EF-5 tornado hits the city of Joplin, Missouri
Posted by: 
T0SHEA
N 37° 03.973 W 094° 30.280
15S E 366232 N 4103276
The coordinates will take you to 2215 Indiana Avenue, across the street to what was the Joplin High School. It is also the location of where my son and family lost their home.
Waymark Code: WMFDYY
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 10/04/2012
Views: 7
This disaster affected me personally; Joplin, Missouri was my home for thirteen years. After moving to Canada, I visited Joplin many times over the years. On Sunday, May 22, 2011, I was supposed to be there attending my granddaughter’s high school graduation. Due to a change of plans, I decided not to make the trip.
My family that remained in Joplin is my son, pictured, a granddaughter, and other extended family members. My daughter from Kentucky was there attending the graduation.
My son’s home was totally destroyed. He, his wife, Shelli, and one child were in the home at the time the tornado hit. Shelli pulled a mattress out of one of the bedrooms with the help of their son and managed to move it to the hallway, where they stayed huddled. The water heater from the garage was thrown on top of them. They were trapped under the mattress for several hours until a passerby came to their rescue. Miraculously, all were safe and without injury.
Details of the disaster were featured worldwide and President Obama visited Joplin days later. He returned to Joplin in 2012 to deliver the commencement address to the Joplin High School graduation class.
The following information is credited to: NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“On Sunday, May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado hit the city of Joplin, Mo., leaving an estimated 157 people dead.
The Joplin tornado is the deadliest single tornado since modern record-keeping began in 1950 and is ranked as the 7th deadliest in U.S. history.
The EF-5 Joplin tornado had winds in excess of 200 mph, was 3/4 of a mile wide, and had a track lasting six miles.”
The amended death toll is now 161.
Joplin is still recovering from the disaster. It is still an arduous task, rebuilding and mending broken spirits, and overcoming the fears of it all happening again.
I received a letter from my son a year after the tornado, and he still fears the dreaded sirens warning residents of Joplin to take cover. He and his family are still in Joplin, have purchased a new home and are doing well.
