Joplin MO disaster

jimmyj · May 23, 2011

I know there were terrible storms in more places that Joplin but when I read the news I found this link. It's and chilling to say the least, particularly for someone like me who really has never been exposed to tornadoes.

There is no foul language and there are no graphic images. It's just an audio recording of people who went through a close call huddled together in a store as the tornado goes by very close. The tornado hits about 2 minutes 20 seconds, before that it's the people preparing.

Thank goodness they were ok but our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who were not.

Joplin, MO Tornado: Horrifying Video From Inside The Twister

MoKelly · May 23, 2011

I live in Missouri, but about 4 hours away from Joplin.

St. Louis has been hit twice over the last 6 months with tornados. More activity than I can remember. Horrible things.

Prayers go out to all impacted.

MoKelly

Digdug5240 · May 24, 2011

I live in the Joplin area. The news videos and photos can't show the utter distruction that has hit Joplin.

Is there anyone else living in the Joplin area?

polo1665 · May 24, 2011

Digdug5240 said:
I live in the Joplin area. The news videos and photos can't show the utter distruction that has hit Joplin.

Is there anyone else living in the Joplin area?

I'm not from Joplin, but sympathize with you. The destruction caused by such a tornado is almost surreal. My prayers and best wishes are with you and others from the area. Truly a terrible thing.

RoyJackson · May 24, 2011

The recent tornadoes (and warnings, in my area) have prompted me to buy a weather radio with a warning siren.

We already have a plan as to what we will do...but my biggest concern is if a tornado struck at night. Would we wake up in time? (rhetorical question).
Well, the radio I bought, a MIDLAND WR300 Weather Radio, has an audible warning...

MoKelly · May 24, 2011

The Wall Street Journal today says this Spring has seen the 3 deadliest tornadoes on record. What is going on?

MoKelly

RoyJackson · May 24, 2011

MoKelly said:
The Wall Street Journal today says this Spring has seen the 3 deadliest tornadoes on record. What is going on?

MoKelly

I don't think they researched very well. There were deadlier tornadoes in the 1920's and 1930's.

jimmyj · May 24, 2011

RoyJackson said:
I don't think they researched very well. There were deadlier tornadoes in the 1920's and 1930's.

I read it was the worst since the 50's.

RickS · May 24, 2011

Digdug5240 said:
I live in the Joplin area. The news videos and photos can't show the utter distruction that has hit Joplin.

Is there anyone else living in the Joplin area?

We are living just west of Reeds Spring, but will be moving to Texas this Saturday. We got the leftover storms Sunday evening. By the time they got here it was just rain and lightning. No wind to speak of.

dave1949 · May 24, 2011

RoyJackson said:
I don't think they researched very well. There were deadlier tornadoes in the 1920's and 1930's.

I saw a mention of the 'Tri-State' tornado back then too. They aren't sure just how many tornadoes there were, but more people died.

What's going on has partly to do with how many more people and locations are available to be struck now vs back when.
Dave.

polo1665 · May 24, 2011

Here's a link to a story with some historical data.

Mo. tornado single deadliest in US since 1950 - Yahoo! News

om21braz · May 24, 2011

We'll be praying for those involved in this terrible disaster. Got some pics from a customer of ours in Joplin - just total destruction.

94yj · May 24, 2011

my prayers go out to them

blueriver · May 24, 2011

dave1949 said:
I saw a mention of the 'Tri-State' tornado back then too. They aren't sure just how many tornadoes there were, but more people died.

What's going on has partly to do with how many more people and locations are available to be struck now vs back when.
Dave.

As well with todays high tech we are better informed than our grandparents where ... Grandad used to say "looks like a storm comin" ... today turn on the TV and see them coming.

k0ua · May 24, 2011

RickS said:
We are living just west of Reeds Spring, but will be moving to Texas this Saturday. We got the leftover storms Sunday evening. By the time they got here it was just rain and lightning. No wind to speak of.

Same here in Branson, We kept a sharp eye out tho. tonite 5/24/11 Oklahoma is getting hit pretty hard, at OK City area, one tornado on the ground for over 50 miles. Heading to Tulsa area as I write this, Will be up our way in a few hours. The opened all the spillways on the lake a couple of days ago. All the people on Taneycomo lake front, and Hollister areas are flooded out again. I am in no danger from flooding, but of course a tornado could wipe us out pretty easy.

James K0UA

JB4310 · May 24, 2011

Oh man! I didn't see any news today but what I saw yesterday I could not believe. Destroyed hospital and school and what you would think were storm proof structures.

They showed one street where every house was gone but no one was killed?
All buried under rubble but survived.

Only 5 minutes notice is what I heard.

JB

k0ua · May 24, 2011

JB4310 said:
Oh man! I didn't see any news today but what I saw yesterday I could not believe. Destroyed hospital and school and what you would think were storm proof structures.

They showed one street where every house was gone but no one was killed?
All buried under rubble but survived.

Only 5 minutes notice is what I heard.

JB

Nope 20 minutes. sirens went off 20 minutes before it hit.

JB4310 · May 24, 2011

k0ua said:
Nope 20 minutes. sirens went off 20 minutes before it hit.

OK thanks, but where do you go? I'm sure you never think it's gonna hit you even with the sirens going. Til you see it coming down the street. do those homes have basements?

I didn't hear but was this a max strength category storm? answer is probably of course based on the massive destruction I see.

JB.

k0ua · May 24, 2011

JB4310 said:
OK thanks, but where do you go? I'm sure you never think it's gonna hit you even with the sirens going. Til you see it coming down the street. do those homes have basements?

I didn't hear but was this a max strength category storm? answer is probably of course based on the massive destruction I see.

JB.

In the beginning they called it an EF4, but tonite they are calling it an EF5 The fatality tally just keeps rising, and I heard one report of 1500 missing, I dont know if that is true or not. I heard one police officer monday was struck by lightning while searching for survivors. As for where to go, I would go to my basement. Yes a lot of homes in the areas have basements, but surely not all. And of course that is no guarntee of survival anyway, might all just fall in on you. Just sitting here looking at all the destruction in Oklahoma tonite, and hoping it will die off before it gets here.

James K0UA

dave1949 · May 24, 2011

JB4310 said:
OK thanks, but where do you go? I'm sure you never think it's gonna hit you even with the sirens going. Til you see it coming down the street. do those homes have basements?

JB.

That's a good observation, nobody wants to believe they are vulnerable to that extent until it's too late.

From various threads about building, it seems basements aren't very common in that area. So, right, where do you go to be safe when your entire house is wiped out?

The logical answer is build homes with concrete safe rooms in them capable of standing up to a tornado IMHO. Such a room has multiple uses besides tornadoes. Or, build storm cellars like in the old days.
Dave.