Posted on 05/30/2011 8:21:30 PM PDT by darrellmaurina
JOPLIN, Mo. (May 23, 2011) — A Sunday night tornado striking Joplin has led to the mobilization of the Missouri National Guard. St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, two fire stations, and Joplin High School were among the public buildings damaged or destroyed by the tornado, along with commercial business areas. Casualty totals are still unknown but preliminary reports include 89 dead. “As soon as we heard the news of the tornados, the Missouri National Guard began mobilization activities,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, in a prepared statement. “The 35th Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, is the task force command and has a variety of soldiers working in leadership and support roles,” said National Guard spokeswoman Maj. Tamara Spicer, who said most of the soldiers currently on the ground are from southwest Missouri. State troopers reported at 5:19 a.m. today that the westbound lanes of Interstate 44 were still closed at Exit 18 in Joplin due to overturned tractor-trailers from the tornado, with a reopening time unknown but expected to take several more hours which caused several crashes that forced closure of the interstate. The eastbound lanes had been closed as late at 1:36 a.m. but are now reopened.
(Excerpt) Read more at pulaskicountydaily.com ...
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