MO - Tornado Slams Joplin

[tlcya]

this system expected to stay embedded in same area for several days. Prayers that more weather does not impede or hamper SAR and cleanup efforts.

 

[tlcya]

When I went to bed last night 100s were reported trapped in a walmart and lowes. Does anyone know if rescue personnel were able to extricate them??

 

[Melanie]

Oh bless, I just saw this on CNN and am just shocked! What is going on? Is this normal weather behaviour? I know here in sunny San Diego we have had some really weird weather - heavy winds and rain (late May - so unheard of).

My prayers go out to all who have suffered.

Melanie

 

[tlcya]

good morning folks. watching the GMA coverage. Still seeing some fires burning, assuming gas leaks are responsible. Prayers for all involved, victim and rescue personnel.

 

[tlcya]

Was advance warning in the form of weather watches and warnings but stormchasers couldn't hear the warning sirens. Told LE to get them going. within seconds the tornado hit. Sounds as if the sirens were not activiated soon enough. Part of the problem was that the funnel was rain wrapped and not as visible to spotters.

 

[tlcya]

just checked out the radar. Looks to be a pretty powerful storm cell heading towards Joplin right now.

Thankfully appears to be moving pretty slowly so I am sure rescue personnel have ample warning to prepare and get to ground.

 

[krimekat]

CNN reporting 75% of the town is gone http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/22/severe.weather/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

This is so so bad.

Yeah, I don't know about 75% of the town being gone . . . check out local news coverage (http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x433426155/Widespread-damage-reported-after-tornado)

"The damage zone stretched from about 26th Street and Schifferdecker Avenue to 20th Street and Prosperity Road. The tornado was a half-mile wide when it hit Joplin. It grew to a width of three-quarters of a mile wide before dissipating to a width of a half-mile."

This area is the commercial mecca of Joplin, though.

 

[wfgodot]

The direct hit St. John's Regional Medical Center took - everyone in this area, within a radius of sixty miles of Joplin, either knows someone who has been a patient there, or has been a patient there themselves; seeing that structure grievously damaged epitomizes the destructive power of the tornado, which killed indiscriminately but took its best shot at a place of healing.

 

[Sleuthster]

Yeah, I don't know about 75% of the town being gone . . . check out local news coverage (http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x433426155/Widespread-damage-reported-after-tornado)

"The damage zone stretched from about 26th Street and Schifferdecker Avenue to 20th Street and Prosperity Road. The tornado was a half-mile wide when it hit Joplin. It grew to a width of three-quarters of a mile wide before dissipating to a width of a half-mile."

This area is the commercial mecca of Joplin, though.

That is a estimate from the spokesperson for the American Red Cross
http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=459817

Seeing pictures last night and today, I can safely say that it caused massive destruction and many deaths unfortunately. Numbers really dont matter, what does is that this is devistation.

 

[raeann]

City officials on network news this morning are stating 25 to 30% of the city is damaged and that sirens sounded for about 20 minutes prior to the storm.

 

[Melanie]

Article linked on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/23/missouri.tornado/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

89 dead after tornado in Joplin, Missouri; number expected to rise



Mel

 

[wfgodot]

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x433426155/Widespread-damage-reported-after-tornado

Teams with body bags were being dispatched to Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Sonic and other businesses between 15th and 20th streets along Range Line Road, one of the hardest hit areas in the city.

 

[krimekat]

The direct hit St. John's Regional Medical Center took - everyone in this area, within a radius of sixty miles of Joplin, either knows someone who has been a patient there, or has been a patient there themselves; seeing that structure grievously damaged epitomizes the destructive power of the tornado, which killed indiscriminately but took its best shot at a place of healing.

hope this works . . . I've worked at this facility before -- very very sad. Praying for everyone this affects!

 

[snowshuze]

For those wishing to donate $10 to Red Cross:

http://www.helpjoplin.com/


In all my years living here, I have NEVER seen such a huge blob of red on my weather radar. I am an hour and a half away from Joplin, and we were very lucky not to have any damage. Locally there were 4 funnel clouds spotted.

 

[momtective]

Does anyone recall a WS member who has Joplin, Mo. listed as their location? I looked and looked last night and into the early morning and can't find who it is, but I do remember seeing it.

 

[wfgodot]

hope this works . . .

I winced when I saw the helicopter. I've heard that one overhead dozens and dozens of times as it flew in to the small OK town I'm in, picked up a critical care patient, and whisked them back to St. John's.

Miami hospital flooded with Joplin tornado victims

The flow of patients is now just the opposite after last night's disaster.

 

[SuziQ]

Terrifying video posted on another thread by DR. Fessel.

http://youtu.be/cQnvxJZucds

The below link from CNN interview with the man who made the videotape. He said all that was left standing was the freezer they were in and even at that there were holes ripped into the freezer.

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2011/05/23/exp.am.joplin.convenience.tornado.cnn

 

[cats5vegas]

I saw this here on WS before I saw it on Weather Channel or any of the major news channels. My dad was born in Joplin and grew up just the other side of the state line in Pittsburg, KS. I also have friends in Neosho, just outside of Joplin (she's already posted on FB that they are OK but don't know about her husband's office). The pictures of the hospital are just surreal. And now they have more bad weather coming. I'm sending prayers out to everyone.

 

[wfgodot]

Joplin's getting very heavy rains right now. Here, twenty miles west-southwest, it's hailing.

 

[momtective]

Joplin's getting very heavy rains right now. Here, twenty miles west-southwest, it's hailing.

You stay safe wfgodot! I'm listening to the scanner right now and my heart goes out to the rescue personnel. It's not like their job isn't difficult enough already!