Joplin EF5 Tornado Damage, Recovery

July 5, 2011

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A somber reminder of the devastating EF5 multiple-vortex tornado that touched down in Joplin, Missouri (50,789 population) on May 22, 2011 winds of up to 200 mph that hurled large objects through the air, breaking down walls and anything else in its 1 mile wide by 6 mile long path through the heart of the city. The tornado tracked eastward across the city, and then continued eastward across Interstate 44 into rural portions of Jasper and Newton counties.

And while the recovery, damage removal continues nearly two months later ... one of the images in the collage shows ... Old Glory displaying proudly amid the rubble on July 4, 2011 ... as a sign of hope.

Overall, the tornado killed 158 people (with an additional three indirect deaths), injured 1,150 others, and caused damages amounting to a total of $2.8 billion. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is managing debris removal as part of the federal tornado recovery effort with assistance from the Missouri National Guard, other first responders, and volunteers from non-government organizations.

Image created by USA Patriotism! include photos by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chris Gray and John Daves and Missouri National Guard Ann Keyes.

 U.S. Army | National Guard | U.S. Department of Defense