Joplin Tornado: 75% of the Town ‘Virtually Gone’, Relief Efforts Underway

By Cara Davis | May 23, 2011 at 6:29 am

Joplin Tornado

Hundreds of homes and businesses were hit by Sunday's storm; Photo by Mike Ransdell

The death toll from recent tornado and storms in the U.S. has risen to 500, according to The Weather Channel. In Joplin, Mo., the toll has climbed to 124 with 750 injured, according to Joplin city officials. It was one of several tornadoes that affected the Midwest on Sunday, killing at least one person in Minneapolis. The hardest hit was Joplin. Search and rescue efforts continue as 1,500 people are missing.

“I would say 75 percent of the town is virtually gone,” Kathy Dennis of the American Red Cross told CNN.

St. John’s Regional Medical Center took a direct hit from the tornado, and authorities had to evacuate nearly 100 patients to other hospitals, said Cora Scott, a spokeswoman at the hospital’s sister facility. Debris from the storm has been found up to 60 miles away.

More storms headed into the central U.S. on Tuesday night, killing nine people in Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas. Five of the deaths took place near Oklahoma City, where record 151 mile-per-hour winds were recorded, according to The Daily Beast.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and President Obama spoke with him to extend his condolences and to express that all of the families of Joplin affected by the severe tornadoes are in his thoughts and prayers, according to White House spokesman Nicholas Shapiro.

Pictures & Media

Images from Joplin and the surrounding region:

Videos from news agencies and individuals on the ground:


See the video from the survivors at the Joplin gas station who took the original harrowing video during the storm: Aftermath of First person Joplin Tornado – YouTube

If you have found links to other image galleries, please leave a comment below and we’ll be sure to update the list.

Want to help?

  • Halogen TV supports Convoy of Hope’s efforts. Text CONVOY to 50555 to donate $10 to Convoy of Hope relief efforts for the Joplin tornado already underway.
  • Volunteers not affiliated with official relief entities must register first at the volunteer reception center at the Lyon County Extension Office, 2632 W. U.S. 50, in Emporia.
  • In addition to a Facebook page, Readingkansas.com was set up to provide information about the disaster. It includes a list of people who are known to be safe.
  • Several organizations across the state are accepting donations. The list can be found in this Google Doc.
  • Samaritan’s Purse is also already in Joplin. SP will be based at Forest Park Church, Joplin Campus. Starting Wednesday, volunteers can help with this response (info here). You can also text SP to 80888 to donate $10 to Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief efforts.
  • The Salvation Army has people on the ground in Joplin, North Minneapolis and Kansas and are in need of volunteers and donations. Text “JOPLIN” to 80888 for a $10 gift.
  • Text TORNADO to 20222 to give a $10 donation to World Vision‘s U.S. Disaster Response Fund for tornado survivors.
  • First Response Team of America is headed into Joplin. Each relief effort costs approximately $70,000—and every dollar donated goes toward supplies for relief, getting their team to the affected area or saving the life of someone in need.
joplin

A man carries a young girl who was rescued after being trapped with her mother in their home after a tornado hit Joplin, Mo. on Sunday evening, May 22, 2011. The tornado tore a path a mile wide and four miles long destroying homes and businesses; AP Photo by Mike Gullett

Follow Halogen TV’s @georgekourounis for ongoing extreme weather updates. George is the host of “Angry Planet” (Mondays at 10pm ET) and was chasing the storm in Joplin.

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