#JOPLIN TORNADO COST WINDOWS#

John’s Regional Medical Center: Mercy’s medical site in Joplin suffered extensive damage, ranging from busted windows and interior walls to piles of debris in the parking lot. The twister not only destroyed thousands of homes, but several community landmarks and notable buildings that offered essential services. The Joplin Globe reports some were found nearby their homes, while others were found by businesses such as Home Depot.

One day after the tornado hit, authorities rescued 17 people trapped under debris. Then-standing President Barack Obama traveled to Joplin later in May to visit some of the hardest-hit areas and meet with several survivors.Īs more help arrived, efforts turned to cleaning up Joplin and searching for survivors. More than 13 federal agencies and 820 FEMA employees helped with the Joplin response and recovery efforts at peak staffing.

More than 400 public safety agencies from at least five states made their way to provide mutual aid, according to FEMA. Within 24 hours of the tornado, more than 800 police cars, 300 ambulances, 400 fire trucks, and 1,100 emergency responders arrived to assist with the tornado response. Jay Nixon also took swift action, activating the Missouri National Guard for debris removal and signing several executive orders to support Joplin’s recovery efforts. On May 23, 2011, one day after the storm, FEMA issued an amendment to offer critical emergency needs for Jasper and Newton counties, including emergency protective measures funding. “All night, we heard loud sirens, search dogs barking and people screaming while they combed through the rubble in hopes of finding their loved ones. “It was so dark when night fell,” said KY3 On Your Side reporter Ashley Reynolds, who had the initial on-air report for KY3 on May 22, 2011. “When you talked to survivors, you could feel the heartbreak they shouldered for those hurt and those who didn’t survive.” Adler says the devastation reminded him of what he witnessed in 2005 when covering Hurricane Katrina for his previous station. The first time in Joplin, I couldn’t believe it,” said KY3 News Anchor Paul Adler. “I’ve seen damage from many tornadoes throughout the Midwest. “It was extraordinarily difficult to find all the right words.” “I still cannot wrap my mind around the absolute devastation,” said KY3 News Anchor Steve Grant. I was glad to see that thing weaken, and the tornado it was producing was sporadic but no larger than EF2.”Īs survivors slowly returned from their shelter, they came back to see their community devastated by miles upon miles of tornado damage. “By the time I reached the office, the storm had turned right and was headed for Galena. “On the current track, that tornado was headed straight for Springfield,” said Hearst. NWS reports the tornado dissipated around 6:12 p.m. Generations braved the monster storm for more than half an hour before it weakened. It intensified to catastrophic levels when it officially reached Joplin city limits at 5:41 p.m. The twister formed near the junction of State Highway JJ and West 32nd Street.

NWS reports the tornado initially hit at 5:34 p.m. This provided most residents with at least 17 minutes of lead time in advance of the tornado, according to an NWS Story Map. After communicating with emergency officials, the NWS Forecast Office in Springfield issued a tornado warning for Joplin and neighboring communities at 5:17 p.m. “Two thunderstorms eventually merged just west of Joplin and began producing the mega tornado.”įast-forward several hours, storm chasers and spotters reported multiple vortices just west of Joplin city limits. “At one point there were five or six storms all capable of producing, or ones that produced a tornado over in southeast Kansas,” recalls KY3 Chief Meteorologist Ron Hearst. Meteorologists tracked a supercell thunderstorm forming between southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri, though it wasn’t exactly clear what the storm system would bring into the early evening. CT, indicating conditions were favorable for tornadoes in Missouri and three neighboring states.Ĭold fronts clashed with warm fronts throughout the afternoon. Two days later, NWS issued a tornado watch around 1:30 p.m. The National Weather Service projected the potential for a severe weather system two days in advance, issuing an alert for a hazardous weather outlook on May 20, 2011.

Fewer than one percent of all tornadoes reach EF5 status, while even fewer of those strike populated areas, like Joplin, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 2011 twister not only embodied characteristics of the “Tornado Alley” region but carried them out to an extent rarely seen in the Midwest.

Joplin tornado cost