Tornado rips apart Missouri city, kills more than 115

[News_Editor]

Tornado rips apart Missouri city, kills more than 115

2011-05-24 05:49:01 GMT+7 (ICT)

JOPLIN, MISSOURI (BNO NEWS) -- More than 115 people were killed on late Sunday afternoon when a powerful tornado ravaged the Missouri city of Joplin, officials confirmed on Monday.

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr confirmed at least 116 people had been killed in the disaster, while the National Weather Service (NWS) said more than 400 people were injured. Many are in a critical condition and officials said some people were still trapped in structures on Monday.

The new death toll makes Sunday's tornado that tore through Joplin the deadliest single tornado since 1899 when a tornado killed at least 117 people in New Richmond, Wisconsin, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The tornado reached Joplin at around 5.41 p.m. local time on Sunday after tornado warnings were issued about 20 minutes earlier. It tore through the city for several miles (kilometers), leaving a path of destruction about three quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometer) wide. Up to 30 percent of the city was estimated to have been destroyed.

An NWS storm survey revealed the tornado was a violent EF-4 tornado, the second-highest rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The storm survey estimated the tornado's wind speeds at up to 198 miles (318 kilometers) per hour.

In response to the disaster, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon activated the Missouri National Guard and declared a state of emergency. He also opened the state's Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the emergency response.

"These storms have caused extensive damage across Missouri, and they continue to pose significant risk to lives and property," Nixon said. "As a state, we are deploying every agency and resource available to keep Missouri families safe, search for the missing, provide emergency medical care, and begin to recover. I have ordered the Missouri National Guard to deploy Citizen-Soldiers and assets to support local law enforcement agencies with emergency coordination and recovery, and other state assets have been mobilized to provide emergency support as well."

Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the direction of President Barack Obama, added Jasper and Newton counties to an ongoing disaster declaration earlier declared for Missouri. It will allow survivors of the tornado to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

"What happened over the weekend in Missouri, Minnesota and Kansas, is simply heartbreaking, and all of us are thinking of and praying for the families and communities devastated by these deadly storms," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, who also referenced to other recent storms. "As President Obama and Secretary Napolitano told Governor Nixon over the past day, the entire federal family is ready to support the impacted states in any way needed. We thank the first responders, volunteers and good Samaritans who have been working heroically, around the clock, to save lives and conduct search and rescue efforts."

White House spokesman Nicholas Shapiro said Obama called Nixon at around 8 a.m. Eastern time to personally extend his condolences and express that all of the families of Joplin affected by the tornado are in his thoughts and prayers. "The President assured the governor that FEMA will remain in close contact and coordination with state and local officials," Shapiro.

Shapiro said Obama directed Fugate of FEMA to travel to Missouri to ensure the state receives all the support it needs. In addition, a FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) has also been dispatched to Joplin. "The Federal government will continue to support our fellow Americans during this difficult time," Shapiro added.

Earlier on Monday, Obama said he and his wife sent their "deepest condolences" to the families of all those who lost their lives in the severe weather. "We commend the heroic efforts by those who have responded and who are working to help their friends and neighbors at this very difficult time," Obama said.

This year has been unusually deadly from tornadoes in the United States. In late April, at least 329 people were killed and more than 2,000 others were injuries when a violent tornado outbreak devastated Alabama and other Southern U.S. states.

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