Tornado Alley Books

Tornado Alley Books opened in 2015 in a city that knows more about resilience than almost anywhere in America. Moore, Oklahoma, has been struck by multiple catastrophic tornadoes, including the devastating EF5 storms of 1999 and 2013, and the bookstore was founded by a teacher whose school was destroyed in the 2013 tornado. The weather science section is born from lived experience, with meteorology texts, storm-chasing accounts, and climate science books displayed alongside photographs and stories from Moore's own tornado history. The memoir and inspirational sections are curated with an understanding of what it means to rebuild, both physically and emotionally, and the store has become a quiet gathering place for community members processing their experiences through reading and conversation. The children's section includes books that help young readers understand severe weather and cope with natural disasters. Despite its serious subject matter, the store is warm and welcoming, filled with the defiant optimism that characterizes Moore itself.