Joplin Mo. Tornado 2011

sanddunerider · May 23, 2011, 06:49:45 AM

I was not going to start this thread, But this will be a major topic for several days, and we will be talking about it probably for months.

Our hearts and prayers go out to evryone affected by this terrible storm.

Here is a video of people in a kwik shop as tornadoe hit.. adults listen to this before your kids do,, very graphic and explicit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQnvxJZucds

DianaGail · May 23, 2011, 07:08:46 AM

I don't even know what to say here. I live in Carthage, 10 miles away from St. John's hospital that was destroyed in the tornado. The pictures make me physically sick. I'm sitting here crying while watching this on the national news. We had hoped to wake up this morning finding it was a bad dream. It's not.

25 to 30% of the town has at least moderate damage. There are very few medical offices left. The saving grace is that those business were NOT open since it was Sunday. It destroyed a Walmart, Academy Sports, 2 Walgreens, a Pizza Hut, and many, many, many more businesses aren't even there anymore. The Rescue workers can only identify where they are buy GPS because there are no street signs left. They are asking people to mark their houses someway so that they can identify where they are.

We are fine. We have many friends and family that no longer have homes left. We are scared because they say this could happen the next 3 days. A severe storm is headed this way...again and it is only 7:05 am. As soon as it moves through, I am on my way to the volunteer command center to volunteer any way I can. As soon as we can get there, we will be helping our family sort through their debris.

Please be praying for these people. If I'm scared, I can't imagine what they are feeling right now. As I get more official news, I will try to update you all.

tinmann620 · May 23, 2011, 08:20:17 AM

I have many friends in Joplin, have only heard from one, "...it's bad, really bad..." is all he could say. Another posted pics via phone, however, there are many that live in the devastated area I've not heard from. 2 employees of a close friend were killed at the Pizza Hut...sadness...my heart goes out to the 1000's of lives that have been affected...

Junior · May 23, 2011, 08:23:33 AM

My wife and I visit Joplin a few times a year for shopping and restaurants and visits to flea markets. What we saw was terrible. God be with all who suffered there.

Andymeets1880s · May 23, 2011, 10:27:02 AM

I am so sad and taken by what I saw. I dont know if any of you saw the footage of the man pulling the little dog out of some rubble and the dog kinda took a second and then shook the wet and dirt off of him....it was so sad. He looked to be ok though, but he had his tail between his legs. I had intense moments yesterday aas I watched the Joplin coverage on the Weather Channel. I was watching those intense storms head for you, Junior there in Benton County. I called my mother and g'ma in Siloam Springs and they were headed for the doublewide bedroom closet. Luckily, nothing happened at Siloam, but mother later tolod me that a tornado had touched down west of them.
AND....earlier in the day...my father in law was fishing in Higginsville, MO (about 45 miles east of Kansas City) and he had to leave and find shelter as tornadic activity swept through where he was!

By the way...I have a cousin who lives fives miles from the hospital in Joplin. She was here in KC yesterday and her apartment complex is still standing firm.

I do believe I have had enough of this crap!

My heart goes out to Joplin and I pray their healing is swift.

Junior · May 23, 2011, 10:30:50 AM

Thanks, Andy!

okiebluegrass · May 23, 2011, 10:39:49 AM

I have family in Jasper county. Most of y'all know that most of my family is from Piitsburg, KS. I wish there was something we could do to help. I am researching that as we speak

sanddunerider · May 23, 2011, 11:34:53 AM

the best coverage on this terrible situation seems to be on the weather channel.

Andymeets1880s · May 23, 2011, 12:22:19 PM

I have just posted several ways to help with the relief efforts in Joplin on the Quantrill project's site, "Josephine." Please go to:

http://josieqscr.blogspot.com

You'll see help links and numbers on the newest post.

Thanks!
Andy

History Buff · May 23, 2011, 12:26:08 PM

We are OK.

We were a few blocks away when the tornado carved through. I have never been close enough to hear the roar, but it was clearly grinding everything in its path. Then, last night, we couldn't make it across the trail to get home. We stopped at the church building on the way (badly damaged and unusable), and I directed traffic as much as I could until dark. People were walking down the street after getting out of their apartments and houses, with dogs on leashes, luggage, and blankets. Trucks rushed through the area with blanket-wrapped people in the backs. One hospital is seriously out of commission. Schools are destroyed (The one where at which I teach was damaged.).

We are currently trying to contact all of our church members. One family is still missing, and several have lost their houses. Many are displaced. Most have no electricity. The water department suffered damage and the city is under a boil alert, but with no electricity, that is difficult.

School is out, I assume, for the year. There were a number of fatalities, and no way of knowing if I lost students or their family members.

Coaster · May 23, 2011, 12:31:52 PM

So glad to hear you all are okay HB! I can't imagine the feelings going through you, as well as everyone else in Joplin.

I'm praying for you, as well as everyone else in Joplin.

History Buff · May 23, 2011, 12:39:23 PM

Thank you, Coaster.

When we approached the church building, last night, we thought we had only lost the signs. It turned out to be much worse that we thought.

I was able to find two letters from the sign - the letters U and S. We may have lost a building, but we still have US!

History Buff · May 23, 2011, 01:09:23 PM

It saddens my heart to report that we have lost members of our church family, but we can rejoice that these were good, hard-working Christians. Indeed, we anticipate seeing them in Paradise.

Andymeets1880s · May 23, 2011, 01:19:20 PM

HB, you have my sincerest and deepest condolances. I am so sorry to hear of your news and you have my prayers as well. Good job helping with the traffic! May your friends and community bond for fast healing!

sanddunerider · May 23, 2011, 01:27:30 PM

HB< didnt realize you were from joplin, sorry for you and your family losses, the loss of friends is always hard to accept and justify.

You have my deepest condolences.