Tag Archives: Missouri

Deadliest tornado since 1953 strikes Joplin, Missouri

Cars and debris are strewn about in front of the devastated St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri. (Twitpic / borntorunnergrl)
Cars and debris are strewn about in front of the devastated St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri. Click the image to view a slideshow of the devastation. (Twitpic / borntorunnergrl)

Following on last month’s devastating bout of severe weather the month of May had started out much quieter.  That silence from Mother Nature however was shattered yesterday as a massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri killing at least 89 people.

Late afternoon brought storm clouds to southwestern Missouri and a tornado warning soon sounded.  Residents of Joplin had 20 minutes to find cover before the massive tornado struck the heart of town.

  • Scroll down for amazing video of the Joplin tornado as it grows with amazing speed.  Also be sure to check out the slideshow of images of the devastation.

As frightened residents huddled in basements and bathrooms, the twister destroyed as much as 75% of the town.  The high school, regional medical center, an elementary school as well as thousands of other homes and businesses were destroyed.

The human toll from the tornado was devastating.  At latest report 89 people were killed and emergency crews continue to search for survivors as the death toll is expected to climb.

Not since June 9, 1953 has a deadlier single tornado been responsible for so much death.  As is, the Joplin tornado would rank as the 21st deadliest tornado in the history of the United States.  In all likelihood it will climb further up the rankings.

Slideshow: Scenes of destruction played out in Joplin, MO after tornado strikes. (Examiner.com)

The National Guard has been activated by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to help with recovery efforts.  Relief agencies across the nation were deploying personnel and supplies to assist as well.

The tornado that struck Joplin was part of a larger set of storms that struck multiple states on Sunday.  In all, 48 tornadoes were reported including one near Minneapolis that claimed the life of one person.

More from the Natural Disasters Examiner:

Good Friday tornado strikes St. Louis airport; Twister rated EF4

Extensive damage seen at St. Louis airport after tornado strikes. (Twitpic / LakishaJackson)
Extensive damage seen at St. Louis airport after tornado strikes. View more images in the slideshow below. (Twitpic / LakishaJackson)

Severe weather struck the St. Louis area Friday evening bringing large hail, damaging winds and powerful tornadoes.  One twister tore a lengthy pass through the city hitting the airport and causing extensive damage to the facility and nearby homes.

The most significant component of the storm system was a powerful EF4 tornado packing winds of more than 166mph at its peak and causing damage nearly one-half mile wide at the widest point.  Initially touching down west of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, the tornado followed a 22 mile long path destroying homes and causing extensive damage at the airport.

At the airport tornado sirens were sounded as the storm approached and many of the estimated 500 travelers at the airport sought shelter.  The powerful tornado struck and blew out 60 percent of the windows in the main terminal building and partially lifted the roof on Concourse C.

On the grounds of the airport baggage carts were tossed about and the tarmacs were littered with debris.  Parking areas saw cars smashed and thrown into each other like toys.

Residential areas to the west of the airport where the tornado first touched down bore the brunt of the damage, particularly in the community of Bridgton.  Many homes were reduced to piles of wood and cinder while trees and power lines were downed.

After crossing the airport the tornado continued on its path damaging other buildings and homes.  Extensive roof damage was caused to the First Baptist Church of Ferguson and a Little Caesars Restaurant saw its roof torn completely off.

Slideshow: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport struck by tornadoThe tornado then crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois.  Three homes saw their roofs torn off while others sustained significant damage.

Despite the twister’s lengthy path of destruction and powerful nature, no fatalities were reported.  At the airport five people were treated for relatively minor injuries.

Do you know what to do to protect yourself and your family when severe weather strikes? The same type of events that struck in recent days can and do occur in Colorado.  Check out our Severe Weather Awareness series for more:

U.S. Army digs out from New Year’s Eve tornado

The housing areas of Fort Leonard Wood were devastated by a New Year's Eve tornado. View more images in the slideshow below.  (4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade)
The housing areas of Fort Leonard Wood were devastated by a New Year's Eve tornado. View more images in the slideshow below. (4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade)

An unusual New Year’s Eve tornado outbreak brought on twisters across Arkansas and Missouri causing widespread destruction.  Seven lives have been reported lost and one tornado struck Fort Leonard Wood, a U.S. Army base in northwestern Missouri.

Strong thunderstorms spawned the tornado outbreak that included 44 tornado reports although the actual number of twisters is likely much lower once duplicates are removed.  Three fatalities were recorded in Arkansas, four in Missouri.

Preliminary damage assessments from the National Weather Service indicate the two most significant tornadoes were EF-3 twisters packing winds as high as 150 mph. 

The Cincinnati, Arkansas twister started near the in Oklahoma near the town of Westville.  The tornado continued into Arkansas tearing a path 21 miles long and 500 yards at its widest. Click here for the damage assessment from the Tulsa, Oklahoma National Weather Service office.

In Missouri the weather service has begun analysis of four confirmed twisters rated EF0, EF1, EF2 and EF3.  The most powerful storm struck the Sunset Hills area southwest of St. Louis and at one point created a damage field 1/4 of a mile wide. Click here for the damage assessment from the St. Louis, Missouri National Weather Service office.

Slideshow: Fort Leonard Wood Army base devastated by New Year's Eve tornado
Slideshow: Fort Leonard Wood Army base devastated by New Year's Eve tornado

At the Army post in Pulaski County, images show extensive damage to structures at the base, many of which were part of the base housing and training areas.  Officials said that only four minor injuries were sustained at the base. 

View images of the destruction at Fort Leonard Wood in the slideshow to the right.  For more on this story, visit the Natural Disasters Examiner and these stories:

85 years ago today – The nation’s deadliest tornado

A Chicago Herald Examiner headline covering the Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925. (Wikipedia)  Follow the link below for images of the destruction.
A Chicago Herald Examiner headline covering the Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925. (Wikipedia) Follow the link below for images of the destruction.

News reports portray a dreary start to March 18, 1925 with heavy rain in the morning but nothing that would foretell the disaster that was to come. Before the day was over, parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana would be torn asunder and nearly 700 people would be dead.

Today marks the 85th anniversary of what we now call the Tri-State Tornado. The deadly twister was of the likes that had never been seen before – and hasn’t been seen since. That morning, the U.S. Weather Bureau’s forecast called for “rains and strong shifting winds.” Nothing that would indicate the horror that was to come.

The first reports of the tornado happened at 1:01pm near Ellington, Missouri. As it moved to the northeast the twister tore through the towns of Annapolis, Redford, Cornwall, Biehle, and Frohna. By the time it exited Missouri, 11 people were dead.

Illinois bore the brunt of the tornado as it continued on its deadly path. It crossed the Mississippi River and tore through Gorham, Johnston City, Murphysboro, De Soto, Hurst-Bush and a half dozen other Illinois towns. Entire towns were reduced to rubble, over a thousand people were injured and 613 people in the state were dead.

Far from over, the twister crossed into Indiana where the towns of Griffin, Owensville, and Princeton were hit. 71 people are thought to have died in the state.

The horror finally came to an end at 4:30pm, three and a half hours after it started. The tornado dissipated southwest of Petersburg, Indiana but not until after it had covered a path of at least 219 miles and left death and destruction the entire way. From southeastern Missouri, completely across southern Illinois and into southwestern Indiana, the tornado was the longest tracking twister ever recorded.

For more about the deadly tornado, maps of the path and images of the aftermath, read the complete story on the Natural Disasters Examiner.