Moore Officials had played down the likelihood that the city could soon again be hit like it was in 1999: "If we are struck again, it will very likely be by a much less intense storm, " the city's website stated.

WSJ: D��j�� Vu as City Hit by Twister Digs Out

While covering the landfall impact in the Philippines, he was one of the first international broadcasters to report that the storm's intense winds made it the strongest typhoon to make landfall on any landmass in recorded history.

CNN: CNN Profiles - Tom Sater - Meteorologist and Weather Anchor, CNN International

"The brunt of the storm itself was intense but short -- there was very strong rain and wind for about 15 minutes, at which point the rain cleared and the lightning show began, " said Matthew Burke, a CNN iReporter who photographed lightning sprawling across the New York City skyline.

CNN: N.Y. state official among 3 killed during powerful storms