DisastersTornado kills at least 116 in Joplin, Missouri
Residents and emergency responders are searching for survivors in Joplin, Missouri after a tornado tore through the town Sunday evening; the tornado tore a 6-mile-long, half-mile wide path through the middle of town; much of the city’s south side was leveled, with churches, schools, businesses, and homes reduced to ruins by winds of up to 165 mph; so far 116 people have been found dead, and officials expect the death toll to rise; officials have estimated 2,000 buildings were damaged; among the ruined buildings is St. John’s Regional Medical center, the city’s major hospital; the hospital was struck directly by the tornado and lost portions of its roof, façade, and windows; the Joplin twister was one of 68 reported tornadoes across seven Midwest states over the weekend
Residents and emergency responders are searching for survivors in Joplin, Missouri after a tornado tore through the town Sunday evening. So far eighty-nine people have been found dead, and officials expect the death toll to rise.
The tornado touched down around six o’clock in the evening and tore through buildings, pitched cars, and ignited fires. Much of the town is in ruins, including the St. John’s Regional Medical center, the city’s major hospital.
The hospital was struck directly by the tornado and lost portions of its roof, façade, and windows. According to Cora Scott, a spokeswoman for the hospital, all of the patients have been moved to other hospitals by Monday morning.
It is still unclear if any of the 183 patients who were left in the hospital when the tornado struck were killed. Officials followed the tornado plan and were in the midst of moving patients into hallways when the tornado struck.
The twister that hit Joplin is one of many natural disasters to befall the Midwest since April. The region has been hit hard by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding.
Last month tornadoes touched down in several states including Missouri, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. Tuscaloosa, Alabama was hit hardest by the tornadoes, and President Obama has declared a federal state of emergency in many counties across the Midwest.
In the latest round of storms, the 48,000 residents of Joplin suffered the most destruction as the town lay directly in the tornado’s path. Minneapolis was also hit, leaving one person dead and dozens more injured.
Missouri governor Jay Nixon has activated the National Guard and declared a state of emergency.
