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The '''2011 Joplin [[tornado]]''', was a [[multiple-vortex tornado]] rated as an [[Enhanced Fujita Scale| EF5]] which struck [[Joplin, Missouri]] USA at about or shortly before 5:41 p.m. CDT (2241 UTC) on May 22, 2011. It was part of [[May 2011 tornado outbreak|a larger late-May]] [[tornado outbreak]] and was an estimated {{convert|0.75|mi|km|}} wide when it struck the city.<ref>{{cite web|author=Josh Voorhees|publisher=The Slatest|date=May 23, 2011|accessdate=May 23, 2011|title=Twister Leaves 89 Dead in Missouri Town|url=
The '''2011 Joplin [[tornado]]''', was a [[multiple-vortex tornado]] rated as an [[Enhanced Fujita Scale| EF5]] which struck [[Joplin, Missouri]] USA at about or shortly before 5:41 p.m. CDT (2241 UTC) on May 22, 2011. It was part of [[May 2011 tornado outbreak|a larger late-May]] [[tornado outbreak]] and was an estimated {{convert|0.75|mi|km|}} wide when it struck the city.<ref>{{cite web|author=Josh Voorhees|publisher=The Slatest|date=May 23, 2011|accessdate=May 23, 2011|title=Twister Leaves 89 Dead in Missouri Town|url=
http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/05/23/joplin_missouri_tornado_half_mile_wide_twister_leaves_89_confirm.html}}</ref> It rapidly intensified and tracked eastward across the city at full intensity. It then continued eastward across [[Interstate 44]] into rural portions of [[Newton County, Missouri|Newton County]]. As of May 2011 it was the [[List of tornadoes causing 100 or more deaths|deadliest tornado]] to hit the United States [[1947 Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornadoes|since 1947]] and 8th-deadliest single tornado in U.S. history.<ref>http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-story-joplin-tornado-tuesday-20110524,0,2381274.story</ref>
http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/05/23/joplin_missouri_tornado_half_mile_wide_twister_leaves_89_confirm.html}}</ref> It rapidly intensified and tracked eastward across the city at full intensity. It then continued eastward across [[Interstate 44]] into rural portions of [[Newton County, Missouri|Newton County]]. As of May 2011 it was the [[List of tornadoes causing 100 or more deaths|deadliest tornado]] to hit the United States [[1947 Glazier–Higgins–Woodward tornadoes|since 1947]] and 8th-deadliest single tornado in U.S. history.<ref>http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-story-joplin-tornado-tuesday-20110524,0,2381274.story</ref> In Joplin, 1,500 people are reported to be missing.


==Impact==
==Impact==

Revision as of 23:57, 24 May 2011

2011 Joplin tornado
EF5 tornado
Storm over Joplin minutes before the tornado formed
Max. rating1EF5 tornado
Fatalities123 fatalities+ (1,150+ injuries)
1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale

The 2011 Joplin tornado, was a multiple-vortex tornado rated as an EF5 which struck Joplin, Missouri USA at about or shortly before 5:41 p.m. CDT (2241 UTC) on May 22, 2011. It was part of a larger late-May tornado outbreak and was an estimated 0.75 miles (1.21 km) wide when it struck the city.[1] It rapidly intensified and tracked eastward across the city at full intensity. It then continued eastward across Interstate 44 into rural portions of Newton County. As of May 2011 it was the deadliest tornado to hit the United States since 1947 and 8th-deadliest single tornado in U.S. history.[2] In Joplin, 1,500 people are reported to be missing.

Impact

A preliminary survey of the tornado damage by the National Weather Service office in Springfield, Missouri, began on May 23. The initial survey confirmed a violent tornado rated as a high-end EF4 with winds up to 198 miles per hour (319 km/h), tracking at least 7 miles (11 km) across the city. Ongoing damage surveys, however, turned up evidence that resulted in the rating being upgraded to EF5, and could also extend the tornado's track to the east and west.[3]

The tornado initially touched down just east of the Kansas state boundary near the end of 32nd Street between 5:35 and 5:41 p.m. CDT (2235 and 2241 UTC) and tracked just north of due east. Surveys remain incomplete there so it is possible it may have started in Kansas and crossed the state line into Missouri.[4] Damage became very widespread and catastrophic as it entered residential subdivisions in southwest Joplin. In addition, St. John's Regional Medical Center in the same area was heavily damaged with many windows and the exterior walls damaged and the upper floors destroyed. Several fatalities were reported there. Virtually every house in that area near McClelland Boulevard and 26th Street was flattened, and some were blown away in the area as well. Trees sustained severe debarking, a nursing home and a church school in southwest Joplin were also flattened and several other schools were heavily damaged. Damage in this area was rated as a low-end EF4.[4]

As the tornado tracked eastward, it intensified even more as it crossed Main Street. Virtually every business along that stretch was heavily damaged or destroyed and several institutional buildings were destroyed. It tracked just south of downtown, narrowly missing it. More houses were flattened or blown away and trees continued to be debarked. Two large apartment buildings were destroyed, as well as Franklin Technology Center, and Joplin High School. Fortunately, no one was in the high school at the time. It crossed Range Line Road, the main commercial strip in the eastern part of Joplin, near 20th Street. Damage in this area was rated as a high-end EF4.[4]

In the Range Line Road corridor between about 13th and 32nd Streets, the damage continued to be very intense and the tornado was at its widest at this point, being nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) wide. Some of the destroyed buildings include a Cummins warehouse, Walmart Supercenter #59, a Home Depot store and numerous restaurants, all of which were flattened. Numerous other commercial and industrial buildings, as well as more houses, were destroyed with some flattened or blown away as the tornado tracked through southeast Joplin. Many fatalities occured in this area. Damage in this area was rated as a high-end EF4 to near EF5. It then continued on an east to east-southeast trajectory towards Interstate 44 where it weakened, nonetheless, vehicles were flipped and mangled. Surveys remain incomplete there so the end point is uncertain as it may have continued into rural areas of southeast Jasper County and northeastern Newton County, although an EF2 tornado touched down near Wentworth, about 25 miles (40 km) east-southeast of Joplin.[4]

Many people were reported to have been trapped in destroyed houses. Seventeen people were rescued from the rubble the day after the tornado struck.[5]

According to the local branch of the American Red Cross, about 25% of Joplin was destroyed, but the town's emergency manager stated that the number was between 10% and 20%, with roughly 2,000 buildings destroyed.[6][7] According to the National Weather Service, emergency managers reported damage to 75% of Joplin.[8] Communications were lost in the community and power was knocked out to many areas.[9][10]

Casualties

Damage in Joplin one day after the tornado.

The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that at least 123 people were killed and more than 1,150 were injured in Joplin, a number that is likely to rise.[11][12][13] This would make it the deadliest U.S. tornado since April 9, 1947 in Woodward, Oklahoma, and the eighth deadliest tornado in U.S. history.[14] This would also make it the first single tornado since the June 8, 1953 tornado in Flint, Michigan, to have 100 or more associated fatalities.[15] The damage was compared to that from the destructive tornado in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on April 27, less than a month earlier, which killed 61 people along its path.

Response

Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency for the Joplin area shortly after the tornado hit, and ordered Missouri National Guard troops to the city.[16][9] With communications down, temporary cell towers had to be constructed. By May 24, three towers owned by AT&T and Sprint had been restored.[11]

Immediately following the disaster, emergency responders were deployed to the city to undertake search and rescue efforts. By May 23, Missouri Task Force One (consisting of 85 personnel, 4 dogs and heavy equipment) arrived and began searching for missing persons. Five heavy rescue teams were also sent to the city a day later. Within two days, numerous agencies arrivied to assist residents in the recovery process. The National Guard deployed 191 personnel and placed 200 more on standby to be deployed. The Missouri State Highway Patrol provided 110 troopers with 70 more en route. On May 24, five ambulance strike teams, a total of 25 ambulances, were to be deployed in the area.[11]

East of Joplin, a Risk Management Plan facility released 3,000 to 5,000 pounds (1,400 to 2,300 kg) of anhydrous ammonia; however, this was contained within two days.[11]

References

  1. ^ Josh Voorhees (May 23, 2011). "Twister Leaves 89 Dead in Missouri Town". The Slatest. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  2. ^ http://www.ky3.com/news/ky3-story-joplin-tornado-tuesday-20110524,0,2381274.story
  3. ^ National Weather Service, Springfield MO (May 23, 2011). "Joplin Tornado Survey". NOAA. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d National Weather Service, Springfield MO (May 23, 2011). "Public Information Statement". NOAA. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  5. ^ 116 dead from Missouri tornado; more twisters possible
  6. ^ Kevin Murphy (May 23, 2011). "Tornado devastates Joplin, Missouri, leaves 89 dead". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 23, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Joplin searches through wreckage". USA Today. Associated Press. May 23, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  8. ^ National Weather Service, Central Region Headquarters (May 23, 2011). "Numerous weekend tornadoes from southern Kansas, Missouri to Minnesota, Wisconsin". NOAA. Central Region Headquarters, NWS. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Powerful tornadoes kill at least 31 in U.S. Midwest". Kevin Murphy. Reuters. May 22, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  10. ^ Unattributed (May 23, 2011). "Tornado kills at least 89 in Joplin, Mo". United Press International. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c d "Joplin Tornado Situation Report 6 a.m. May 24". Missouri Emergency Management Agency. May 24, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  12. ^ Unattributed (May 24, 2011). "More than 1,150 injured in Joplin, MO". Record Eagle. Retrieved May 24, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/24/missouri.tornado/index.html?hpt=T2
  14. ^ "Storm Prediction Center: The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes". Spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
  15. ^ "2011 Tornado Information". NOAA. May 23, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  16. ^ "24 deaths in Joplin, say Greene County officials". Springfield News-Leader. Gannett Company. May 22, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.

See also

For the latest severe weather information:

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