Joplin (MO) confirmed at least 89 death-victims from tornado

After a deadly tornado hit the southwest Missouri city Joplin, authorities have informed that at least 89 people have died from the natural disaster. The main region of the city that was hit, according to city manager Mark Rohr, a path about six miles long and more than a half-mile wide through the center of town. Joplin’s south side was also crushed, with businesses, homes and restaurants totally destroyed.

Patients From St. John’s Successfully Evacuated

One of the major concerns as people noticed the imminent danger of the tornado was with St. John’s Regional Medical Center. The facility had a direct hit from the tornado, which could have left most of its patients without any possibilities. At least the staff managed to rush the patients into hallways and they all watched while the building was destroyed.

Owner of a dental office, Matt Scheffer tried to cross the hospital’s parking lot to get to his office. “My office is totally gone. Probably for two to three blocks, it’s just leveled. The building that my office was in was not flimsy. It was 30 years old and two layers of brick. It was very sturdy and well built,” said Scheffer. Now, the patients from St. John’s have been evacuated to other medical institutions in the region.

Desperate Feelings Struck With Tornado

For those who managed to reach a safe place or were just lucky for not being at the wrong place at the wrong time, the memories of the tornado’s attack are still vivid. Reporter and photographer for the Wichita Eagle, Denise Neil and Jaime Green, were together with the six-year-old Lexi, who is Neil’s daughter. About the episode, Neil said “I was watching power lines come down and exploding as they hit the ground. Jaime could see the roof above us start to go, but it never went. Jaime kept saying, ‘I’m scared.’ Lexi kept asking, ‘What’s happening?’ I kept thinking, ‘This can’t be happening.’ ”

Another sad consequence is that the city has many of its parts entirely tarred apart, which left the region unrecognizable. A Joplin resident, Jeff Law, said “I’ve lived in this neighborhood my entire life and I didn’t know where I was. Everything was unrecognizable. Completely unrecognizable. It’s like Armageddon.” Likewise Law, others who got tormented by the disaster did not manage to find their way back, as street signs and information spots do not exist anymore.