"At least a quarter of the city is just gone"

[Stinky The Clown]

I have no doubt there has been a great deal of discussion of the plight of Joplin, MO.

The OP title was the headline on the six o'clock news.

When you repeat it to yourself it starts to sink in.

At least a quarter of the city is just gone.

You can process that intellectually. It borders on the incomprehensible when you try to imagine it.






Tuscaloosa.

New Orleans

So many Southern US cities suffering so badly.






Today, we should all be Jopliners.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. It's all so horrible

Thanks for posting this.

[Drale]

2. This might not be cool but

The Repukes are always trying to change history to make it look like god intervened in American history but if you look around there are plenty of things that can be construed as God getting involved in American history that actually happened. Like the hurricane that hit Washington DC right after the British tried to burn it down during the war of 1812, or hell even all the violent natural disasters that seems to get hitting red states. GOD IS PISSED!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIk3j9vvIAQ

[Taverner]

3. When they say 'quarter of the city' do they mean people or land?

[Hissyspit]

4. Land area - the town itself.

The tornado cut a swath across approiximately 1/4 of the town limits, removing buildings and trees.

[Taverner]

5. Whew! I was worried one quarter of the town population got sucked up

That is still catastrophic...

My wallet's open...

[Hissyspit]

6. 116 confirmed dead.

[Taverner]

7. That's horrible. But I'm glad it wasn't higher

[truedelphi]

12. In a city with over 200,000 people, having one fourth the homes

Destroyed in total or very badly damaged - it just does boggle the mind.

I saw a photo where the tornado had pulverized the pavement of the roads. The damn pavement!

[Taverner]

13. I know...

And this makes me frustrated beyond belief

Because there is NOTHING these people could have done to prevent this

NOTHING

I can see why someone would want to believe in a deity

The universe is a fucking bastard

Let me be its enemy

[kestrel91316]

20. The city itself has a population of 50k. If you including the surrounding

communities/suburbs, satellite towns it's 175k.

[truedelphi]

26. Thanks. A friend had said she googled

And found it to be listed at 200K. Maybe she found the wrong Joplin?

But it is still beyond my belief. I can remember when tornadoes were simply slow moving wind storms some 500 feet in diameter. Bad enough but not devastating to whole cities and towns.

And now they can measure a mile across! And pull up the pavement.

[Art_from_Ark]

28. The city's web site says it has a daytime population of about 270K

which is pretty incredible, as that means that more than 80% of the people who are in the city in the daytime just work or go to school there.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. They didn't say, but I will guess they mean area. The tornado took out +/- 8 sq miles

3/4 mi wide path of over 5 or 6 miles.

The whole town is less than 32 sq miles.

[Taverner]

16. Thank dog for Tornado Cellars

When I was in MO every home I visited, or business for that matter, had a 'storm shelter'

In some cases, this was a 'man cave' underground

In some cases, it was a fully stocked shelter, again, underground

[RayOfHope]

24. Up in the northern half, maybe. In Southern MO, the ground is clay and full of rock

Not too many basements here, but some do have (pricey) storm shelters. This storm was right in the middle of town where there are many apartment buildings as well.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. Joplin's was the single deadliest tornado in the US since 1953

So far this year 481 people have been killed in the US by tornadoes. The season has a long way to go before it's over. It's being speculated we may break the record for deaths caused by tornadoes in one year of 794 people in 1924.

My heart goes out to everyone facing such devastation in their lives.

[Taverner]

17. We need to help them, just like we helped (or tried to) NOLA after Katrina/Rita...

SE Asia after the Tsunami

JAPAN after the Tsunami

[Lone_Star_Dem]

23. I agree 100%

We need to help all these people suffering through such devastation. I've scheduled to donate blood, which they said they needed due to the high amount of wounded people, but I know that's not nearly enough.

[kestrel91316]

21. Deadlier already than the AL/Tuscaloosa tornado??

[Lone_Star_Dem]

22. As a single tornado, yes.

As that, yes, it's more deadly than any single one there. It is devastating, but not more so than the multiple ones which struck in AL in April.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. I feel compelled to add: dozens of tiny towns got disappeared recently

in Miss and Alabama and I think in Tenn and Ga. over the past few weeks of tornadoes.
No issue about what part of them are gone, they are mostly ALL gone, being so small.
And having their important buildings so centrally and closely places together.

[Taverner]

18. Where can we sent $$$ to help?

I know RC isn't always the best choice...

[dixiegrrrrl]

27. If you are asking about Alabama help, this Ala. page has listings.

top right hand corner, there is a box of info, under "Ways you can help"

http://www.al.com/weather/april-27-2011-tornadoes/

[w8liftinglady]

10. I truly feel for them... all of them.

Bear in mind- renters have nothing to fall back on.
Support local organizations that assist with emergency living arrangements.I'll post some when I find them.

[w8liftinglady]

19. some organizations are beginning to gather

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/05/23/organizations-all-around-missouri-provide-relief-joplin-mo/

COLUMBIA — Local groups, including city firefighters, Red Cross volunteers, nurses, doctors and pharmacists, have stepped up to help victims of Sunday's devastating tornado in Joplin.

A team of 85 Missouri Task Force One members, including three Columbia firefighters, was dispatched to Joplin on Sunday night to undertake search-and-rescue efforts. On Monday, they concentrated on looking for survivors in the Home Depot, which was heavily damaged in the storm.

MoreStory

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MU Health Care sent two ambulances to Joplin on Sunday night, said Matt Splett, spokesman for MU Health Care.

He said MU Health Care is ready to dispatch two trailers, specifically designed for disaster response, stocked with enough medical supplies to treat 200 people.

“We’re on standby, ready to help,” Splett said late Monday morning. “If the call is made we will help with the resources we have.”

The Mid-Missouri chapter of the American Red Cross is rounding up volunteers and emergency vehicles to send to Joplin.

“We’ve called our volunteers that match the needs of the relief, and if they have the opportunity to go down there, they can,” said Mike Flanagan, communications director for the American Red Cross Capital Area chapter.

“We currently have 25 volunteers that would be available today who have all been trained,” Flanagan said. “We’re in the process of possibly getting more."

In order for volunteers to help, Flanagan said they must be trained by the Red Cross in their area of expertise. Specialized training includes client casework, damage assessment and shelter management.

The Humane Society of Missouri sent a disaster response team Monday afternoon to help rescue and shelter animals harmed or displaced by the tornado.

Jeane Jae, vice president of communications, said the team included 15 people, as well as a veterinarian.

“We will be combing the area looking for lost and trapped pets,” Jae said. “We are prepared to stay as long as there is need.”

Jae said the Humane Society is working with the Joplin Animal Control and the American Red Cross. Shelters in the area have the capacity to care for several hundred animals, she said.

Sarah Riley, president of the Academy of Student Pharmacists at UMKC School of Pharmacy, is assembling a group of student pharmacists to travel from Columbia to Joplin. They have been asked to help administer vaccines and medication to people in need.

Riley began recruiting classmates after seeing a tweet from the Missouri Pharmacy Association requesting help from pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. So far, the group numbers 10 to 15 students plus faculty members from both the Columbia and Kansas City campuses.

“There is a huge need for insulin, tetanus vaccines and water," Riley said. "Student pharmacists that have taken the immunization course will be able to administer the vaccines.”

[Melinda]

11. We are DUers. We possess a vast wealth of abilities, and we stand ready to help right now.

I much appreciate your thoughtful OP - thanks. :hi:

*Edited to add Missouri's Emergency Managment website and the Donations for Missouri Disaster Relief link.

[fernhill]

14. Reminds me of that Pretenders song

"My City Was Gone." Prayers for them...

[csziggy]

25. The claim that 75% was gone was from a Red Cross person

Who got there the first evening and was interviewed by CNN that night. While they over estimated the extent of the damage, I suspect they were just overwhelmed by what they could see when they first arrived.