23rd May 2011
A massive storm system dropped a tornado into the heart of Joplin on Sunday evening, carving a wide path of destruction. Officials confirmed 89 dead from the storm this morning, with fears the number may continue to rise.
St. John's Regional Medical Center suffered a "direct hit" and crews worked in the aftermath to transfer at least 100 patients to area hospitals.
Following the deadly storms, Gov. Jay Nixon activated the National Guard, dispatched Missouri's Disaster Medical Assistance Team and declared a state of emergency. State and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating search and rescue and recovery operations in the stricken areas.
Ryan Nicholls with the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management -- which is assisting with the recovery -- confirmed at least 24 fatalities in the Joplin area Sunday night, but the extent of the damage and the number of injuries was unknown late Sunday.
There were reports that debris fell over Greene County. It ranged from hospital records to insulation.
Jonathan Miller, a freelance photographer for the News-Leader, saw heavy damage.
"The Home Depot is leveled," he said. "The Wal-Mart is destroyed. Gas stations, buildings. Everywhere I could see was either heavily damaged or completely destroyed."
The roofs of two city fire stations collapsed.
Miller said he "saw firefighters and paramedics pull a young girl out of a car at the Home Depot," he said. "Part of the building had fallen on the car."
Miller said people were taking clothing and water from Wal-Mart and giving them to storm victims. "I saw plenty of injured people," he said. "I saw at least one dead. He was covered by a blanket."
Emergency shelters were quickly established. Displaced families were shuttled to Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.
Tornado victims with minor injuries were sent to Memorial Hall, and those with major injuries were transported to Freeman Hospital.
Jerry Williams, assistant vice president at Missouri Southern State University, heard the tornado coming. "I took my wife into a closet under the stairs," he said. "It sounded like a huge wind."
The tornado blew away the gazebo on his house and a shed and damaged windows. "It's been quite horrific," he said. "There are just areas that are flattened. Places are gone. It's like somebody dropped a bomb or something."
Williams said tornado struck so close.
"It's just a very damaged place," he said. "It looks like the places you see on the news that you never want to see in your own city."
Joplin resident Donald Davis said he saw a damaged high school, churches and apartment complex. The high school had its windows broken out and part of the roof was missing. "Right across the street is a church," said Davis, a nurse at the Freeman Cancer Center. "It's demolished."
Davis said a Dillon's grocery store also appeared demolished and the Hampshire Terrace Apartments.
"They're flattened," Davis said. "You just can't believe it. There must have been 150 units. One lady had a bathrobe around her. Others just had blankets around them."
Greg Holt, 53, of Joplin said he "could see the top of my neighbor's tree lift up and take off. I ran in the house. I grabbed pillows off the bed and laid down on the floor and prayed. I lay there until the noise went away."
Holt said he could smell gas leaks everywhere. His son-in-law, Jeff Law, 23, was at a friend's house.
"I've lived in this neighborhood my entire life, and I didn't know where I was," Law said. "Everything was unrecognizable. Completely unrecognizable. It's like Armageddon."
Holt said he saw a man lying by the side of the road "all twisted up. He was just covered in blood."
Mike Stair, city editor of the Joplin Globe, said the damage was massive and the Joplin Globe has not been able to reach some of its employees.
Mark Schiefelbein, a freelance photographer, said the tornado hit a residential area north of the hospital. Houses were completely destroyed with no walls standing.
He said a woman was looking for her daughter, Jamie Haiar, who is nine months pregnant. The mother said she has not been able to get in touch with her daughter, whose truck was home.
Firefighters from Baker Township, Kan., were helping her dig through the rubble. A search dog from the Barton County Sheriff's Department was going from car to car in the hospital parking lot nearby.
Debris and downed power lines blocked streets in the vicinity, making it difficult for emergency vehicles to get through.
A destroyed medical helicopter, which had no window and no blades, was next to the parking lot.
Power outage was widespread, as street lights were out for miles, Schiefelbein said.
National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Griffin said the tornado touched down near Rangeline Road and Interstate 44 -- near mile markers 10 and 11.
"It went right through the center of town," he said.
Toni Logan, a dispatcher for Triple A Taxi in Joplin, said two drivers volunteered for search and rescue duty. "Most of the city is shut down," Logan said. "The streets are closed."
Debris and downed power lines blocked streets in the vicinity, making it difficult for emergency vehicles to get through.
A destroyed medical helicopter, which had no window and no blades, was next to the parking lot.
Power outage was widespread, as street lights were out for miles, Schiefelbein said.
National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Griffin said the tornado touched down near Rangeline Road and Interstate 44 -- near mile markers 10 and 11.
"It went right through the center of town," he said.
Toni Logan, a dispatcher for Triple A Taxi in Joplin, said two drivers volunteered for search and rescue duty. "Most of the city is shut down," Logan said. "The streets are closed."
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