Joplin tornado

Joplin tornado. The Joplin tornado was a devastating EF5 tornado that occurred on May 22, 2011, in Joplin, Missouri, affecting St. John's Regional Medical Center, Missouri Southern State University, and Joplin High School. The tornado was part of a larger tornado outbreak sequence that affected the central and southern United States, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Tennessee. The tornado was also monitored by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Severe Storms Laboratory.

Introduction

The Joplin tornado was a rare and destructive multiple-vortex tornado that caused widespread damage and loss of life in Joplin, Missouri, and surrounding areas, including Duquesne, Missouri, and Webb City, Missouri. The tornado was comparable in intensity to other notable tornadoes, such as the Tri-State Tornado and the Moore tornado, which occurred in Oklahoma. The tornado was also studied by researchers from University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and Missouri University of Science and Technology, who were interested in the meteorology and climatology of the event. The tornado was part of a larger severe weather event that affected the Midwest and Southeastern United States, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Alabama.

Meteorological history

The Joplin tornado developed from a supercell that formed in the late afternoon of May 22, 2011, in Newton County, Missouri, near the city of Neosho, Missouri. The storm was fueled by a combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and instability in the atmosphere, which created a favorable environment for thunderstorm development. The tornado was monitored by radar systems operated by the National Weather Service's Kansas City, Missouri office, and weather satellites operated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program. The tornado was also affected by the jet stream, which played a role in the tornado's development and intensity, similar to other notable tornadoes, such as the El Reno tornado and the Bridge Creek–Moore tornado.

Impact

The Joplin tornado caused catastrophic damage and loss of life in Joplin, Missouri, and surrounding areas, including Jasper County, Missouri, and Newton County, Missouri. The tornado destroyed or damaged thousands of buildings, including homes, businesses, and schools, such as Joplin High School and Missouri Southern State University. The tornado also caused significant damage to St. John's Regional Medical Center, which was forced to evacuate patients to other hospitals in the area, including Freeman Health System and Mercy Hospital Joplin. The tornado was one of the deadliest and costliest in U.S. history, comparable to other notable tornadoes, such as the Joplin, Missouri, tornado (1975) and the Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the Joplin tornado was marked by a massive relief effort involving emergency management officials, first responders, and volunteers from across the United States, including American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Salvation Army. The tornado caused significant disruption to critical infrastructure, including power grids, water treatment plants, and communication networks, which were managed by City Utilities of Springfield and Empire District Electric Company. The tornado also had a significant impact on the economy of Joplin, Missouri, and surrounding areas, including Jasper County, Missouri, and Newton County, Missouri, which were supported by Small Business Administration and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Response and relief

The response to the Joplin tornado was led by local and state officials, including the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri, and the State of Missouri, who worked closely with federal agencies, such as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and American Red Cross. The tornado relief effort involved a range of organizations, including non-profit organizations, such as Salvation Army and Catholic Charities USA, and private companies, such as Home Depot and Lowe's, which provided donations and volunteers to support the relief effort. The tornado also received attention from national leaders, including President Barack Obama, who visited Joplin, Missouri to survey the damage and meet with local officials, including Governor Jay Nixon and Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean. Category:Tornadoes in the United States