Missouri

Photos: A look back at the 2011 Joplin, Missouri, tornado

By The Star
While her home was completely destroyed, Amy Jump, her husband and three children all survived the tornado that devastated Joplin.
While her home was completely destroyed, Amy Jump, her husband and three children all survived the tornado that devastated Joplin. DAVID EULITT/The Kansas City Sta Star file photo

On the 15th anniversary of the disaster that killed 158 in Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011, The Star is republishing photographs from our archives that document the destruction, resilience and hope the community would draw on to rebuild.

The EF-5 tornado brought 200-mph winds scouring a three-quarter-mile-wide, six-mile-long band of devastation through the city of 50,000.

Dallas Lee, 6, held onto family friend Scott Rowan’s neck as the pair searched for salvageable items from the truck Dallas was in during the tornado.
Dallas Lee, 6, held onto family friend Scott Rowan’s neck as the pair searched for salvageable items from the truck Dallas was in during the tornado. Star file photo
“I am doing what I can,” said storm survivor Evan Parris, as technician Amy Bratten collected his blood. Parris, his wife and two dogs rode out the tornado in a rest area off Interstate 44 just southwest of Joplin. “About 40 or 50 people were crowded into the rest area,” said Parris, who was traveling home to Kansas City from Tulsa when the tornado hit the Joplin area. “I haven’t ever seen a natural disaster of this magnitude,” he said Parris.
“I am doing what I can,” said storm survivor Evan Parris, as technician Amy Bratten collected his blood. Parris, his wife and two dogs rode out the tornado in a rest area off Interstate 44 just southwest of Joplin. “About 40 or 50 people were crowded into the rest area,” said Parris, who was traveling home to Kansas City from Tulsa when the tornado hit the Joplin area. “I haven’t ever seen a natural disaster of this magnitude,” he said Parris. Star file photo
Crews from Crossland Heavy Construction based in Columbus, Kansas, picked up cars wrecked by the tornado.
Crews from Crossland Heavy Construction based in Columbus, Kansas, picked up cars wrecked by the tornado. Star file photo
Thane Snider worked in the yard of his childhood home after the storm. A statue of St. Peter lay among the rubble as Snider looked for power tools to assist in the cleanup.
Thane Snider worked in the yard of his childhood home after the storm. A statue of St. Peter lay among the rubble as Snider looked for power tools to assist in the cleanup. Star file photo
President Barack Obama visited some of those whose homes were destroyed a week ago in the massive tornado that hit Joplin, Mo. The president walked through several blocks of a residential area that was extensively damaged by the storm that claimed well over 100 lives. He paused with Missouri Govenor Jay Nixon after the tour to briefly comment on the devastation. RICH SUGG/The Kansas City Star_05292011.
President Barack Obama and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon visited with Joplin residents whose homes were destroyed in the massive tornado. Star file photo
Tornado damage in Joplin, Missouri, in May 2011
More than 150 people were killed in the storm. File photo
After services Wednesday morning at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, the casket carrying Riverside Police Officer Jefferson Taylor is loaded onto a fire truck that led the procession to the Graceland Cemetery in Cameron, Mo. where he was laid to rest. Taylor died from injuries sustained in a lighting strike while assisting tornado victims in Joplin. RICH SUGG/The Kansas City Star_06082011.
The casket carrying Riverside police officer Jefferson Taylor is loaded onto a fire truck that led the procession to the Graceland Cemetery in Cameron, Missouri, where he was laid to rest. Taylor died from injuries sustained in a lighting strike while assisting tornado victims. Star file photo
Former Kansas City Chiefs Duane Clemons unloaded bottled water outside Arrowhead Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. Clemons and other Chiefs ambassadors, employees, and a few cheerleaders from the Chiefs were on hand to collect donations that will be delivered to the tornado ravaged city of Joplin. Donations of cash, or bottled water will be accepted in Lot C at Arrowhead Stadium until 7 p.m. Tuesday and all day on Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Monetary donations will go to Heart to Heart International to aid tornado victims in Reading, Kan., and Joplin, Mo. Fry-Wagner Moving and Storage was donating the water transportion to Joplin.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Duane Clemons and other team ambassadors, employees and cheerleaders collected donations for Joplin tornado victims. Star file photo
Kathrin Elmborg's wedding ring was found in the rubble of her home by Lana Nelson, right.
Kathrin Elmborg's wedding ring was found in the rubble of her home by Lana Nelson, right. Star file photo
As Lage Grigsby smiles at his dad who was watching nearby, Children’s Mercy Hospital nurse Sarah Lovejoy takes his vital health information during surgery check-in. Lage, 14, was near death after the tornado pulled him from his grandpa’s truck. On July 5, 2011, surgeons planned to put Lage’s skull back together using bone doctors stored in his stomach to keep it alive.
As Lage Grigsby smiles at his dad who was watching nearby, Children’s Mercy Hospital nurse Sarah Lovejoy takes his vital health information during surgery check-in. Lage, 14, was near death after the tornado pulled him from his grandpa’s truck. On July 5, 2011, surgeons planned to put Lage’s skull back together using bone doctors stored in his stomach to keep it alive. Star file photo
"We're stubborn Dutchmen. We're not going to leave," said Marlene Uyttebroeck She and her husband, Phillip Uyttebroeck, had tree damage, no power and holes in the roof, but they have ought a generator and planned to stay put.
"We're stubborn Dutchmen. We're not going to leave," said Marlene Uyttebroeck She and her husband, Phillip Uyttebroeck, had tree damage, no power and holes in the roof, but they have ought a generator and planned to stay put. Star file photo
Volunteers Hailey Riesenmy (left) and Alison Sauer directed people in for free food.
Volunteers Hailey Riesenmy (left) and Alison Sauer directed people in for free food. Star file photo
Saying that they like the community and the good people, Tim and Stacey Bartow are planning to stay in Joplin. Tim painted several signs on the remains of his home to thank volunteers and send out a message of hope to fellow residents. 05262011 KEITH MYERS/The Kansas City Star
Saying that they like the community and the good people, Tim and Stacey Bartow planned to stay in Joplin. Tim painted several signs on the remains of his home to thank volunteers and send out a message of hope to fellow residents. Star file photo
Tornado damage in Joplin on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. 05242011 KEITH MYERS/The Kansas City Star ORG XMIT: VS1LLSV6
An aerial view of tornado damage to a Joplin neighborhood. Star file photo
Saying that they like the community and the good people, Tim and Stacey Bartow are planning to stay in Joplin. The survived the tornado by taking shelter in their basement along with a neighboring family. They were at the home on Thursday, May 26, 2011, to locate belongings. Speaking about the hand painted sign, Tim said “I wanted to get the message out there that there’s hope.” 05252011 KEITH MYERS/The Kansas City Star
Tim and Stacey Bartow survived the tornado by taking shelter in their basement along with a neighboring family. Speaking about the hand-painted sign, Tim said “I wanted to get the message out there that there’s hope.” Star file photo
Workers surveyed the tornado damaged St. John’s Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, in Joplin. 06152011 KEITH MYERS/The Kansas City Star
Workers surveyed the tornado damaged St. John’s Regional Medical Center on June 15, 2011. Star file photo
On the night of the tornado Casey Himmelsbach (right) went on a frantic search with other family members for her mother, Connie Lansdown, who was a patient at St. John’s Medical Center in Joplin. They live in Neosho, Mo. 06142011 KEITH MYERS/The Kansas City Star
On the night of the tornado, Casey Himmelsbach (right) went on a frantic search with other family members for her mother, Connie Lansdown, who was a patient at St. John’s Medical Center. Star file photo
The vertebrae in 6-year-old Brody German’s neck were showing through his wound after the tornado passed though Joplin. He was still healing at home in Webb City on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. 06152011 KEITH MYERS/The Kansas City Star
The vertebrae in 6-year-old Brody German’s neck were showing through his wound as he healed from his injuries. Star file photo
A dog that nurse Sharell Questelle helped rescue the night of the tornado is being cared for free of charge at the Miami (Okla.) Animal Hospital by vet Rod Hough. The animal, who Questelle has named F5, had an injured leg amputated and is recovering at the facility. 06142011 KEITH MYERS/The Kansas City Star
Nurse Sharell Questelle helped rescue this dog the night of the tornado. It’s been named F5 and was cared for free of charge at the Miami, Oklahoma, Animal Hospital by vet Rod Hough. It was in recovery after an injured leg was amputated. Star file photo
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