A monster tornado has gone through Joplin with extensive damage and unknown fatalities. St. Johns regional medical center was heavily damaged and is currently being evacuated because they are expecting an explosion from chemical leaks. The weather channel is showing some coverage. Just awful! :'(
It's absolutely horrible! We've been watching it since it happened. Those poor people! Prayers going up for all of them!
Does anyone know if Carthage, MO was involved in any way? Or Golden City?
REAL TIME RADAR: http://www.intellicast.com/Local/WxMap.aspx?location=USKS0276 (http://www.intellicast.com/Local/WxMap.aspx?location=USKS0276)
Wilma,
From what I've seen and read so far, the tornadic cell went nearly straight west to east between 20th and 26th streets, right through the hospital, the high school and the big box retail area on Rangeline. Then going on east crossing I-44 near the new cloverleaf at US 71 from the south and the new eastern bypass going north. The NWS storm reports then have it moving on east/southeast towards Pierce City.
Charlie
Thanks, I think that lets Carthage out except for the shock of it being so close. Janet hadn't been able to get hold of my granddaughter at Golden City when she called me and I haven't heard anything else from her. This helps ease my concern.
I just saw a photo on FB of the Joplin Walmart, it's gone!
Reports I've read say there are 'hundreds' trapped in the Walmart, Lowes. and Home Depot. That a brand new Walgreens at 20th and Rangeline is gone, and from a reporter for the Globe newspaper that the High School has received 'catastrophic' damage.
Also, there has been extensive damage south of Grove and into Grove proper, and also across McDonald County, MO from Southwest City to Anderson. Pray for our former neighbors, friends, forum members, etc. that live in these areas, and for everyone in general that have been affected by these storms.
Got to go, Travis Meyer (Tulsa 6) just said I've got a tornado on the ground just 10-15 miles SSW of me.
Be safe.
Charlie
picture i was sent on Facebook of Joplin Walmart
My daughter just talked to the neighbor of a family member at Grove and they are okay. Praying for all there.
13 pictures from Joplin. Pretty sure number 9 is what's left of the Home Depot.
http://www.kspr.com/news/local/wdaf-pictures-joplin-tornado-20110522,0,1059030.photogallery
I just saw on Facebook that Randy and Patty Wiseman's son-in-law is a manager at the destroyed Wal-Mart in Joplin and was injured. He has been taken to a hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas with leg and arm injuries but hopefully will be fine. Prayers to all in that area!!!
Afriend of mine caught in it says there are entire apartment complexes flattened and dead animals everywhere. Bless his heart terrible to see.
He said Rangeline is gone. All the complexes behind WalMart as well. Said the Pepsi Factory, WalMart and Archimedy were full of people and just flattened. It was 3 miles wide and 1 mile long. So sad, he says he is cold.
Some years back, my sister had open heart surgery at St. Johns, she had been sent to Freeman hosp. from Grove, Oklahoma. I first saw her there, and marveled at how small that hospital was. Hubby and I transported her to St. Johns for her surgery. I cannot imagine a tiny hospital like Freeman trying to cope with this disaster. It is commendable that the design and construction of St. Johns only resulted in the four reported deaths. From the devastation at the shoppin center, I shudder to think of the results had St. Johns been lesser designed and built. May God shed his mercy on all these poor folk. :'(
Boy it has been a wild night in this neck of the woods. I am so grateful my family is fine.
Good to hear from you. When they were talking about it heading to Pineville i was wondering about you and my good friend Dr Norman Smith and his family. Was anything in Pineville damaged?
not that I know of Roma but I just got up :P was stormin till bout 2 so I am catchin up :P
found reports of damage in Lanagan and Southwest city, Wentworth in Missouri. Grove, Bernice and Zena in Oklahoma. My son lives in Grove, they are ok but I'm gonna go over there later :P so far everybody we know is ok, some injuries and home losses amongst in-laws
Great news to find out everyone is okay!!!
My thoughts and prayers go out for all of you and all of them. It sounds like emergency services are doing a wonderful job with what they've got going on, with coordinating vehicles coming in from everywhere, limited roads and resources and everyone wet and cold. I've been hearing some of it from the fire service end. Several fire stations were damaged as were some of the usual evacuation centers. I just hope the round of storms going on now stays just rain and not too much more wind. So Sad.
I am praising God for protecting my family. I was able to keep in contact, on facebook, with those in Grove, even while they were taking shelter. Pam and I were in constant contact, but that didn't keep this mother/grandmother/great grandmother from worrying till I knew the storm had passed and they were all okay. Night before last had the tornado that demolished Reading to contend with as I have family in Emporia, Lyndon, Lebo, Melvern and Waverly. Everyone has been allowed to go unharmed. Again, I praise God and thank him for his love and protection. I hope that those here on the forum whose families and friends are affected can have the same kind of news I have received.
Amen, Flo, amen!