Let's not superimpose the actions of a few onto the entire community.

To support the Joplin tornado relief effort text REDCROSS to 90999 or visit redcross.org.

Wow just heard about this a few minutes ago, My Prayers go out to all who have family, friends and loved ones.

I am from Parsons, but live in Joplin and go to MSSU. Apartment was right in the middle of it and got hit. Luckily I was home for the weekend as well as the guy I lived with. Also many many friends and family members are yet to be found and/or lost homes. It's about a 6x2 mile stretch that completely got flattened. Including Walmart, Home Depot, and many other large stores. Please keep us/them in your prayers!

Hearing reports of looting stores and over turned semis...also first responders and emergency crews having problems due to rubberneckers and gawkers driving around to see the damage.

Joplin will need any help they can get over the next few months.

Thats not what I was doing.

Was out of town for our baby shower today or we probably would have been in Joplin.just got back and from about 12 st down rangeline is unrecognizable

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/a...wp&feedId=2798

Link to online scanner for Jasper County

People ****ing looting? Jesus. That is horrible.

Anyone else listening to the scanner just hear that bit about the flashers?

Yep. Using them to identify where the bodies are for the rescue teams to transport to the morgue.

Can't imagine that's a fun assignment.

wtf is wrong with people, looters really

My cousin just got the news that both of her grandparents were both lost in this storm..

Very sad day for her family...

Sister in Law is a Funeral Director in Oswego Ks, She just got the call to head to Baxter Springs KS, they are going to start delivering bodies to her tonight to start the embolming processes...

They told her to pack and prepare for at least 3-4 days...

Maybe they are just looking for much needed provisions to survive, let's not assume the worst.

Prayers for sure. Cannot imagine.

in a sporting goods store? There can be no excuse for looting in a situation like this.

From KOAM's website, one of the local TV stations in Joplin:

http://tinyurl.com/3dk4bt6

Updated at 10:45PM CST: At least 25 confirmed dead at the command post.

Updated 8:45 PM CST: KOAM photographer Crystal Albright was at 15th and Range Line. She says the Burger King is gone. King's Palace was catching on fire at the time.

A tractor trailer was turned over near the 15th Street Walmart. Plaza apartments and storage facilities behind the Walmart at 15th street also received damage.

Updated 8:40 PM CST: KOAM Chief Videographer Aaron Thompson was at 20th and Rhode Island and says damage at Commerce Bank, Papa Johns. Damage going east is "worse and worse". Says he was unable to get to Range Line from that direction.

"I didn't know where I was... street signs are just gone".

Updated 7:45 PM CST: Joplin High School has been severely damaged. The graduation was today, but was held at Missouri Southern.

Posted 7:40 PM CST: Tornadoes touch down in Joplin leaving a path of destruction throughout the city.

Power lines and phone lines are down. Communications are difficult.

Starting at 20th and Rangeline a tornado destroyed countless buildings throughout the area.

At the 15th and Rangeline Walmart ambulances lined the street as emergency rescue officials across the Four-States have responded to rescue hundreds of residents trapped inside the building.

St. John's hospital was also hit hard by the tornado. One resident living nearly 45-miles away from the hospital says his yard is now full of debris from the hospital-- medical supplies and x-rays.

Officials say the hospital is severely damaged. Chunks of the building were taken out and windows were blown out.

Eastbound and westbound I-44 is closed at mile marker 18 near Joplin due to overturned tractor trailers during severe weather.

Yeah man, you gotta jack some UnderArmor for cleanup efforts. Shonuff.

I just find it hard to believe anyone would think that way in an emergency.

My God, that is terrible news.

It's one city not the country or the world. Looting is bs. Help is minutes away.

It's possible someone could react this way if they had lost everything.

Helicopter in front of St Johns

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg618/sca...=640&ysize=640

I was wondering what happened to Medflight... Would've guessed that it would have gone to Joplin Airport to try and ride out a storm if they had time.

Yeah I suppose it is. I would hope they would be a bit more level headed and civilized before adding to the problem though. Tornado's don't destroy everything... generally not even everything in your city... with a few small town exceptions.

The last single tornado to kill 40+ people in a single city was Wichita Falls, Texas in April of 79...lets hope they don't lose that distinction.

http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/koam/...inghamPark.jpg

Cunningham Park area in Joplin

Good God, that's a monster.

Ugh. Like I said earlier I nearly moved to Joplin for a job a while back. Job wasn't right for me. Weird feeling.

24 so far and rescue has only barely begun, it's looking grim.. :/

Not defending looters here, but you think you would be level headed and civilized if you just lost everything you owned? I don't care if there are stores within "minutes". Everyone else will be there too, and getting there could be quite the trek.

We've talked about a chlli place called Fred N Reds a lot here. It's at 18th and Main, about two blocks from where there's damage for sure. I hope it's OK. I was just there back in January. Nice folks there, I hope they are closed on Sunday. I went right down this area, right past the high school and hospital. Crazy. Just Crazy.

Last unofficial count was 37 with more expected.

Didn't they lose more than that in Tuscaloosa?

Bad feeling that it will increase, rapidly.

I have to think the death toll is going to be in the triple digits.

Imagine what these cops and EMT's are going through... they're as devastated as anyone else. Just brutal. But they do their job.

I just heard about this on my way home from dart league tonight. Horrible destruction, just unbelievable.

My prayers go out to the entire city and those who have family and friends there.

And I shouldn't even mention his name, but shame on you Ari.

Travelers beware. A lot of construction and flood closings across the state. I-44 in/near Joplin expected to be closed overnight.

http://maps.modot.mo.gov/timi/

Honestly yes I think I would. Help will come in the way of emergency services, the national guard etc. Thats the great thing about our country... help comes when you need it. If a tornado hit my city the last thing on my ming would be looting Wal-Mart. If I made it out alive finding my loved ones and looking for where I could help would be.

41 apparently...

http://blog.al.com/montgomery/2011/0...eath_toll.html

Screw atheletes and movies stars.... those people are actual heros.

Amen.

:facepalm:


My heart goes out to all in Joplin who have lost anything....

Maybe for that one storm, but for the entire outbreak, it's MUCH higher. NOAA has it at 354 at the moment.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=torout

Resource to find love ones or friends. Red Cross Safe and Well website.

https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms//

multiple storms/tornadoes I believe. This one being one massive tornado.

One of my friends is heading down to joplin (firefighter) to help now.

Still haven't heard from 2 of my friends....ugh

This has been an unbelieveable year for natural disasters. God be with those affected and those working to help.

WTF?

You should probably be medicated.

2nded.

Some of the guys are calling it a night until daylight. They've been at it for about six hours now. Memorial Hall is triage, Football Stadium parking lot at Missouri Southern is the morgue. The dispatch guy said Cass County Sheriff help just arrived (that's just south of KC...Harrisonville). They won't be able to do much until daylight in about six hours. Going to be a long night down there.

The cops are also having trouble keeping the lookie looks out of the area. I'm sure some people are trying to get to check on relatives, but a lot of them are just sightseers. They need to GTFO!

Besides monetary donations, one of the best things anyone in this area can do would be to head to the nearest Red Cross or CBCO (also provides blood and blood products to hospitals affected) and donate blood.

Sightseers are the worst... 1) get a clue 2)get out of the way 3)find somewhere you can be of actual assistance

Props to luv for spreading the good word.

:thumb:

Photos from Joplin

http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=joplin&s=rec

:shake:

That's probably going to be a huge problem over the next few days when they move into cleanup mode.

There appears to be absolutely nothing left standing.

Any videos of the tornado itself up close and personal? Sounds like it was AT LEAST and F4. 95% of tornado's are F0 - F1's. The chances of a F4 or F5 hitting a major area like this is so low it's crazy. And it's happened already this year to Tuscaloosa. Just terrible

Trust me. They aren't even p past the first layer. The death count will be huge.

they're quoting a random person... Judging by the map I've seen with approximate boundaries of the damage, I'd say about 35-45% of the town has been destroyed.

Link by chance?

Right down the center., but it didn't get all.

Good lord

Update on your situation?

Morons are coming out of the woodwork by making comments on the Facebook page, first someone dissing Obama after he sent his condolences and then someone bitching about Spanish speakers because of a likewise related post.

Always helpful

Got taken down, but if you look on Google maps, go from Maiden Lane on the west side of town. Then draw a swath between 32nd and 20th streets with the line bending northeast over 20th street after crossing Main, then up over 15th street towards 7th. That's a rough estimate of the footprint the tornado left.

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/a...wp&feedId=2798

Sorry my bad,thats not the link you were looking for.

Carthage may have gotten storm damage, but I don't think the tornado went that far north.

Seriously, what in the BLUE **** are you talking about?! You must just be batshit crazy. So maybe I shouldn't even ask.

For those in the area that want to help..

http://www.facebook.com/joplinmo/posts/116927731725155

I am so sorry to hear about this. Man, I spent a lot of time in Joplin while growing up and my mom still visits every Friday for shopping. We really are thinking about and praying for you all.