Brian Williams of NBC news is from joplin?

30%

He got his start at KOAM

Fortunately, I have a basement. It is in the south part of town, on 44th street. Close to the damage.... and Freeman and St. Johns. There are a lot of hills in my part of town.

I saw the tornado, probably about the time it crossed Main. Went out to help a friend's family, shortly after the tornado. They lived straight west of St. Johns. Absolute devastation there. I've never seen anything like that..... and hope never to again. So many people displaced. Put my arms around an elderly lady, who was sitting in the street in her kitchen chair. She was crying, but said she was OK. She couldn't contact family, as her cell phone wouldn't work, so I let her use mine.

It's probably posted in this thread somewhere, but businesses along Rangeline are a mess. Home Depot, Walgreens, Westco, IHOP, Sonic, Pizza Hut, Macadoodles, Jim Bob's, Walmart, Academy Sports, and too many others to mention are destroyed or badly damaged.

How about some links to confirm. Although the link might still be inaccurate even from a news source.

The Joplin Tornado Info page on facebook said 75%.

I would venture a guess 75 percent of Joplin's business area was destroyed, not 75 percent of the whole town.

Not really. 75% of the town is not accurate. More likely 35%, mostly residential. Although it did destroy key buildings.

Serious lack of communications. Thats why

it understandable.
sec

Also, 75% sounds sexier to the media ghouls.

That is correct.

the difference might also be damaged vs destroyed

and jason bourne is from nixa.

The 75% comment came from an immediate reaction between and interviewer and a victim that originated last night.

On that note, any Joplonians that might be involved with the clean-up efforts let me know what kind of assistance I can give.