurs.