Joplin MO hit by strong destructive tornado

NWS/TWC

[janetjanet998]

major tornado hit south side,,hospital damage..home destroyed

the weather channel live coming up

[EternalVigilance]

http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=459747

(Joplin, MO) -- At least 24 people were killed in Joplin, Missouri after a tornado tore through the heart of the town. 

St. John's hospital suffered a direct hit, as did a crowded Wal Mart in a busy section of town.

Cell phone towers were destroyed, knocking out reception to thousands, making it difficult to find loved ones.

St. John's says it will be updating its Facebook page through the evening.

And another Facebook page has been established to help located people in the area.

Emergency officials are asking sightseers to stay away from the area while the damage is assessed. To volunteer, call 1-800-427-4626

The Red Cross says volunteers are being mobilized and a shelter has been set up at Missouri Southern State College at 3950 E. Newman Road in Joplin at the Leggett & Platt Ath Center.

For nurses or doctors looking to help, call (417) 832-9500 for the Greater Ozarks chapter of the Red Cross.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is asking all first responders to go to Joplin to a command post at 34th & Main.

Click here for a list of Red Cross shelters.

Missourians who need disaster information, shelter information or referrals are urged to call 211.

The 211 service number is now available for most areas in Missouri. In areas where the 211 number is not operational.

Weather and emergency information also are available on the state of Missouri's website, MO.gov.

Senator Roy blunt is also urging everyone to proceed safely and use extra precautions. He says to call his office (417) 877-7814 for help.

[Batman11]

RR, so happy to hear that your family members are OK! Prayers up for everyone in the Joplin area.

[caww]

Man lives 45 miles away from Joplin.... finding medical equipment, X-Rays and supplies from Joplin hospital in his yard.

[kristinn]

This may help, eventually.

Red Cross Safe and Well site for connecting loved ones in Joplin.

[caww]

Thank you for the up-dates on your family...and may your BIL have the strength and wisdom needed as he goes about his rescue work...What would we do without these good men!

[FourPeas]

Praise God that you MIL is OK! Loosing special things can be tough.

[caww]

Thank God this happened today rather than a schoolday with the distruction on their schools!

[caww]

Someone said 20th to 32nd....but Tornado’s have their own mind...a home can just be clipped, missed....or gone...so I think location, if not direct, might be misleading as one house could stand and the next not.

[barker]

I just sat down and cried when I heard they were ok. We’ve been best friends for 35 years’

[SE Mom]

What a relief to know she’s ok- prayers continue for all..

[Velveeta]

So glad your MIL is ok!!!

Prayers ongoing for all others in the area.

[caww]

Joplin, MO) — A “direct hit.” That’s how officials are describing the tornado that tore through the town of Joplin, Missouri.....

Meteorologists say the twister was “rain-wrapped,” meaning it would have been nearly impossible to see.

[Velveeta]

Prayers for your son.

[tcrlaf]

From CBS Twitter feed:

“Cop on Jasper County, MO police frequency: “I’m just a block or two north of where Joplin High School used to be.””

[little jeremiah]

I”ve been reading this thread but not posting - so glad your MIL is safe.

[FourPeas]

Praying for you son.

[John W]

Turns out yes, they had the current average warning, 23 minutes based on this 5:17 PM warning and reports the tornado hit Joplin at 5:40 PM

http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KSGF/1105222217.wfus53.html

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
517 PM CDT SUN MAY 22 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPRINGFIELD HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHWESTERN NEWTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI...
SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS...
SOUTHWESTERN JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI...

* UNTIL 600 PM CDT.

* AT 514 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TORNADO NEAR RIVERTON...OR 4 MILES NORTH OF BAXTER SPRINGS...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BAXTER SPRINGS...CLIFF VILLAGE...DENNIS
ACRES...DIAMOND...DUENWEG...DUQUESNE...FIDELITY...GALENA...IRON
GATES...JOPLIN...LEAWOOD...LOWELL...REDINGS MILL...RIVERTON...
SAGINAW...SHOAL CREEK DRIVE...SHOAL CREEK ESTATES...SHOAL CREEK
ESTATE AND SILVER CREEK.

INTERSTATE 44 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 0 AND 13 WILL ALSO BE IMPACTED BY
THIS TORNADO.

IN ADDITION TO A TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE
DAMAGING HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE.

THERE IS ADDITIONAL TORNADO WARNING FOR A SEPARATE STORM ACROSS
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN JASPER COUNTY. (issued at 5:09 PM)

[VanShuyten]

Can’t run and can’t hide. Many houses there, like my SIL’s, don’t have basements. She took the cat and sat in the bathtub, covered with towels.

[tcrlaf]

Reuters:

“Death toll from Joplin tornado said to be ‘in the 30 range,’ but could go higher, coroner says - Reuters”

“(Reuters) - Tornadoes tore through parts of the U.S. Midwest on Sunday, killing at least 30 people in the Missouri town of Joplin and causing one death in Minneapolis as well as causing extensive property damage.

The Joplin deaths came from a powerful tornado that plowed through the southwestern Missouri town of some 50,000 people late on Sunday afternoon.

“At this point we know we are up into the 30 range,” Newton County Coroner Mark Bridges told Reuters by telephone when asked about the deaths.

“We have heard up into the over-100 (range), but ... I don’t think anyone has a good count right now,” he said of the casualties. He also said that 11 bodies had been recovered from just one location.”

[gleeaikin]

Late news report (midnight) said the damaged hospital is going to be evacuated. A Walmart and Home Depot were hit and at least 30 people have been killed. The following link that appeared at my AOL email site has a lot of details.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/22/tornado-southwest-missouri-joplin-minnesota_n_865338.html?ncid=webmail