Details
In the late afternoon of Sunday may 22nd of 2011, a category EF 5 tornado shocked the small town of Joplin, Missouri, USA. It is considered one of the most fatal tornadoes to ever strike the US, along with the 1925 tri-state tornado and Oklahoma 2013.
The tornado travelled from Cherokee County, KS to 4190 Quail Rd, Diamond, MO. Starting from just a whirling cloud to an EF5 tornado, with winds over 200 mph (321 kilometres per hour). Passing through homes, shops and schools and throwing cars everywhere.
The tornado started around 5:15pm right after a high school graduation at Joplin High School.
Statistics
Casualty Count
- 161 related deaths were confirmed. The original included 162, until one man's injuries proved to be unrelated to the disaster.
- 1 policeman died in an indirect fatality when he was struck by lightning while assisting with recovery.
- 5 patients were killed in the hospital, when the power failed and their ventilators failed.
- 54% of the deaths were in family residences
- 32% perished in non-residential areas
- 14% died in cars or outdoor areas.
- 7 people were killed in a home depot store, after the roof was pulled off and the warehouse walls fell in a domino effect.
- A rare fungus, called zygomycosis caused 8 serious wound infection cases.
- 990 injuries were confirmed.
- 146 remains were unidentified, but numbers quickly dwindled and many were confirmed dead.
- Around 257 were left homeless
- Officials said they rescued 944 pets and reunited 292 with owners
- Seventeen people were rescued from the rubble the day after the tornado struck.
- Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri ($9.4 million)
- American Red Cross ($6 million)
- Salvation Army ($5 million)
- United Way of Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas (nearly $1.7 million)
- Joplin Tomorrow Fund and Business Recovery Fund ($2.2 million)
- St. John's Regional Medical Center and Mercy Hospital Joplin ($6.75 million)
- Joplin School District ($8 million)
- $500,000 grant from the foundation of former U.S. Senator John Danforth to aid businesses in the community, which resulted in 81% of the more than 55 businesses reopening (may 13, 2012)
- 2.43 million dollars was raised to aid rebuilding.