Tornado hits Joplin Hospital, 24+ dead

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

LINK TO ARTICLE:

www.stltoday.com/news/local/article_510b0a86-84cf-11e0-9387-001a4bcf6878.html

Excerpt: (full story at link)

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Tornadoes ripped through parts of the Midwest on Sunday, killing at least 24 people in Joplin, Mo., according to a local newspaper, and at least one person in Minneapolis.

Damage was widespread across the south side of Joplin, where a hospital was hit. John Campbell, operations director for the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed fatalities have been reported, but he did not yet have an exact number or specifics.

The Springfield News-Leader put that number at 24 deaths, citing a Springfield-Greene County emergency official.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon activated the National Guard and declared a state of emergency. Nixon said the state and low law enforcement agencies were coordinating search and rescue and recovery operations.

Phone communications in and out of Joplin, a city of about 50,000 people about 160 miles south of Kansas City, were largely cut off.

Jasper County Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer said the St. John's Regional Medical Center on the city's south side took a "direct hit." Witnesses said windows were blown out on the top floors of the hospital.

The hospital was evacuating nearly 100 patients, said Cora Scott, a spokeswoman at the hospital’s sister facility.

The storm was part of a series that battered the Midwest on Sunday night. Tornado warnings and watches were posted from Texas to Michigan.

Jeff Lehr, a reporter for the Joplin Globe, said he was upstairs 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 said. "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.

"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."

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.

In Wisconsin, a powerful storm caused significant damage in La Crosse, tearing roofs from homes and sending emergency responders to search damaged buildings for anyone trapped inside, officials said. La Crosse County sheriff's dispatcher Tim Vogel described the damage as "significant" but told The Associated Press there were no immediate reports of serious injuries.

[Tennesseer]

I offer them my condolences and wish a speedy recovery. It has been one hell of a spring for tornadoes and other severe weather.

[billisonboard]

May 22, 2011 22:18:52 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I offer them my condolences and wish a speedy recovery. It has been one hell of a spring for tornadoes and other severe weather.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

At some point, I wonder if FEMA can keep up with all of these weather-related disasters.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

May 22, 2011 22:18:52 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I offer them my condolences and wish a speedy recovery. It has been one hell of a spring for tornadoes and other severe weather.

Agreed. It seems worse than usual, to me.

Prayers and condolences and good thoughts for all impacted.

[Tennesseer]

April was awful here. When those tornado sirens go off in the middle of the night it is tough to peel myself off the ceiling let alone fall back asleep after the threat has passed.

And tonight there is a tornado watch just across the river in Arkansas. I assume we will have a tornado watch later on tonight.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

SEVERE WEATHER AND FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS LIST(a great resource)

kamala.cod.edu/svr/

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Stay safe, Tennesseer!

[Deleted]

So sad this weather. Lives, homes, enough.

[Deleted]

Terrible. I feel fortunate to live in AZ sometimes, although I miss the coast. No weather here to speak of. Tornadoes are the scariest. Poor people. And yes, FEMA-- how will they keep up with this year's disasters when we are so broke? Hopefully families, friends, charities will help out.

[Deleted]

What a nightmare.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Oh wow. What a picture.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

www.redcross.org/safeandwell

^^ That's the website to check on friends and relatives (or to report yourself safe and well)

[mmhmm]

A busy night at the hospital kept me from the news until I got home. Sad event for Joplin.

[marshabar1]

Ninety deaths I heard. This is a terrible year and the storm season is far from over.

We had a destructive land spout near our home and a more mild one right over our house. All it did was pick up the glass table on the deck and throw it about six feet smashing it to smithereens. I'm just glad it didn't come through the window.

Strange and dangerous weather in many places. I don't remember so many deaths from storms ever before. I am always amazed that so few are injured or killed in these violent storms.

God bless us all. I really do think we Americans need to be on our knees praying to God for His blessings and help in these troubled times.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Does tornado season have a "season" (like Hurricane season does?)

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

I'm very likely going to go chase this storm as a claims adjuster. Could use always use the money and they desperately need the help. BTW- not to hijack the thread, but if you're out there and needing work, you should look into becoming and independent claims adjuster for catastrophes like this, hurricanes, etc. commonly referred to as "cat adjuster". You can start your search at www.catadjuster.org ... if you have the aptitude, it's a highly lucrative field.

[marshabar1]

May 23, 2011 11:19:35 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

I'm very likely going to go chase this storm as a claims adjuster. Could use always use the money and they desperately need the help. BTW- not to hijack the thread, but if you're out there and needing work, you should look into becoming and independent claims adjuster for catastrophes like this, hurricanes, etc. commonly referred to as "cat adjuster". You can start your search at www.catadjuster.org ... if you have the aptitude, it's a highly lucrative field.

What is the process? Are you employed by an insurance company? A broker? Self employed?

[Deleted]

OMG!!!! Horrifying!!!

[mmhmm]

Latest figure I've read is 116 dead. More expected as debris is cleared. Those people have to be in shock! My condolences to all who have lost loved ones.

[Value Buy]

May 23, 2011 10:51:13 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

Does tornado season have a "season" (like Hurricane season does?)

Yes and no.
The high season is always spring, through the summer an into the early fall. Some of the reason for this, is the battle of warm moist air, colliding with the cold dry air from the north (or winter temperatures colliding with warm storm fronts) and the change of the seasons and air temperature clashes.
This is also why we will see some tornado activity in the far southern states in the winter months.

[mmhmm]

More storms are predicted as the week progresses, or so it seems. The midwest is going to need to hunker down. As they get up the eastern states can start hunkering.

[Deleted]

Serious tornado forecast for overnight tonight, same areas... those poor people.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Watching the news coverage of these storms makes me want a basement ~ and we don't live in a tornado area.

[Deleted]

Geez.. tornadoes touching down in OK.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Unfortunately there is more severe weather on the way. It's official- I'm headed to Joplin. I'll probably be off the boards for a few weeks.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 23, 2011 11:30:29 GMT -5 @marshabar1 said:

May 23, 2011 11:19:35 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

I'm very likely going to go chase this storm as a claims adjuster. Could use always use the money and they desperately need the help. BTW- not to hijack the thread, but if you're out there and needing work, you should look into becoming and independent claims adjuster for catastrophes like this, hurricanes, etc. commonly referred to as "cat adjuster". You can start your search at www.catadjuster.org ... if you have the aptitude, it's a highly lucrative field.

What is the process? Are you employed by an insurance company? A broker? Self employed?

I went through All Lines Training: www.alllinestraining.com/

Self-employed and working as a sub-contractor for an independent adjusting (IA) firm (I work under one of my companies, but it's just me doing the work).

Depending on the stack of claims I get handed, I hire temp help.

[vonnie6200]

May 24, 2011 18:11:13 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

Unfortunately there is more severe weather on the way. It's official- I'm headed to Joplin. I'll probably be off the boards for a few weeks.

Be careful!

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

There are five separate tornados in the OKC area-- Fox News has a storm chaser vehicle live streaming tornados right now...

[marshabar1]

Saturday before last we had a land spout right over our house that lifted up an iron and glass table off the deck flipped it over and threw it about six feet to smash in a million pieces on the bbq. The frame ended up in the side yard. Just glad it didn't come through the picture window where we were all standing watching in disbelief. The wind came out of nowhere, clear skies except directly overhead. It blew around us and died down then came back with a vengeance and did the damage. Heard the term "devil wind" and this really did seem like a devil wind. A few days later a home nearby was damaged by a bigger landspout and their camper trailer totaled.

We do have a basement and I am very glad. This left us feeling very exposed. I can't even comprehend what it must feel like to be in the path of a real monster like they are seeing in the midwest.