Jump to content

Menu

Joplin, MO Tornado


Recommended Posts

Please, if anyone lives in and around Joplin, check in and let us know you are safe. I just drove through there on my way across the Midwest and my mom called me a couple hours later to tell me about the devastation.

 

Barb

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My three older siblings live there and I heard that there's a ton of destruction. Very sad. I'm thankful that my family is okay.

 

I know, I can't believe it. I'm so happy to hear your family is safe.

 

ETA we were driving through Joplin about 2 hours before it hit. I feel like I've dodged a bullet as well.

Edited by Barb F. PA in AZ
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

It's bad.

.

 

 

How far away are you? I'm spending the night in a Hampton Inn in St. Louis. The worst is over now, but I'm still having trouble sleeping. Too keyed up. I guess I'd better get out early and make it to Chicago tomorrow before they have a chance to blow up again.

 

Barb

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know, I can't believe it. I'm so happy to hear your family is safe.

 

ETA we were driving through Joplin about 2 hours before it hit. I feel like I've dodged a bullet as well.

 

My 2 youngest sons had just gone past there about 2 hours before it hit as well. They and their troop were in the old Blue Bird Boy Scout bus on their way home from a fishing trip.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Minneapolis got hit by one as well.

 

:grouphug::grouphug:

Yeah. Scary up here too.

 

My dance studio has tons of damage surrounding it from straight line winds.

 

1 person in MN confirmed dead. :( 29 injured.

 

The area hit bad in Minneapolis is extremely poor. They have police with machine guns in the area and a curfew due to fear of severe looting. :(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My 2 youngest sons had just gone past there about 2 hours before it hit as well. They and their troop were in the old Blue Bird Boy Scout bus on their way home from a fishing trip.

 

On 44? That made my stomach drop. It's so much worse when it's your child and you have no conrol :grouphug:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They were shocked when I told them what happened because it had been such a nice morning and early afternoon. I was specifically praying for them, though, this morning during church. Our bus is so old and...well...I just worry about other drivers and such. My ds1's girlfriend's grandparents live in Joplin. I haven't heard from her yet about them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They were shocked when I told them what happened because it had been such a nice morning and early afternoon. I was specifically praying for them, though, this morning during church. Our bus is so old and...well...I just worry about other drivers and such. My ds1's girlfriend's grandparents live in Joplin. I haven't heard from her yet about them.

 

I had the same reaction. It had been a fairly low key day when my mom called and in a strained voice asked me how far I was from Joplin. She had been watching the weather all day knowing we would be on the road. I love my mom.

 

I hope you hear good news.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

.

 

 

How far away are you? I'm spending the night in a Hampton Inn in St. Louis. The worst is over now, but I'm still having trouble sleeping. Too keyed up. I guess I'd better get out early and make it to Chicago tomorrow before they have a chance to blow up again.

 

Barb

 

You are SO in trouble for not arranging a meeting w/me, young lady! I would've been at the Hampton in a New York second! :auto:

 

We were at a baseball game that ended early due to the severe weather moving in. One mom had recently spoken to her parents who are in the Joplin area. They were fine, but their Home Depot and other buildings were hit.

 

Have a safe trip!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've heard from one of my friends who lives there. She's okay, but she's housing one of her friends whose home got hit. She said she'll post a needs list on Facebook in a couple of days, and I fully intend to send up a package. I feel awful. I can't believe the hospital got hit. I know several people who work there, and most of my grandmother's specialists are at that hospital. It'll be a rough ride for them. :(

 

Sorry to hear about the tornado in MN, too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been watching the news since they first reports came in. It appears that the main hospital, St. John's Regional, actually lost portions of its top floors. That is an incredibly powerful storm to have ripped off whole chunks of a concrete structure like that.

 

They were afraid for a while that there may be an explosion in the hospital, I think due to leaking gases and oxygen tanks. From the pictures, it doesn't look like any of the windows are left intact on the building. They all look shattered.

 

One report said that as much as 3/4 of the entire city was damaged or leveled.

 

Terrible devastation. Poor people.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our local station with reporters and helicopter on the scene is stating that the southern third of the city has been completely destroyed, foundations wiped clear. The (experienced) pilot is guessing this twister was a minimum EF-4, quite possibly an EF-5, a mile wide, and on the ground for at least 7 miles.

 

Days like this I really miss my cable news. Prayers to all with loved ones and property that way. Barb, glad your timing was good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We've been through there a lot over the last few years. Dh and ds were just through a few weeks ago. We always stop at Steak and Shake to eat. My heart is heavy today.

 

there is some coverage on facebook.

 

https://www.facebook.com/joplinmo

 

Well that link just made me cry. If you click on the photos link you will see a ton of missing people photos. I can't even imagine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're 1 hr. 20 min. east of Joplin, just south of Springfield. It was a hairy couple of hours although no tornado came directly through our area. I've felt freaked out off and on today. I calm down, watch or read the news, then get freaked out again. We moved here to Missouri in 2005 from beautiful southern California and the weather is the one thing I could do without. :glare:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most of my friends have posted that they are okay, although some have damage to their homes. One friend lives less than a mile from St. John's and they had no damage at all, other than a few trees down. The church that I attended when I was growing up has reported that a woman and her young son who attend the church were killed, and a second son is in critical condition, but I haven't received names yet and I don't know if it's anyone I know.

 

It's a relief to know that my friends are safe, but it's hard to feel too joyful when there are so many others who are suffering with injuries and lost loved ones. :(

 

If you want help in some way, the Missouri Food Bank is taking food donations, and of course you can always give blood or donate to the Red Cross.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...