Search

[Andymeets1880s]

I guess you could call this breaking news for myself... I just found out that a distant relative (who has been tireless in her efforts to help with my project in Arkansas) actually had an uncle in the St. John's Hospital in Joplin. Her aunt was staying with him. He is in the hospital for a severely broken leg and is 86 years old.

She has heard nothing from nobody.

Andy

[History Buff]

One of our former elders was also in St. John's and has been accounted for.  They transferred him to Tulsa.  I know some patients were sent to Springfield and Miami and other local smaller facilities.

[Junior]

HB, my best to you and your family, school folk, and church folk. I know it will take months to recover, I pray no one was lost in the storm.

[Ozark Outlaw]

It's nice that we can all come together as an online family, and provide support for one another, and especially for those whose lives have been impacted by these storms. Like most of us, I have been dealing with tornados for all of my life, and the damage they can do has certainly demanded my respect.

I know the broken pieces have yet to be sorted through, and the road to recovery seems so far away, but hopefully there will be many bright spots that shine through this terrible storm.

[History Buff]

Communities and people have risen from worse.  I know this place will look quite different in a year.  Some will rebuild; others will not.  Insurance helps.  We will bury our loved ones and keep their memories.  We must make it through.

[thelarsonsix]

HB, glad to hear you're ok. We will be keeping everyone in the area in our prayers.

[History Buff]

Yesterday's sermon title was "Be Ready!"  We do well to keep this in mind.

[Zephon]

HB,
I was watching, mostly on the Weather channel, horrified, as all of that took place yesterday evening.  Glad that you and your family are safe.  I have other friends in Joplin who suffered damage to their homes but are safe physically, thank God.  At SDC, we had started the Echo show at 6pm but called a halt to it about 40 minutes into it because of the approaching severe weather.  We had heard of the tornado in Joplin, but had no idea of it's severity.  The weather hit us about 30 minutes later, a small tornado reported about 8 miles north of Branson, but no damage.

Praying that everyone in Joplin gets back on their feet as soon as possible, better than ever.

[History Buff]

Thank you to all who are think of us.

[eagle1]

We have two sister properties in Joplin, got information finally this afternoon. They have some damage. We have not heard from or able to contact at this point 5 employees...we are worried. Some of the employee family members have been killed or lost their homes, just tragic. I pray for all of you and my fellow corporate family.

[sanddunerider]

in the midst of the damage, I had a positive thought as i looked at pictures of al the damaged buildings:

I think that maybe "thank god" it was a sunday...  pepsi plant probably was empty, no kids in school, I would imagine walmart would have been busier about any other time. early enough in the day not everybody was out eating...home depot was close to closing time.  I think maybe it could have been way worse.

Again HB! I'm sorry this is so close to you.   be strong.

[DianaGail]

Many people are saying that sanddunerider.  I have thought that many times.  It destroyed at least 10 dentist offices that would have been full on weekdays.  That's not to mention the dialysis buildings, plastic surgeons, pediatricians, OBGYN, and Cancer center offices.  All would have been full on weekdays.  There were actually quite a few people out eating (not normally like that on a Sunday at 5:30 pm) since Joplin had their graduation that day.  Thank goodness that was held at the university. 

[sanddunerider]

oh my! being unfamilar with the joplin area, I did not realize all the professional offices that had been lost too..

So yes, Diana.  Thank God, it happened on sunday,, 

terrible thing, just terrible.

[bobber620]

My prayers are with all of you that have lost friends or loved ones in this disaster. I actually live in Cherokee County Kansas , just to the west of the Joplin area about 20 to 30 min away in Columbus. As some of you know I am an EMT for the ambulance service there. We, upon hearing of the damage quickly mobilized our resources and dispatched two of our ambulances and a diaster trailer to the Joplin Area. I ,being on the primary ambulance ,was kept in our response area to cover our routine calls, so I cannot speak first hand of the destruction, but my wife who is an LPN at our city hospital along with several off duty staff were able to assist at a field hospital that was set up at the Memorial Hall, a building usually reserved for concerts seminars ect.. She told me that words could not discribe what she saw while there, in the way of injuries and destruction. A sentiment that was also relayed by my co-workers that returned this morning after being released to get some rest after transporting patients out of Joplin to hospitals as far away as Wichita and Kansas City. The storm also took a personal toll today as my wife found out that one of those killed in the Pizza Hut was her cousin. She is taking the news ok but some of the other family is not, as is to be expected. She was 16 years old.  I cannot express enough the pride that I have in my fellow man as they have banded together and are doing what they can to help out. Special thanks to all of the Emergency agencies that have responded, some from as far away as Branson, Springfield, Wichita, Kansas City and all areas in between. Please continue to send your prayers and thoughts this way as the road to recovery is going to be long and hard and is just begining. Thank you ,Robert

[sanddunerider]

Bobber, we are all sorry for your and your families loss..  hopefully no more bad news for your family.