Killer Tornado Hits City of Joplin, Missouri

Another deadly tornado — in what is now already considered an extreme and atypical tornado season – slammed into densely populated Joplin, Missouri last night. The massive twister hit neighborhoods and businesses in this city of 50,000 at about 7 p.m. Sunday, leaving at least 116 dead. Officials fear that as rescue workers continue to comb through wreckage this morning, the death toll may rise.

Joplin City Manager, Mark Rohr, told The Associated Press:

The twister cut a path nearly six miles long and more than a half-mile wide through the center of town. Much of the city’s south side was leveled, with businesses, homes and restaurants reduced to ruins.

The tornado severely damaged as many as 2,000 buildings, including the offices, stores and restaurants of a busy commercial district, as well as St. John’s Regional Medical Center — a local major hopital with a full patient roster. Pharmacies, gas stations, high schools, occupied churches and cell phone towers were all flattened by the storm.

Joplin officials set up a temporary triage center near the wreckage of a hospital to treat the injured. Generators were brought in to provide light and lumber from a local home improvement store served as makeshift beds.

From CNN:

Parts of the city were unrecognizable, according to Steve Polley, a storm chaser from Kansas City, Missouri, who described the damage as “complete devastation.”

A separate severe weather system spawned a tornado touchdown in the city of Minneapolis earlier on Sunday, killing one person and injuring 22 as it uprooted trees and damaged several blocks of homes.

Views of Tornado Damage Across Southeast U.S. (Videos)

Facebook Page Returns Lost Treasures To Tornado Victims

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Past Member .

10:14PM PDT on Jun 15, 2011

http://youtu.be/62ZtPqfvpu8.A weapon that can change the weather, shoot satellites out of orbit - and trigger mind control across the globe? Jesse Ventura and his team head north to a remote region of Alaska to confront the military installation called HAARP.

send a green star

Sonny H.

6:39AM PDT on May 31, 2011

It is sad that this tornado has brought so much pain.

Loo S.

12:51AM PDT on May 25, 2011

the fury of mother nature, sad....

Norma V.

8:16PM PDT on May 24, 2011

Sadly, Mother Nature isn't done yet....

Darla G.

7:32PM PDT on May 24, 2011

My heart goes out to the people of Joplin. It seem the weather patterns are changing all over the world and it's scary indeed.

dawn w.

7:16PM PDT on May 24, 2011

So sad. According to the weather report,there's more to come.

Cheryl U.

4:20PM PDT on May 24, 2011

There but for the grace of God go I and my children ....

Marilyn L.

2:47PM PDT on May 24, 2011

Sorry for he folks in Joplin.

Kute K.

12:41PM PDT on May 24, 2011

God help these poor folks....Where are all the stars offering help,and money. No Pitt,no Joline,no Speilberg?....Gee no Oprah.....guess we know why....These 2 bit phoney entertainers onbly offer when they are in the limelight.

Linda T.

11:51AM PDT on May 24, 2011

My heart goes out to the people of Missouri.