My God! Today is the 56th anniversary of the Ruskin Heights Tornado.

[El Supremo]

44 deaths in the Kansas City suburb. I was on the edge of it. The housing tract of Ruskin Heights, Missouri was totally destroyed. I saw only the remains of concrete slabs and bathroom fixtures. It has affected me ever since.

Edited to add this:

[malaise]

1. The death toll here will be double or triple that one

I'm terrified of tornadoes

[Logical]

26. Looks like it might not! Which is great! n-t

[xmas74]

2. I worked with someone who lived through that.

They said they never saw anything like it-until Joplin.

[El Supremo]

3. I never saw it.

I was in the basement under the pool table puking my guts out from fear.

[xmas74]

14. That was the smart place to be.

I've heard stories-it was incredible.

[loyalsister]

5. Speaking of..

Weds. is the 2 yr. anniversary of Joplin

[xmas74]

11. Doesn't seem like it, does it?

I remember Joplin far too clearly and suspect I always will.

I was there just a couple of weeks later. I never saw anything like it. It was like every picture of a bombed out warzone that they show on the news.

[loyalsister]

16. Exactly

One of the scariest things for people was being disoriented. The street signs were gone along with the building landmarks.

[xmas74]

20. Our church went down to work.

A few members were originally from the area. You could tell just being there, in a place where they no longer lived, was almost overwhelming.

[loyalsister]

22. Absolutely

I have friends who live there, and one has severe PTSD from it. A day like this is almost unbearable.

[loyalsister]

23. I never dropped off of the "restore Joplin" email list

I just got some from them and they have instantly started sending out emails for OK help. Impressive!!

[xmas74]

24. I'll check later today.

I'm still on the list too.

[Logical]

4. It was a common story around this area growing up. Everyone here knows that story. n-t

[chieftain]

6. I was a couple of blocks from the path.

I think of it every May 20. What street did you live on? We were on Oakland.

[El Supremo]

8. I ws much farther away in Johnson County, Kansas.

We only lost a shutter and a few shingles. A house five doors up lost its flat roof. And my friend to the south had his picture window blown out and their TV sucked out. My mother was freaking out and scared the hell out of me.

[REP]

7. My mom lived through that; a family friend made his career broadcasting it

He was nearly my uncle, but my aunt broke the engagement, but he was still practically part of the family.

[Logical]

9. Walt? n-t

[REP]

10. Yup

Used to make me modeling clay cats when I was a tiny sprog.

[Logical]

12. Wow, neat deal. He was a neat guy. Fond memories of him. Lived to a ripe old age also! RIP Walt! n-t

[REP]

17. Here he is at Ruskin Heights

When my aunt died, I called from California to let him know. I called the studio, and was given a 'call back later' (I was just trying to leave a message) until I gave my name. Very rarely does my name get someone off the air.

[Logical]

18. Wow, great photo! Much harder back in those days. n-t

[xmas74]

13. Local legend.

He's missed. I swear, he was around for everything that was anything in KC.

[REP]

19. I got some funny Walt stories ...

... but remember, I've known him since I was born, and they might not seem that funny to those who know him as a legend

But remember Funky Walt Bodine-a, the parody done to Funky Cold Medina?


Crap, I'm old!

[xmas74]

21. I do remember that!

I remember lots of drinking games involved with that.

I can't imagine everything he witnessed.

[AverageJoe90]

15. So sorry about that, man.

[justiceischeap]

25. When I was younger, I lived in Ruskin Heights in the 70's

and not long after we moved out, another tornado came through and destroyed the house we'd been living in.

Growing up in Missouri gave me a "healthy" fear of tornados and flash floods. I remember hearing about people getting caught in the viaduct in flash floods and drowning. For the longest time, I wouldn't own a car with electric windows.