Joplin - 5 Years Later

Joplin - 5 Years Later

On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado tore through Joplin and neighboring Duquense, killing 161 people.

As part of KSMU's quarterly Sense of Community series May 18-23, we examined the recovery efforts since the storm.

View our stories below to hear from city leaders and community members about the rebuilding challenges, successes, and resiliency of those involved over these past five years.

You'll learn about the Disaster Recovery Summit, a two-day event bringing together citizens and leaders from other tornado-stricken communities to assess recovery efforts, how tornado safe rooms have become commonplace in southwest Missouri since the storm, and how the city and school are honoring those lost as a result of the tornado.

Health

Marking Love, Help, and Resilience: A Final Salute to Joplin at Year 5

Scott Harvey

“I survived. May 22, 2011.” Those are the words on the shirt of Dave Hodges. The words accompany an image of a pickup truck – its windows blown out -…
Education

On Anniversary of Deadly Storm, Joplin High School Honors its Graduates

Michele Skalicky

In this segment of KSMU's Sense of Community Series, Michele Skalicky highlights a celebration taking place five years after the deadly storm.Sunday was a…
Community Safety

Long Road to Disaster Recovery Starts and Ends with Community Support

Scott Harvey

For natural disaster victims, the length of a recovery has become synonymous with the distance of a marathon. The goal is to successfully sprint out of…
Arts and Entertainment

The Other Side of Storm – Revisited

Randy Stewart

Dr. Hubert Bird spent 30 years on the music faculty of the University System of New Hamphire, and has had a distinguished career as a composer, conductor,…
Health

Healing Through Journaling Five Years After the Storm

Michele Skalicky

In this segment of KSMU's Sense of Community Series, Michele Skalicky talks with participants in Journal Joplin, one of the ways the city is observing the…
Community Safety

Since Joplin Tornado, Dozens of Safe Rooms Built in Area Schools, Communities

The number of Federal Emergency Management Agency safe rooms in Missouri has more than doubled since an EF5 tornado hit Joplin in 2011. According to the…
News

Special Tree to be Planted in Joplin Sunday

Michele Skalicky

As Joplin observes the five-year anniversary of the tornado this weekend, a tree will be planted outside Mercy Hospital Joplin. The hospital replaces St.…
Going Back to Joplin to Move Forward: My Memories of May 22, 2011

“Remember when we first brought her, how hard that was," says Leslie, my mom.My mom, my brother, and I stand in an empty lot on Moffet Street in Joplin.…
Business and the Economy

Facts and Figures from the Joplin Tornado: What Did It Cost?

Randy Stewart

The facts of the story are all too familiar by now—especially to those who lived through it. On Sunday May 22nd, 2011, the most devastating level of…
Culture

Five Years Later-Volunteerism and Resiliency Central to Recovery Effort

Theresa Bettmann

Five years ago, this section of Joplin was littered with debris after an EF-5 tore through the city, killing 161 people. Today, the area known as “ground…