Hospital Hit: Massive Tornado Kills Dozens Across Southwestern Missouri
- Posted on May 23, 2011 at 3:32am by
Scott Baker
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JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A massive tornado that blasted its way across southwestern Missouri on Sunday slammed into this city with cataclysmic force, tearing into a hospital, upending dozens of cars and scrubbing entire neighborhoods to the earth, leaving only a forest of splintered tree trunks behind.
An unknown number were killed in Joplin, and officials struggling to communicate without power and cell phone service were leery of putting a hard figure on a death toll they feared would rise after daybreak.
Asked about a report that 24 people had died, city spokeswoman Lynn Onstot said grimly that officials were “afraid it may be more. … Our fear is that’s a low number.” The Missouri National Guard planned to search for the injured throughout the night.
“You see pictures of World War II, the devastation and all that with the bombing. That’s really what it looked like,” said Kerry Sachetta, the principal of a flattened Joplin High School. “I couldn’t even make out the side of the building. It was total devastation in my view. I just couldn’t believe what I saw.”
The same storm system that produced the Joplin tornado spawned twisters along a broad swath of the Midwest, from Oklahoma to Wisconsin. At least one person was killed in Minneapolis. But the devastation in Missouri appeared to be the worst of the day, eerily reminiscent the tornadoes that killed more than 300 people across the South last month.
Onstot said the twister — believed to be between one-half to three-quarters of a mile wide — was on the ground for nearly four miles. It hit a hospital packed with patients and a commercial area including a Home Depot construction store, numerous smaller businesses and restaurants and a grocery store. An untold number of homes were destroyed and reduced to ruin.
Jasper County emergency management director Keith Stammer said an estimated 2,000 buildings were damaged citywide.
Among the worst hit locations in Joplin was St. John’s Regional Medical Center, which appeared to suffer a direct hit from a tornado. The staff had just a few moments’ notice to hustle patients into hallways before the storm struck the multistory building, blowing out hundreds of windows and leaving the facility useless.
In the parking lot, a helicopter lay crushed on its side, its rotors torn apart and windows smashed. Nearby, a pile of cars lay crumpled into a single mass of twisted metal. Matt Sheffer dodged downed power lines, trees and closed streets to make it to his dental office across from the hospital.
“My office is totally gone. Probably for two to three blocks, it’s just leveled,” he said. “The building that my office was in was not flimsy. It was 30 years old and two layers of brick. It was very sturdy and well built.”
All of St. John’s patients were quickly evacuated and moved to other hospitals in the region, said Cora Scott, a spokeswoman for the medical center’s sister hospital in Springfield. She had no details on any deaths or injuries suffered at the hospital in the tornado strike.
Missouri authorities said they could confirm that people had died in Joplin, but the exact number was unknown late Sunday. Details about fatalities and injuries were difficult to obtain even for emergency management officials, because the tornado knocked out power, landline phones and some cellphone towers, said Greg Hickman, assistant emergency management director in Newton County.
Triage centers and shelters were setup around the city of about 50,000 people about 160 miles south of Kansas City. At Memorial Hall, a downtown entertainment venue, nurses and other emergency workers from area hospitals were treating critically injured patients.
The storm that hit Joplin spread debris about 60 miles away, with medical records, X-rays, insulation and other items falling to the ground in Greene County, said Larry Woods, assistant director of the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management.
Travel through and around Joplin was difficult, with Interstate 44 shut down and streets clogged with emergency vehicles and the wreckage of buildings.
Emergency management officials rushed heavy equipment to Joplin to help lift debris and clear the way for search and recovery operations. Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency, and President Barack Obama said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was working with state and local agencies.
Obama issued a statement sending condolences to families of those who died in storms in Joplin and across the Midwest.
Jeff Lehr, a reporter for the Joplin Globe, said he was upstairs in his home when the storm hit but was able to make his way to a basement closet.
“There was a loud huffing noise, my windows started popping. I had to get downstairs, glass was flying. I opened a closet and pulled myself into it,” he told The Associated Press. “Then you could hear everything go. It tore the roof off my house, everybody’s house. I came outside and there was nothing left.”
He said people were walking around the streets outside trying to check on neighbors, but in many cases there were no homes to check. Amid the chaos, rescue workers and residents alike walked dazed through the wreckage.
“There were people wandering the streets, all mud covered,” he said. “I’m talking to them, asking if they knew where their family is. Some of them didn’t know, and weren’t sure where they were. All the street markers were gone.”
On social networking sites, people with ties to Joplin and even those without were calling for prayers for the southwest Missouri city. Some people were quick to post that they and their families are OK, or to get the word out that loved ones are missing or homes were destroyed. Others found themselves without access to phones because of overburdened phone lines, but able to text and use social media.
Resident Tom Rogers walked around viewing the damage with his daughter.
“Our house is gone. It’s just gone,” Rogers told The Joplin Globe. “We heard the tornado sirens for the second time. All of a sudden, everything came crashing down on us. We pulled our heads up and there was nothing. It was gone.”
In Minneapolis, city spokeswoman Sara Dietrich said the death was confirmed by the Hennepin County medical examiner. She had no other immediate details. Only two of the 29 people injured there were hurt critically.
Though the damage covered several blocks in Minneapolis, it appeared few houses were totally demolished. Much of the damage was to roofs, front porches that had been sheared away, or smaller items such as fences and basketball goals.
In Wisconsin, the mayor of La Crosse declared a state of emergency Sunday after a severe storm hit, tearing roofs from homes and sending emergency responders. No one was seriously injured.
Sunday’s storms followed a tornado Saturday night that swept through a small eastern Kansas town, killing one person and destroying at least 20 homes, as severe thunderstorms pelted the region with hail that some residents described as the size of baseballs, authorities said Sunday.
Kansas Division of Emergency Management spokeswoman Sharon Watson identified the victim as Don Chesmore, 53, of Reading. He was in a mobile home that flipped. He was taken to a hospital in Emporia, where he was pronounced dead.
Additional storms were predicted across the southern Plains through Thursday morning.
An advisory from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said warm weather Monday could fuel instability in advance of another weather system. A few tornadoes, some strong, could occur — starting in Oklahoma and southern Kansas in the afternoon and in North Texas in the late afternoon.
___
Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth, Dana Fields, Chris Clark and Bill Draper in Kansas City, Mo.; Todd Richmond in La Crosse, Wis.; Chris Williams and Jeff Baenen in Minneapolis; Kelly Kissel in Little Rock; and Emily Fredrix in New York contributed to this report.
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Comments (117)
Lost In Space
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:17amMy heart goes out to you all good luck, crazy times.
Report Post »piper60
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:10amSo buildings were both “destroyed and reduced to ruin”? Sounds like a double whammy. Having said that, I pray that the death toll doesn’t rise.
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:48amIt’s a good thing the Rapture was Saturday, or else some good Christians might have be killed.
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:07amSome good Christians were killed. My aunt for one. She was at Church at the time when it was struck and destroyed by this tornado. Do you really think your comment was appropriate?
Report Post »virgie morgan
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:20amI pray for you Aaron. May you never know the experience of this kind of devastation.
JCLDWL– I pray for you as well, I am soo sorry about your Aunt. My prayers are with you and your family. God be with you all. We love you all.
Report Post »Lana40
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:58amBig hugs JC!!!
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 9:14am@aaron
Report Post »Why are you so foolish? Judging by all of your comments you are just a troll anyway.
Pathetic
vennoye
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 9:16am@AARON Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
@jcldwl Am so sorry for the loss of your Aunt. Our prayers are for you and the whole community.
Report Post »spotster
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 1:54pmhey f…. face you are exactly what is wrong with our country . i just wish for once your a$$ would come out of moms basement and show your face….but then libs are just little kittys……… know what i mean
Report Post »usmc1063
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:40amThe utter devastation that mother nature can unleash is sometimes unbelievable. I’ve seen such destruction several times in my life. For the most part words can never fully describe the true pain, suffering and dispair it leaves in it’s wake. Once again my heart and prayers go out to the people who’s path this storm took. Now it is up to the rest of us to help this community and all the others in our nation that have been effected by storm’s and flood damage. It doesn’t take much if everyone helps. Please call your local chapter of the American Red Cross to see how you can help.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:56amThank you. Yes…call your local Red Cross. They will help you help us as soon as possible. We have many, many area communities pitching in. DO NOT allow yourself to be scammed.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:34amgod bless and help all those people in Missuori.I was in Missuori in the 70 bueatiful state.Did Boot camp at Fort Loenard Wood.I know the people there are strong. and they`ll put their lives back togather.God bless.
Report Post »tidertom
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:29amGod bless ya’ll in Joplin and elsewhere. Here in Alabama, we know how you feel. Wish I could help you because we sure had a lot of folks come help us. Beware the scanners though. We ran a half dozen debris removal trucks from Michigan outta here. They had chains in their trailers to keep from filling them up and were moving loads from lot to lot to get more loads. Praying for you.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:25amSuch devastation…I remember my Gradfather driving us thru Xenia Ohio a few days after they had a tornado back in 1977.
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:19amjoy
Report Post »my prayers are with you and all of those out there helping
I also pray for those waiting to be rescued, how scary that must be!
Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:27amTHank you very much. They turned everyone away for the overnight hours except for first responders, nurses, and doctors. I am sure it is scary. It is so bad that they are asking for people to bring in their extra medications…blood pressure and pain medicines…at one point they were asking for anyone to bring their personal first aid kits. This is beyond comprehension at this time. This is a city of 50,000 plus, so it hits us all pretty hard here. please click on the links I recently provided above to keep up with this situation or to donate to the Red Cross. THank you.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:17amThe following link is up and running and gives updates and how to donate to this disaster… http://www.helpjoplin.com/
Report Post »Smug
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:09amMy Prayers going out to those in Joplin. God bless and keep them close to your heart…..MSSMUG
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:01amMay God be with them.
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:56amYes prayers for Joplin residents,more bad storms expected today and tomarrow here in eastern Okla,and north west Arkansas and southern Mo.could be another really bad day,
Report Post »kerf
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:56amMy heart goes out to them, the devastation is horrible. Like here in Alabama, they must find a way to give thanks for those that were spared, comfort to those that suffered loss and begin to clean up and rebuild. And so life goes on.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:55amFor those saying this is a small Missouri town, it is not. It is a major metro area for all of the surrounding cities and rural areas. With this devastation, our major commerce area has been hit hard. Joplin businesses supported ALL of SW MO, SE KS, NE OK, and NW AR…..I had to correct CNN, of course.
Report Post »virgie morgan
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:44amI am from south of Joplin in one of the small towns. I can attest to what you say about Joplin being a big metro area for all surrounding towns. All of the lower towns and communities either go to Neosho hospital or St. John’s Hospital in Joplin,..the one that was destroyed. I, as well as many of my family members have been a patient at St. John’s many times. It was the hospital most widely used by all and has the best doctors in all the surrounding areas. They were more equipped to handle more types of medical problems than any other hospital. The best cardiovascular doctors in all the area. I am praying for all who are affected by this. Alot of people in all the smaller towns south of there have family and friends in Joplin. The area that was hit was a major area for many many medical buildings. It was basically the center for medical buildings. My internet and t.v. was out and I had to listen to the news from my neices home in Alabama over the phone to know what was going on. I only have dial up at the moment so I can’t view videos but the pictures are heart wrenching. We are in for more of the same through to Wednesday. We need ALL the prayers we can get. Please pray for us. God is Mighty and Merciful. Thank You all.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:59amVIrgie, are you okay? Is your family okay?God be with you and yours.
Report Post »virgie morgan
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:12amWe are ok, I have a step mom in Carterville though and I can’t get in touch with her to see how she is. She is disabled and lives alone. Do you know of the condition of the Carterville area? I only have local service on my phone and can’t call out. Any information I can get from the Webb City/Carterville area would be greatly appreciated as I do not have t.v. or dsl internet at the moment. She lives on Tennessee Street. Thank you. I am house bound as well and feel so helpless to help with the rescue and clean up but I am praying my heart out for all in Joplin and in the surrounding areas that were hit as well. Prayer is a powerful thing. God Bless you all.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:27amJust in…75% of Joplin is destroyed.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:10amnow they are saying its 20-25% destroyed….at this point I think they are just guesstimates….such complete devastation I don’t think anyone knows for sure yet.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:19amThank you, all of you for your prayers and blessings.
Report Post »wbeaudine
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:11amGod Bless, Protect and Keep Them All.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:02amWhere is our lovely President during America‘s Heartland’s time of need…Ireland. Just sayin.
Report Post »staggerlee32
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 9:52amHi Joy, we’re from Branson and we are praying for all in the Joplin area. My wife wants to open our home up to any mother with a new born because we have one. If you know anyone let me know. I know we aren’t that close but we want to help in some way.
Report Post »yiska8
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:25amWhen an F5 tornado hit Jasper,TX in May 1997, President Bill Clinton wished prayers for Jasper. No federal aid was granted when Governor GW Bush formally requested aid. The entire town and subdivision was wiped clean. Debri wasn’t even left, even foundation slabs were gone. Joplin, Missouri is on their own with the least amount of help from FEMA. Missourians seem like a tough bunch of people. They’ll make it. It won’t feel like it, but they’ll be ok. People other than the worst President in history are praying for your community and their prayers are not empty. Enjoy finding your roots in Ireland Mr. President. Your people are suffering and missing in Missouri, but you and Michelle enjoy your five star dinners. God be with Joplin and surrounding communities effected.
Report Post »showme
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:19amDo we really want him here?
Report Post »yiska8
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:00pmUsually Presidents would tour centers of devastations like the buring of Texas through massive wildfires and drought, the tornado damage in Alabama, the rising and flooding and disappearance of towns along the Mississippi, and this current disaster for the people of Joplin and surrounding areas. Even the worst politician in history would realize he has to show up for something. Your right though, Joplin,MO is better off not being talked down to in their time of crisis by this presumptuous elitist-in-Chief. They may accomplish far more without his potential mishandling and ineptness. Stay strong Missourians!
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:57amThis is a link to listen live to the emergency radio (KZRG) up to the minute news on the devistation: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/emergency-radio-feed
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:04amThey have taken a break to report national news but they said that “door to door” workers will be needed after 8am local time. We will be part of that endeavor. Please, pray for our first responders! They are working really hard!
Report Post »Classical Liberal
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:51amI pray for those affected by the storms. God help these people going through unimaginable crisis. May he keep safe those that have survived and lead the souls of the departed into his heavenly kingdom, Amen.
Report Post »Societal Misfit
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:31amPrayers out to the people of Joplin and other communities that were impacted by this round of storms. I live just couple of hours south in the NW AR area. We got some pretty wicked weather between 10pm and Midnight with two tornado warnings issued within an hour of each other. Luckily where I am at we dodged that bullet. Growing up and living in tornado alley though I am no stranger to this type of destruction. This has been the most active spring that I can remember since I have lived in NWA.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:29amIf ANYONE tries to scam ANY residents in the Joplin Area…you will be found and accounted for. ;-) Thank goodness we live in the center of common sense!!!
Report Post »showme
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:16amThat’s right Joy!
Report Post »Doreen
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 1:41pmAMEN Joy.
Report Post »SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on May 24, 2011 at 2:55amYou are right. And to everyone who close to this disaster, I would like to say I love the way everyone is pulling toghether. We are getting help from as far away as Kansas City and Tulsa. That is not to mention all the help from towns closer to Joplin.
Report Post »weeblewacker1
Posted on May 24, 2011 at 11:19am@RepubliCorp: do some checking around about the G.O.P. congressman bill long,who said that a Joplin early warning system for tornadoes was a “waste of money”,and Billy Long co-sponsored a bill to sell off the frequencies used by HAM radio operators to help protect the public. ya! your g.o.p.-tea-party at work.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:27amPraying for all.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:09amDid they vote for Obama? …….if not, zero fed help
Report Post »Trying to Remain Calm
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 1:57pm@RepubliCorp Your comment is as ridiculous and ignorant as those who say that natural disasters are God’s punishment. If that were true then the southern US must be in God’s crosshairs with all the tornadoes and hurricanes.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:25amGeo-engineering in question here? Create chaos is the key.
Report Post »FreeMan5771
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 8:35amHAARP Project!
This is part of the powers that be approach to explaining the message better. See, most people don’t want their electric bills to triple and gasoline to cost $7 to $10 per gallon while Chicagoland and the World Elite steal another $10 trillion dollars from the working class “have nots” through the Chicago Carbon Exchange.
HAARP Project is being used full force now everywhere to enhance storms across the U.S. in order to convince people that climate change is real. Since about 2/3 of the people cannot think abstractly enough to see how the weather can be manipulated they will tend to buy into the explanation they have heard for 30 yrs, that the burning of fossil fuels is causing climate change.
Climate change is real, but it coincides with the development and use of the HAARP Project and is being done intentionally. I would love for someone to look at storm reports and climate data through 1992 and then from 1993 forward when HAARP was turned on. I’m sure you will be able to pinpoint the exact point in history the climate changed.
Al Gore likes to say that grandparents are telling their grand kids that weather is different than it used to be. I can tell you, weather has been different beginning in 1993, the year HAARP Project was built.
If you want to know more just Google “HAARP Project”. Their is some misinformation but this thing does exist and is being mis-used maliciously to convince us climate change is real.
Report Post »FIVEHOLEJAMO
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 8:53amThank you so much for bringing this to people’s attention.I have been talking this up as much as I can . In Conn. it has been cloudy and rainy since I can remember and the sun never shines. I have been watching the Chemtrails being sprayed around here for years and no one seems to be open to what I am saying . I live near an airport in New Haven and went there and asked them who was spraying and what were they spraying and I was practically run out of the building . I cant believe man would go this low to push the agenda .We are heading for dark times and the real America needs to pull its head out of its a## and wake up…thanks again for this….
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 9:11amThis sounds like something that should be directed at Sarah Palin since it is built in Alaska. With her respect of the environment, I can’t believe this topic has never come up for discussion, and also that it is in conjunction with the military.
Report Post »TheLeftMadeMeRight
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:17amIt’s not spraying chemicals like cloud seeding. The project uses microwaves to heat the atmosphere in certain places to steer weather patterns. Originally it was though it could be used to destroy an enemy’s crops to cause food shortages or prolonged winter or other bad weather. There are stations set up around the world by more than just one nation’s government. This has been on the Discovery science channel at one time. Playing God, never a good idea.
Report Post »Joy Leverich
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:25amTHank you for covering this. I am from the Joplin area and it looks like a war zone. If anyone has or had family in the area, whether passing through on I-44 or living here in the area, please go to NewsTalk 1310 KZRG on facebook to post any concerns. Please include there first and last name and the exact location, if possible. This is our local fox news station and they are broadcasting from their generator, but they are getting the word out effectively.
Report Post »On a positive note, even though the destruction is devastating beyond comprehension, God’s miracles are coming through. We were some of the first responders, because of my husband‘s and brother’s military background, and we saw hundreds of people in the area we worked coming out untouched. Also, I wanted to let everyone know, that if you are in doubt about whether or not the “American Spirit” is still alive….stay tuned for the pics and videos coming from this recovery effort…we are opening our personal homes as shelters, we are neighbors helping neighbors…people helping people…We live in America’s Heartland and we WILL overcome this tragedy. Please, pray for all those who are lost or have lost loved ones. We need prayers from those wanting to help and cannot physically be here. THank you!!! GOD Bless America! And GOD Bless Joplin in our time of need!
AU Patriot
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:59amHi Joy. I am from B’ham, AL so I know what you are going through right now. You will definitely be in my prayers. I’m sure your local churches will respond as quickly as our did. It has been amazing seeing our community and churches come together and neighbor truly helping neighbor. It has helped restore my faith in the American spirit. Yes, there has been some bad (the govt has given out EBT cards to people w/o verifying whether they were affected by the storms) but the good has far outweighed the fraud and deceit. Blessings to you, your family, and your town.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:50amJOY, left note for OKIE but same goes here. Please let me know a church or group where I can send clothes. Ya’ll are in our prayers.
Report Post »MidwestMomof3
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:58pmOne of my best friends lived in Bradleyville until a couple years ago, her sister still lives by Taineyville and her Dad not far from Ava…we’re not far from Des Moines in Iowa and are planning a trip down there in a few days (once search and rescue are nearing completion) to start to help with clean-up. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you down in Joplin and soon our sweat and tears will join yours.
Report Post »Sending love, for now.
Florida_Freedom_Fighter
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:04amWow, devastating tornado, looks like it got hit by a bomb, I couldn’t believe in Alabama when brick and concrete buildings were all but leveled…..
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:25amVery devastating for Joplin…Was a very active day for tornados today in Oklahoma with waterspouts on Grand Lake, and several twisters in the Northeast corner…Joplin took a direct hit and is absolutely horrible for the Joplin community..I will be there tomorrow morning to help in cleanup…If you can help the community of Joplin with $’s, food, shelter, supplies, etc please do so….
@82nd
Report Post »Can’t remember where in MO you are, just checking to see if your alright…Hope so…
SlimnRanger
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:47amI didn’t attend church last night because i knew the storms were coming in,i am west of Ft Smith which is south of Joplin, as of right now they are reporting 89 people lost their lives, Dear God please help these folks,i am gonna see if i can go help
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:55amMy and my wife’s prayers are going out for peace and comfort for the ones that need it and giving God thanks for the people that have survived this terrible catastrophe. I am waiting to hear from family that live south of Joplin. I know that these brave souls that are doing such a wonderful job in aiding the survivors and the victoms will definitely get their rewards for the sacrifices and difficulties associated with what y’all are doing. I know that I would like to give very strong word of thanks to all of you heroes out there doing such a tremendous job! May God’s Blessings and Protection cover all of you as you do whatever you can to help.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 9:17amOKIE, I have baby clothes and adult clothes I can send if, at some point, you can let me know where. I know in Arkansas a small group of citizens from U of Alabama got together and helped. Please give us an organization or church that is taking on this task. Our prayers go out to all those affected by this awful event. I have faith in the people that they can put it back together with the help of God and people helping people.
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:16am@Grandma5
Report Post »Just ate late breakfast in Miami, OK and will be in Joplin shortly..I’ll get you some info asasp…Unfortunately Joplin is bout to get more storms…I know the folks of Missouri will appreciate it very much…I think Joy posted below a general link as she is from that area but I’ll get some other info for sending aid…Hope your days good Grandma5…
celtclan
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:22amPraying for the people in Joplin. The devastation looks just like the May 3, 1999 F5 that went through Oklahoma. I was lucky and it missed my house by a block, but had many friends that lost everything.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:26amThe desolation of the abomination is upon us, and my prayers have gone out to all the tornado victims, and flood victims, may God Bless you all.
Report Post »Carl1
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 10:29amPraying for everyone in Joplin
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:48amOKIE, thanks, been away from the computer. Yes, I heard MO is getting alot of rain hampering the search and rescue. That was the last thing they needed! I will keep my eye on this site for info, thanks.
Report Post »Professional Infidel
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 2:03pmNo smart remarks this time. Gad, uncomprehindble Wow, Speachless.
Report Post »TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 9:55pmOkie, those damn things were all around us yesterday, we got lucky….
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