Oklahoma City Residents Reference God During Horrifying Tornado Passing

May 23, 2013 11:44 AM EDT

Moore residents, whether young or old, referenced the name of God in their utter disbelief during the moments when the E-5F tornado tore through the buildings and houses and after seeing the destructions left by the twister.

Cellphone video recorded by an Oklahoma teacher at Briarwood Elementary School shows the moments when she and 25 girls and other teachers huddled in a bathroom as the tornado passed through.

In the video a student said, “Oh, my God, I hate this. I hate this.”

Robin Dziedzic, a fifth-grade teacher at the school, can be heard saying to the students, “It’s almost over. It’s almost over. Oh, my God.”

Teachers and students a Briarwood were considered fortunate when compared to Plaza Towers Elementary School, where seven children were killed. According to the medical examiner’s office, the cause of the death for six of the seven children was “asphysia” because they were smothered by falling debris.

Authorities released the names of 23 of the 24 people confirmed dead, ranging in age from 4 months to 65.

Sarah and Shane Patterson had their home in Moore taken away in seconds by the twister with wind speed at more than 200 mph.

The Patterson huddled underneath a mattress in the home with their 9-year-old Lucas and 7-year-old Noah and prayed as the twister traveled through.

“I was praying as hard as I could. And my boys, I sad, ‘Pray, guys. Just pray,” Patterson told ABC News. “I don’t know how we made it.”