JOPLIN, MO Tornado??

[street music]

I hope that we can take time to think about those who may be Fret members with homes or family in and around Joplin, MO. It is another disaster that will effect a large amount of people in an already declining economy, jobs lost, many killed and they are just starting to uncover the worst of it. My heart goes out to all!

[Beerman]

Mother Nature has sure been tough on much of the US this year. I feel for all of them. Life changes in a split second and with the 24 hour news cycle, folks get forgotten fast. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

[piebaldpython]

Amazing video and pix from Joplin MO. Those poor people.

We actually had a tornado touch down in Philly last week, about 2 miles from where I live. It was an EF-0, so a minor tornado as these things go. That said, it was our first tornado in 12 years in Philly-proper.....so a monumental event for us.

[Retro Hound]

We're about 30 miles from Joplin, just NW. It's pretty devastating over there. Currently 89 confirmed dead, the hospital ruined, lots of businesses and houses gone. And I mean GONE. Must have been an F4, about 1/2 mile wide and went all the way through town, west to east. For an idea how bad:

From Joplin Schools Superintendent C.J. Huff:

* Irving Elementary - a complete loss
* Joplin High School - a complete loss
* Franklin Tech Center - a complete loss
* Joplin East Middle School - gym and auditorium are gone
* Cecil Floyd - roof torn off
* Administration building - roof torn off
* Emerson Elementary - some damage
* Kelsey Norman Elementary - some damage
* Duquesne Elementary - some damage

[Spudman]

Terrible destruction in Joplin. It's really sad. On top of that add Mississippi river flooding, and now the Yellowstone and Tongue rivers are flooding not to mention all the other smaller rivers around the country that are flooding.

It certainly is a tough time. Humans are pretty resilient though. I always hope for the best for the folks that are being challenged.

[msteeln]

That thing built up and then just sat on Joplin, churning it to rubble. I'm surprised the carnage isn't much worse.

[Spudman]

Has anyone seen any live video of the tornado?

[Beerman]

You can't see much on this one but it's scary to listen to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cQnvxJZucds

Found this one too:
http://www.wwltv.com/video/featured-videos/Caught-on-tape-tornado-runs-through-Joplin-122435529.html

[piebaldpython]

They showed video of the tornado on ABC's Good Morning America. Scary stuff. Some tornado-chaser dude videoed it and provided some commentary.

Anyone know if OldGuy is OK???? Doesn't he live out there?

[Tig]

One of the worst to hit the US in a long time. Very sad to see so much destruction.
I feel for everyone there. The numbers will likely get much worse.

Entire neighborhoods were leveled.
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20110523/capt.photo_1306180065174-10-0.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20110523/i/r268706719.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20110523/i/ra3586307815.jpg

Vehicles thrown like toys.
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20110523/capt.cf7d868050c4410588d00a87aed3e546-cf7d868050c4410588d00a87aed3e546-0.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20110523/capt.c2964d559f4a4f5bb29cde4546f66a37-c2964d559f4a4f5bb29cde4546f66a37-0.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20110523/i/r2942623003.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20110523/i/r2184813155.jpg

[Retro Hound]

National Weather Service said it was EF4 possibly EF5 at times.

[Retro Hound]

Latest totals: "...officials say 116 are dead and more than 400 are injured."

[street music]

I think OLD GUY is North of there , I hope he and his family are all safe, We had minor damages in our area last night and this morning. It is just so hard for many of the people to recover from such an event, I wish there more I could do to help out. We have given to Goodwill and Salvation Army so maybe that will help out in some small way.

[oldguy]

I'm actually way north of Joplin. Thanks for thinking of me folks. If anyone can help in any way, those people really need it now.
There's so much destruction in so many places this year it's hard to imagine.

[player]

My first thought was of Glenn when I saw the news. Glad he is okay.now for a buddy in Forsythe,Mo I think he said the name was?terrible thing going on with mother nature.where I am now could be on the hit list hope not.been through one in Ky.thank you very much but no thanks.

[otaypanky]

The destruction is just beyond my comprehension. I'm sitting here watching the news as I type. They just showed a fellow who's face is all swollen and blackened, black eyes. He was in his house with his wife and now doesn't know where she is. He's hoping she's one of the unidentified injured at one of the nearby hospitals ~
Tornados touched down in 5 counties here in Pa. Nowhere near the kind of damage like Joplin and Tuscaloosa

[Spudman]

Shocking before and after photos. It's a little scrunched up below. Click on the link to see a better comparison.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1391075/Joplin-tornado-photos-devastation-232-missing.html

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/26/article-1391075-0C46BF7600000578-538_964x851.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/26/article-1391075-0C46BF7600000578-538_964x851.jpg

[Childbride]

i cannot fathom what they are going through. i pray for them and their families.