Joplin MO Emergency Services Audio from Tornado on 5/22/11

Joplin MO Emergency Services Audio from Tornado on 5/22/11
The audio is taken from multiple sources and is edited.
Audio used from a creative common license from Radioreference.com

[@lfpd564]

I'm a firefighter from Oklahoma. I remember seeing what had happened that night and knowing I had to do something. The day after, myself and two other fireman wanted to do whatever we could for our fellow Americans in their time of need and grief. we responded with an Oklahoma task force and performed various search and rescue tasks, and provided relief to those who had been up for days. I had never previously been to Joplin but upon arrival i felt a part of it. God bless Joplin and those lost

[@michaellovely6601]

Then El Reno, Oklahoma was torn to shreds by a tornado on May 31, 2013. Some people have called the El Reno tornado the "El Reno demon." Much like how some call the May 27, 1997 tornado in Jarrell, Texas the "Dead Man Walking."

[@williamsstephens]

And the Topeka '66 "The Wrath of God".

[@evanwood8581]

My aunt was in Walmart during this. She says that they were just shopping when all of the sudden they hear a roaring outside, and suddenly it’s quiet. Then the lights went out and it was silent, pieces of roof began to lift off, and a chunk of the ceiling fell on a family right next to them. Boom, dead, just like that.I can’t imagine how traumatizing it must have been.

[@mikegallant811]

Oh goodness gracious, they got crushed just like the Wicked Witch of the East in the Wizard of Oz was crushed by the Gale Farmhouse! Heckuva lousy way to go........ 😱😭

[@fudanshi575]

@@mikegallant811 what sort of psychopathic comment to make about a family who died. seek help

[@mikegallant811]

@@fudanshi575 I ain't no psycho. Just maybe my comment could have been a little different. I was shocked at what happened to them was all!

[@GottaWannaDance]

Knowing well before Joplin how Walmart and Home Depot and a lot of big box and small malls are built, if there's a tornado or derecho, I'm running out the building to take my chances outside. Once that roof goes there is nothing holding those walls up. I think Costco is built that way, also.

[@steved6149]

@@mikegallant811 "I ain't no psycho", that's debatable, but you're certainly a giant fucking loser.

[@cabinetbuilder]

My wife and I came down to Joplin on the 27th of May to help with whatever we could do. My wife ( a registered Nurse Practitioner) volunteered at a Walgreen's on 20th and Main during the day helping the victims with whatever concerns they had giving tetanus shots and comforting them. My son and I helped people get possessions out of their homes and load into their vehicles. My heart goes out to those we helped and didn't get a chance to help. We will be back soon to help again.

[@pcbusby]

Wow ... I'm a technician at that store now. I'm not sure if you'll see this comment as it's 10 years ago when you commented, but thank you for all you did. ❤️ God bless

[@LetaLynn]

i want to say thank to all of the emergency personnel that helped my family member get out of Dillon's, she was one of the many employees that had worked that day. I also want to say to all of the personnel at St. John's hospital ya'll did a great job under extreme stress.

[@jamiethompson2516]

I'm so happy for you guys she was helped god bless

[@RubberDuckyMedic]

But until you are the one standing in the hail and pouring rain, black tagging patients, listening to screams from all directions, and having absolute devastation surround you- you cannot judge what happened. I was there. I still have nightmares. I will never tell my family the things I saw that day. There was no communication on cell phones or landlines. I had no idea if any of my family had survived. Could you be in the chaos and see the trauma, burns, impalements, deaths, and destruction

[@mikegallant811]

Black tags are the worst. Red and Yellow,at least there's hope. Green tags are the best.

[@michaellovely6601]

I can't imagine doing that. I couldn't even imagine myself working as a 911 dispatcher. My sister once suggested that I should apply for a job as a 911 dispatcher; so I listened to a few well-known 911 calls to get an understanding of what I would have to do as a 911 dispatcher. One of the calls I listened to was the 911 call from the library of Columbine High School during the shooting there on April 20, 1999. The call was placed by teacher Patti Nielsen and answered by Jefferson County 911 operator Renee Napoli at 11:24 AM Mountain Time. Even though she is in a state of extreme panic; Patti Nielsen is able to give as much descriptive information as possible about the shooters, where she was at in the school, and that she had managed to get the students in the library to hide under the tables. Some have wondered why Patti didn't order the students in the library to evacuate or try to shut and lock the doors to the library. There were two emergency exits in the library; one which led downstairs to the cafeteria and one that led outside to the sidewalk by the school's west entrance. Because there were two shooters who committed the tragedy; Patti reasonably assumed that the shooters would ambush the students the moment they either came downstairs into the cafeteria or came outside to the sidewalk. If she tried to shut and lock the doors to the library; the shooters would have tried to blow the doors down.

[@tracyfrederick5606]

I don't think I could. These responders ( including yourself ) are heroes. Im in Alabama where we get our share. Thank you.

[@deniserossiter1059]

@@michaellovely6601 Yeah, I’ve heard those 911 calls. Just absolutely horrific, to say the least. I can still remember everything she (teacher Patti) said. ”Get down kids” So sad.

[@michaellovely6601]

@@deniserossiter1059 Of all the families' victims; my heart breaks the most for the family of Isaiah Shoels. Isaiah was killed simply because he was one of the very few black students at Columbine High School. In a bizarre twist of irony; the Shoels family had plans to move, but Isaiah convinced his parents Vonda and Michael Shoels to stay because it was his Senior year and so he wanted to graduate on time and with his friends. What really surprised me is that nearly twenty years after the shooting Rachel Scott's mother Beth Nimmo met Dylan's mother Sue Klebold. Beth explained that before she met Sue she asked God what she should say to her and He said that she should ask Sue Klebold about who Dylan was before April the 20th of 1999. When Beth asked this question; tears began rolling down Sue's cheeks and she said to Beth that no one had ever asked her about who Dylan was before the shooting. I have a copy of Sue's book "A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy" and I felt so sorry for Sue Klebold because even though she didn't murder or injure those people at Columbine High School she was still blamed for the actions of her son. Sue explained in her interview with ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer that she "has to let some of this rest and say 'I didn't kill these people; Dylan did, it wasn't me!'"

[@RubberDuckyMedic]

I'm a paramedic in this area and was first on scene in an ambulance. We beat the firefighters, police, and first responders on scene. My partner and I pulled many people from the debris, and there were many we couldn't get to. There is no amount of training to prepare any one for a disaster of this magnitude. My supervisor that day did the best he could with half the town gone. If you want to complain about how pathetic his actions were then that's your decision. But until you are the one stand

[@kiaadkins6627]

Thank you, I lived there as well. Had just turned down 20th off Schifferdecker when an officer pulled up behind my husband with his lights on. My husband slowed down till the officer turned around we had our 3 kids in the car my neighbor his son and a couple of dogs in the car headed to 22nd and Jackson where there was a storm shelter. I honestly believe he saved our lives that day. If you know who that officer was please tell him thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@axelsoncarla]

RubberDuckyMedic I don’t really care that you were the first on the scene. It’s not a race. If so, your priorities are in the wrong place

[@michaellovely6601]

After the tornado dissipated; it was a long, long night for the residents of Joplin, Missouri.

[@andydavis9963]

My heart still 9 years later still goes out to a you and all Joplin

[@is_o8053]

You can’t save everyone but you certainly made use of the people you can save. I appreciate people like you who are so fast to arrive on scene. We thank you for ur services. Although my school was destroyed, all I cared about was being alive and the paramedics like you saved the day. Thank you

[@tankkiller41]

I live up here in Alberta Canada..But every year my heart goes out to you folks who have to deal with this every year. I was glued to my TV as CNN reported this tornado...

[@kelandaidansmom]

I’m in New Brunswick. I’m so thankful we don’t get tornadoes here

[@punishedexistence]

I was born in Ohio where we get our fair share of tornadoes, but nothing of this magnitude. I remember considering coming out to volunteer as I felt such a sting watching that kind of destruction, but I had obligations at home. A few years later I moved to SE missouri and that year the tornado hit in Perryville, which is only 30 miles from me. Just goes to show nature has her way of reminding you who's in charge.

[@disoriented1]

We love Albertans here in Missouri...it's not about Canada or the U.S...it's about people in the heartland of North America.

[@tracyfrederick5606]

I'm so impressed that these responders held it together in the chaos. God bless these heroes.

[@mikegallant811]

To all those who lived,all those who died,to those who served their community, to those who had the grisly job of dealing with the dead,to those who saved lives: May The Lord Bless You And Keep You. May His Face Shine Upon You And May He Give You Peace.

[@wadeward1206]

god bless all the victims still alive and the ones gone

[@DiamondMushroom]

Amen.

[@g64870c]

Worst thing to go through. I was 6 miles from the path of this tornado. We had tree limbs down and street signs down in our area. 30 min after the tornado, I went to take pictures. I went down to 20th and Dequesne and took 1 picture. I put my camera down and started crying. I went back home and loaded my 4 wheeler up and went back to help with search and rescue. For the next 4 to 5 weeks, my time everyday was set to helping in Joplin with clean up and passing out cold Water and Gatorade. To go through and hear the stories of these people was heartbreaking. I can still remember alot of of what happened and what I did to help with everything for the next several weeks after the tornado. I pray this never happens this bad to anyone ever again.

[@mpk6664]

People were literally impaled and cut in half... And yet here we are praising god.

[@lulucomer1662]

Many people were also spared! Listen, God does not cause tornadoes, weather does. It's called a NATURAL DISASTER! God saved way more then were killed. When it is your time to die, there is no stopping it. But He also expects people to be smart enough to fend for themselves. If you are so stupid as to stand there out in the open and watch it come right at you, and not take evasive actions, well then I guess it's best to thin out the idiots.

[@flutter32104]

At the time of the Tornado I was a volunteer firefighter (now I work for JFD) in one of the surrounding cities of Joplin. What I love about this video is most of the radio traffic are volunteer only stations. I'm really proud of this community!

[@stephen9958]

Did not know that I'm also a volunteer for City of Seymour Fire department in Missouri I'm part of the Storm activation for the safe room and active weather spotter God Bless

[@busymom4kc]

I’m from Carthage. My son is a first responder and to this day he can’t talk about what he saw. Every single person is a hero. Not just from that day, but from the days following. Until you’re on your hands and knees digging for someone’s precious wedding rings (married 65 years) and you can’t find them, you feel their overwhelming pain and loss. Hugs. People just needed hugs. They needed someone to just listen. These first responders and operators were unbelievable heroes. We are blessed.

[@blogbat]

"We have a child with a pole impaled in their leg..." What hell on earth is like.

[@mikegallant811]

Sweet Jesus, may God have been with that child!

[@michaellovely6601]

Truer words have never had spoken before. When this tornado tore Joplin, Missouri to shreds it was Hell on Earth. Usually, something like that only happens in the movies. However; the Joplin, Missouri tornado on May 22nd, 2011 along with the tornado that devastated Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April 27th, 2011 prove otherwise. Another example could be the May 27 1997 tornado that struck Jarrell, Texas, the February 10 2013 tornado in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the May 20 2013 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma and the May 31 2013 tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma.

[@zacknesh9368]

@@mikegallant811 sounds like god nailed his target

[@hollyg.6747]

I read that she survived her injuries, as well as her cousin. Just for peace of mind.

[@StorminNorvin]

25:39 for anyone wanting to hear that broadcast.

[@vinoandkittens9552]

I've watched numerous videos about the Joplin tornado, but as an EMT of 20 years, none of them gave me chills or created such emotion as this did. It felt like, (on a VERY small scale,) I was experiencing it. I imagined those were my service's tones I was hearing and that was the unfolding information I was getting, starting to grasp the gravity of the disaster. Sending love to all the first responders that were involved. I know it's been years since this happened, but as someone who personally has PTSD, I know that many wounds still feel raw 10+ years later. Continue to care for your mental health, and do NOT judge yourself if you were deeply impacted by this tragedy.

[@punishedexistence]

These people are true heroes. This damage is an unfathomable sight to have happen to a community and honestly if it happened to me I'd be rendered catatonic. My hat is tipped and my glass raised to these fine examples of human beings. I wish all people cared and were willing to help as the EMS personnel.

[@jgoss4754]

The professionalism of the law enforcement and emergency services workers and firefighters as they provided the first line of help and rescue is amazing. This is very dramatic video and can provide an education for future tornado emergencies.

[@waynebrasler]

Among the worst tornadoes in history, at some points involving as many as seven funnels withini the storm. Plenty of video footage pointed directly at the storm illustrates that it simply could not be recognized. The damage was profound, but even more profound was the response. The people of Joplin crawled out of the debris and immediately tackled saving as many people as they could, bravely, unselfishly and I suspect without even thinking. I'm from Missouri and so proud of these Missourians

[@michaellovely6601]

That phenomenon is known as the "Dead Man Walking." Aside from the tornadoes that struck Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin, Missouri in 2011; a prime example of this phenomenon is the 1997 tornado that struck Jarrell, Texas.

[@theandrewloeffler]

@@michaellovely6601 Footage of that phenomenon sends chills down my spine. It all seems so surreal.

[@michaellovely6601]

@@theandrewloeffler Interestingly; The Weather Channel made a countdown of the top ten worst tornadoes that was hosted by Jim Cantore. Here's the list: 10.) El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31st, 2013. 9.) Super Tuesday outbreak of 2008. 8.) Moore, Oklahoma on May 3rd, 1999. Side note number one: one of the survivors interviewed was Aleah Crago; who was only a baby when this tornado occurred. She became known as the "mud baby" because she was found covered in mud at the base of a tree. Aleah is now all grown up and wants to become a storm chaser. Crazy, right? 7.) Worcester, Massachusetts in 1953. 6.) Gainesville, Georgia in 1936. Side note number two: the fire at the pants factory that was generated by the Gainesville tornado reminded me of a clothing factory in Tokyo, Japan which was destroyed by a fire tornado that was the result of the September 1st, 1923 earthquake that devastated Tokyo and the nearby city of Yokohama, Japan. 5.) Palm Sunday outbreak of 1965. 4.) Joplin, Missouri on May 22nd, 2011. 3.) Super Outbreak of 2011. Side note number three: the countdown primarily focused on the April 27th, 2011 tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, Alabama and then the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama. Essentially, the 2011 Super Outbreak was the 1974 Super Outbreak on steroids. Though they both serve as warnings to future generations as 1974 taught us how to be better prepared with 2011 reminding us of things that we can do better than what we have been doing since 1974. 2.) 1974 Super Outbreak. The tornado that tore Xenia, Ohio to shreds is "shit your pants" levels of terror. 1.) The tri-state tornado on March 18th, 1925. This tornado passed through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana; killing a total of 695 people. If the Weather Channel chose to have an honorable mentions section; here are some suggestions: 1.) Jarrell, Texas on May 27th, 1997. 2.) Moore, Oklahoma on May 20th, 2013. 3.) Hattiesburg, Mississippi on February 10th, 2013. 4.) Henryville, Indiana on March 2nd, 2012. 5.) Washington, Illinois on November 17th, 2013. 6.) Plainfield, Illinois in August of 1990. 7.) Andover, Kansas on April 26th, 1991. 8.) Greensburg, Kansas in June of 2007.

[@theandrewloeffler]

@@michaellovely6601 I'm certain I've actually watched the countdown before when I was younger. I remember it being very interesting. I used to watch the Weather Channel all the time when I was a kid so I was all over that business. Here are four others I thought would fit based on stats: 1. The Great St. Louis Tornado - May 27th, 1896 (Remains the third deadliest tornado in US history. Almost wiped St. Louis metro off the map) 2. Waco, TX Tornado - May 11th, 1953 (Side Note: Eleventh deadliest tornado in US history, and second worst in the state of Texas. It was responsible for 114 out of the 144 deaths caused by the tornado outbreak it was a part of) 3. Woodward Tornado - April 9th, 1947 (Deadliest to strike Oklahoma. The supercell developed in the Texas panhandle, proceeded to spawn several tornadoes in Oklahoma before dissipating in southern Kansas. Among the 116 people killed, three bodies of children were never identified. Another child who survived was never reunited with her family again) 4. Flint-Beecher, MI Tornado - June 8th, 1953 (most catastrophic tornado to have ever hit Michigan in history)

[@Tommybearyo]

This was the most horrific, and most defining moment of my life. My heart goes out to all that were lost, The faces we'll never see again. It was hard on all of us Red Cross, emergency personnel, and citizens. Hearing this audio just makes my skin crawl.

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

Listened to this several times now and the one word that keeps coming back to me is professionalism.

[@pcbusby]

I heard these were volunteers as well. That's amazing.

[@stormchaserken]

I worked with Fire/EmS here in SE Pa and i can tell you that in NO way would we have been this calm if a disaster like this hit. These guys are truly the heroes and were so calm during this mega disaster. My prayers to all that suffered and or lost their lives.

[@JonasGreywolf]

What an outstanding job done by all the responders involved! It was amazing and heartbreaking to listen to this . You are all true heroes! May God bless you all.

[@Zoomer30]

"Small rotation".... Wait a min, it's now an F5. Probably the fastest developing EF5 history.

[@SPCmuncie]

lol...

[@Zoomer30]

Courtesy of Global Warming. More energy = stronger storms. No matter what that science quack Rush Limbaugh says.

[@Nobody-kg8md]

+Zoomer30 global warming is an excuse for bureaucrats to grab MOAR power. Don't get me wrong CLIMATE change is very real but it's flabbergasted big time.

[@Nobody-kg8md]

+Zoomer30 also Rush Limbaugh is always on point, but it's also important to keep in mind that it's the Midwest! That's called TORNADO ALLEY for a good reason, and it's normal for for big tornadoes to whip up out of nowhere. It's unfortunate it hit a big community.

[@theamazingguzzardo]

Gotta disagree with you there, Tornadoes don't just "whip up out of nowhere." A very specific set of circumstances has to happen for the potential for tornadoes. EF4-5 tornadoes are exceedingly rare, and even smaller ones don't typically last more than 10 or 15 minutes.

[@sigproman]

I think they did a damned good job considering the disaster they were dealing with. You have to remember they were responding to their own homes and families. Good job Missouri OES.

[@hubler01]

Just one thing to remember is that this is all county dispatch traffic. None of this radio traffic is City of Joplin traffic. They are on a seperate system. This tornado went through 2 counties.

[@un_known9471]

As a surviver of the joplin tornado in 2011 God Bless The Souls Of All People Who Died In a Deadly F5. May Peace Be With You. God Bless The Police And Fire In The Line Of Duty. May God Be With You All

[@heyginny]

My thoughts go out to all the people of Joplin!!! Hats off to all the those who responded.

[@littleblitz8239]

Even with the large scale destruction, these emergency personal stayed pretty calm and did their job. My prayers to all in Joplin.

[@michaellovely6601]

The residents of Joplin needed a lot of things after the May 22, 2011 tornado; clothes, footwear, toiletries, medicine, food, water, and counseling to help them try to cope with what they experienced.

[@nurseschu]

God Bless EVERYONE involved in this tragedy, either by being a survivor or personnel volunteering countless hours of emergency services!!! I work in an ER also, this radio traffic is apocalyptic!!!! Great job to all trying control this chaotic disaster, you are all in our prayers!!

[@zippermcd73]

At 33:25 it starts talking about school buses transporting patience. My fellow drivers from Joplin, Carl Junction and Webb City responded to this emergency with buses being used as make-ship ambulance or just simply taxi-ing to a family home that was outside the tornado zone. I am so proud of them for what they did that night. I personally did not drive but I did man our radio and keep our drivers informed on where they needed to go. Thank you to everyone that came that horrible night!

[@MichelleGarcia-cm4qd]

zippermcd73 My husband was one of the bus drivers ,he told me a man that broke both legs army crawled to get on the bus to be taken to Springfield.He couldn’t believe he was there.He wasn’t even close then he was just there.So horrible what happened in Joplin

[@dsplt]

a big shout out to the dispatchers who remained calm when everything hit the fan, The calmness and excellent coordination of all the emergency personel is amazing.

[@tiffanygainshope]

Thank you for all you did for us - We were one of the groups getting agitated by St. Johns but it was due to the confusion, shock, and stress of the moment plus all the elderly trapped in the nursing home we were trying to unbury - no one realized the wide spread damage done and the combined efforts of everybody that was going on in the whole town. Joplin Strong!

[@MichaelLovely-mr6oh]

I remember reading that the Joplin, MO tornado of 2011 struck the Greenbriar Nursing Home after striking St. John's Regional Medical Center. Sadly; twenty-one people lost their lives in the nursing home.

[@alexwhite125]

Wow, its incredible to hear how quickly it went from a tornado warning being issued with small rotation to it becoming a serious emergency with so many people needing critical help:( nice to hear how everyone at the drop of a dime without warning really and organized a very well and dedicated rescue response with command center and all. Its hard enough to deal with that many people in need of immediate treatment or rescue but for them to do so well with st johns being rendered destroyed, cell, communication and infrastructure loss, roads blocked and so much more its truly incredible for how well they did their jobs!

[@kyoshifrostwolf]

That's something about this tornado that will always be so unsettling to me. The fact that it intensified to such an extreme fury at such a fast pace.

[@Sj430]

The tornado warning was issued at 5:17 pm but the tornado touchdown at 5:34 pm.

[@27722700]

I totally agree with you. No matter how much you train and train and train and train, you can never fully prepare yourself for something like this. It is absolutely amazing and nothing short of heroic what these individuals did that night. From the dispatchers to the cops, ems personnel, firefighters, emergency management, and everyone else. Absolutely amazing.

[@anonwhitegirl1733]

R.I.P Will Norton

[@jamiethompson2516]

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@christopherlucas4620]

“We’ve got whole buildings missing…” that just sends scary chills down my spine

[@mikegallant811]

Even as it was dying,St. John's Medical Center did it's job!

[@ravenmcoc1717]

Mike Gallant for sure!!

[@danielwunderlich8828]

Mike Gallant the best of luck in the same as last time you have any further questions please contact the sender by return email and I will have to go back to the following user name is a great weekend and will be able and I have been sent to me that I have a nice weekend to get the best of my favorite part was that I can see it in my life and I am not a big deal to the same as last time we were in my life I am going through my email and any other information you can get the following user camera name is a great weekend and will be in touch with the new one for the delay I had a great day ahead of time and consideration and I will be a great day ahead and get back in touch with the new one and I will send you the best of luck with the following document Microsoft word and PDF file format of my the same as a few days and then I will have a good idea for the following user says it is a

[@michaellovely6601]

As a hospital employee; I was moved to tears seeing how St. John's Medical Center was practically decimated. It looked as though a bomb had exploded on all nine floors of the building. I wish more than anyone else that the Joplin city council had left St. John's Medical Center in its ruined state as a memorial to the lives of so many people who died in the tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011. Much like how the residents of Ishinomaki, Japan left Okawa Elementary School in its ruined state as a memorial to the lives that were lost in the tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. When the earthquake that generated the tsunami struck at 2:46 PM Japanese time; students at Okawa Elementary School immediately followed procedures and took shelter under their desks to be safe from falling debris. Shortly thereafter; the students and faculty members went outside to be safe from aftershocks. Little did anyone at the school know that a tsunami was headed for Ishinomaki or that there was a tall hill behind the school where they would be safe from the tsunami. Ultimately, seventy-four students and ten teachers were swept to their deaths. During a public inquiry into the deaths of the students at Okawa Elementary; the only teacher who survived the disaster lowered his head in shame when an angry parent confronted him on behalf of the Okawa Elementary parents over his failure to keep their children safe.

[@GLOATINGMAPLE01]

@@michaellovely6601 5 people died at st jhons during the tornado

[@MichaelLovely-mr6oh]

​@@GLOATINGMAPLE01Six people actually. Five were patients who were on ventilators and perished because the tornado destroyed the hospital's emergency backup generators with the sixth fatality being a visitor who was crushed by falling debris.

[@sheaschrader4302]

I remember hearing this broadcast. We didn't have internet or TV. All we had was the radio.

[@TrevorPhipps-vw6kr]

I was there shortly after helping with whatever me and my family could do.. it’s something you’ll never forget.

[@Lessinath]

All things considered, they did an excellent job. I salute these men and women.

[@NC198600]

I was living at Springview Gardens Apartments on the back side at 23rd Street and Cunningham when the tornado hit. I was even on the phone with mom in Phoenix, AZ before, during, and after the tornado. I called he at 5:40PM and a minute later it hit. She heard the tornado through the phone.

[@shellyanderson740]

As someone who lost our home, vehicles and experienced the scariest time in my life and imagination I really appreciate all the speedy assistance from Everyone! Even over a year later my mind can't make sense of it all but going through that made me appreciate even the littlest things on earth.. may sound corny but it's true. I feel for anyone that has gone through times like this.... Hopefully those other states that have had bad storms have had the community support we did!

[@peggylentine1083]

Thank you to all the civilians who showed up and helped the injured, did search and rescue, transporting and the clean up.

[@Beergut222]

This video is just so spooky. Joplin residents are heroes.

[@mikegallant811]

Joplin folks are folks! I would imagine so anyway.

[@OOisha]

Outstanding job done by all the dispatchers and emergency personel. Without your quick coordination and excellent response there would have been alot more caos. You all are HEROS! And truely amazing! Sometimes people can change others' lives without even knowing ~ Sometimes people can shed light in a dark place without realizing ~ Sometimes people give others a voice to speak without saying a word ~ Sometimes people can be an inspiration without even trying ~

[@OkieMikester]

I live in Moore, Oklahoma which is ground zero for F5 tornadoes in the state. When the national weather service issues a tornado emergency, you'd better be underground. God bless Joplin.💖

[@elimarnareads]

And bless Moore, OK. Goodness knows y’all have been through some nightmare storms. I was in Joplin helping on the rebuild in 2013 and if I could have I’d have hopped in my car and driven down to help remove debris. Apparently I can’t be in multiple places at once, though, and I couldn’t leave the house I was working on.

[@reformcongress]

Total chaos. It is extremely difficult to manage the logistics of a response of this magnitude. I don't know how many firefighters, LEOs, EMTs, Paramedics, and others responded to this, but it would be extremely difficult. I would imagine that there were hundreds at the very least. It would be overwhelming for the dispatchers. On top of that, it is impossible to run a drill to respond to a disaster of this magnitude. How do you know what the worst case scenario is until you've seen it first hand? All of these emergency personnel were as heroic as a person can be.

[@shellyanderson740]

I consider anyone that came to help or sent prayers and assistance a part of our hearts! It was a bonding experience that opens your eyes and hearts for sure. Even though it was an awful event it made us all really humble and closer together as a community. Thank you for all you did!

[@sherryfrisinger9497]

Great job everybody!! You are all true HERO’S. God bless you for all you did that day!!

[@mmtz1983]

From Dead on Arrivals, to a woman in labor, to the desperation in these people's voices, WOW! I'm proud of our HEROES!

[@michaellovely6601]

Easily the most frightening emergency call heard during the May 22, 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri was that of a child with a metal pole impaled in the child's leg.

[@mmtz1983]

Michael Lovely So horrific. Were you a first responder?

[@michaellovely6601]

@@mmtz1983 No. I live in Ohio and I was only sixteen when the Joplin tornado hit. But the radio call asking for medical assistance with a child who had a metal pole impaled in his or her leg is in my honest opinion the most terrifying emergency call.

[@mmtz1983]

Michael Lovely So sorry you experienced that. I’m moving to New Mexico next week. I’ve never encountered a tornado before. And hoping that continues lol

[@michaellovely6601]

@@mmtz1983 Hearing the Emergency Services audio from the Joplin, Missouri tornado on May 22, 2011 is the reason why I could never work as a 9-1-1 operator. My sister once suggested that I should apply for a job as a 9-1-1 operator; so I listened to some well-known 9-1-1 calls in order to get a better understanding of what questions to ask the caller in order to send the right help that they need. One of the 9-1-1 calls I listened to was the 9-1-1 call placed from the library of Columbine High School during the shooting there on April 20th, 1999. The call was placed by teacher Patti Nielsen and answered by dispatcher Renee Napoli at 11:24 AM Mountain Time. Even though she is in a state of extreme panic; Patti Nielsen is able to give as much information about the shooters, where she was at in the school, and that she had managed to get the students in the library to hide under the tables. Many people wonder why Patti Nielsen didn't try to shut and lock the doors to the library or even order the students and faculty in the library to evacuate. There were two emergency exit doors in the library; one that lead downstairs to the cafeteria and the other leading out to the sidewalk by the school's west entrance. Because there were two students who committed the massacre; Patti Nielsen *reasonably* assumed that one of the shooters would ambush the students the moment they either came downstairs from the library into the cafeteria or came out to the sidewalk. If she tried to shut and lock the doors to the library; the shooters would have tried to blow the doors down as they were already in the library hallway and could have utilized the pipe bombs to blow the doors off of their hinges.

[@VANESSA_P.]

God bless our first responders and what they do. I have an ultimate respect for them since I grew up in a firehouse because my dad was a firefighter EMT.

[@easydranch]

If you have ever been in an emergency you know nothing goes as planed. The communication system was down for a while. I'm sure everyone will learn something from this emergency but the next one will be different and we'll have to learn more next time. Hopefully this will be a once in a lifetime event for all of us. Everyone did thier best and I thank them for thier efforts.

[@taradactule6052]

Exactly..things won't run smoothly in a disaster of this magnitude

[@rickyricardo4331]

You see them on TV and hear about them, but listening to this is life-altering. I can only imagine what is going on in the minds of these first responders.

[@cathyshaw1227]

Will Norton, Rest in peace young man.

[@jamiethompson2516]

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@michaellovely6601]

Even though it's extremely heartbreaking the way Will Norton lost his life; it makes me smile to know that his family keeps his memory alive through the Will Norton Miracle Field, a baseball field and playground for children with disabilities. Even though I live in Ohio and didn't know Will Norton personally; I hope to someday visit Will's grave to pay my respects and leave a bouquet of roses on his tombstone. Will's sister Sarah Norton is married and has a daughter; Sarah has often told her daughter about her Uncle Will as a means of keeping his memory alive.

[@zippermcd73]

Thank you! However like I said, I was not out that night. I had been up since 5 that morning working at my other job. Sadly to say I left it at 5pm, 41 minutes before the hospital was hit. There are so many people more worthy of your blessings, I just wanted to make sure people where aware what these drivers did for them.

[@bourkland1]

My God, how horrible. I just cannot imagine what this was like. It must have been so overwhelming for the first responders. My hat is off to them for keeping a level head and getting the job done under these horrific circumstances.

[@ddylla85]

Funnel cloud reports, and minutes later complete destruction... difficult to wrap your head around the true power of mother nature. God Bless Y'all

[@xJengie]

I've been listening to scanners for YEARS. This is insane compared to anything I've ever heard before.

[@mikegallant811]

God bless all those who rendered aid !!!

[@Muzikrazy213]

7:09 " Payless building is down 2 people in them and one of them is my wife and we can't get in there in any way" :( really hope she made it

[@dezaraerogers1711]

did she make it

[@Muzikrazy213]

Dezarae Rogers no idea unfortunately

[@karrigoddard9521]

+Muzikrazy213 yes i believe she did make it. If i remember right they had some serious injuries tho.

[@mikegallant811]

@@xP0STx it's always hard when you have to amputate, but sometimes you have to, can't save a limb sometimes if it was mangled bad.

[@mikegallant811]

@John Deez sometimes I wish I had an m.d. after my name.

[@TheMilsapFanBlog]

God bless you RubberDuckyMedic...and everyone else who lived through this horror. My hats' off to everyone involved.

[@Godzillaman]

The worst part of all the deaths is that you can't blame anyone for it. This was an act of nature. Something we simply have no control over.

[@unclewalter87]

@N5XGZ Being from Joplin and having worked this, thank you. So many people (especially reporters who came in after the disaster) were very quick to throw the blame at the feet of Emergency Planners for this, and as the city manager said, there is no way to prepare for an EF-5 that comes through the middle of the city.

[@michaellovely6601]

It's true. I think that the people of Joplin, Missouri were caught completely off-guard when the tornado tore through the middle of the city. All I can say that I am genuinely relieved that the graduation ceremony for Joplin High School was instead held at Missouri Southern State University; otherwise the death toll could have been much higher. One documentary on the Joplin tornado was an episode of a program on The Weather Channel called "Real Time Tornado" and many of the survivors told their stories despite how traumatic it must have been to do so. Some of the people interviewed were Mitch Randles- chief of the Joplin Fire Department, Lori Stebbins- a resident of Joplin who got news of the tornado while she and her husband Josh were attending a baseball game in Kansas City between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals, Sherry Nauta- a dispatcher for the Joplin Police Department, Isaac Duncan- who survived the tornado in the beer cooler of a gas station on 20th Street, and three members of the Basehunters Storm Chasers team: Scott Peake, Kevin Rolfs, and Kevin's dad Harland Rolfs.

[@easternpa2]

Wow, I hate to click "like" on something like this, but you did a great job letting the story tell itself. I'm a long time radio guy. This reminds me of listening at home on 9/11. Very powerful stuff in here for those of us with "scanner ears".

[@mrbones5576]

I was 10 when the tornado came through, i will never forget the roaring and the rumble in my chest.

[@christopherlucas4620]

That one responder that said the Payless Shoes building was down with entrapment and one of them was his wife. It was a miracle anyone survived in there. Nothing was left standing except one beam.

[@mikegallant811]

Oh madonn'!

[@trueblonde316]

it was an unimaginable disaster. great job to all that responded: LEOs, EMS, FD, first responders and untrained civilians just helping neighbors.

[@DroobieFromDrenden]

every single person who scrambled to help from surrounding counties and states, Thank you for saving my family, my friends, someone else's family and friends. Thank you! I cant help but wonder what some people complain about. These people had true devastation not thrown but hurled in to their faces at 200 MPH! There is no need to want all the logs. Some one probably posted this to show how quickly they could respond. They did what was necessary to save lives! And for that I am truely thankful!

[@mrschurch1990]

To every firefighter and ems along with all effected, God be with you in this time of devistation.

[@bigdanbear]

It gives me willies to listen to this. I commend all the responding men and women who risked it all to save as many as they could. I put this on facebook. Wow. It is amazing to listen to this. We are still praying for everyone there. At 15:00 "Joplin is going to need help,....but I haven't been able to make contact yet,..." says it all. 15:20 "trees and homes down everywhere,..." 16:00 "She got her family in a pickup and it looks like a DOA,...."

[@jamihede4440]

Chilling moment. When someone asked if Golden City could bring chain saws.

[@TheKingofRockMusic]

Heroes all.....most compelling audio think I have ever heard....

[@rolandmiller5456]

From what I read that thing went from an EF-1 to an EF4/ 5 in less than 4 minutes.

[@brizzle3903]

2-4 minutes is all it took for this tornado to go from nothing to the monster it became just as it crossed into Joplin The footage I saw of it at the beginning was terrifying it went from a thin funnel to a multi vortex wedge tornado in seconds

[@kd0ael]

Great job under such awful circumstances! Prayers sent for all in the affected area and all the rescue workers! Thank you all for your service!

[@JetFuueled]

The warning style is "Alert Howl" Which is really RARE to hear! The normal the heard is the buzzer!

[@CECFan1992]

beeps at the start are triggering the sirens,

[@carnivoreRon]

This past Saturday, May 22, 2021, I went to the memorial service at Cunningham Park. The names of the 161 dead were read. Past governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon, was present as well as a few former Joplin city officials who servered during that time. A good memorial. I went to Mercy Park, the Wal-Mart memorial and the mural at 15th and Main.

this is not a big city where tragedy is a regular event but these guys are every bit as professional amazing. every one of them

[@poodinkydingbat1]

I can't believe it's been a year already... this has been crazy!! God Bless Joplin!!

[@Mr5thWave]

I can't believe it's been almost 10 YEARS already. Joplin came roaring back.

[@zippermcd73]

I know we had National Guard here within minutes, may have been local boys. I have spoke with several nurses and clerks that where still at the hospital after my shift ended, they where amazed at how quickly they got there. These men came up any where from 3 to 8 flights of stairs, running, grabbed a patient and all but ran back down the stairs. One clerk I spoke to said before they made it down one flight this crew came back up from taking a patient down, grabbed that patient headed down stairs

[@matt9c1]

Those sounds are two tone paging tones. These are the tones firefighter pagers listen to in order to "beep". The pagers will "beep" followed by the dispatchers paging announcement.

[@JetFire5349]

the wreckage still remains even today look up on google earth the scar and all of the debris is still there In memory of those who died R.I.P

[@flowers2you]

@Clarrisani Thank you for your prayers for Joplin. God can hear you across the earth praying for a stranger. Bless you, friend.

[@HappyQuailsLC]

That is a time consuming tone notification system

[@ericbourgeois2092]

In my county there is a long 8 second tone that alerts every station in our county, for events like tornados, and severe weather

[@michaellovely6601]

Those tones were alerting multiple police and fire departments in both Jasper County and Newton County, Missouri as well as setting off the tornado sirens in Joplin, Missouri and also activating the Emergency Alert System. Unfortunately, too many residents of Joplin were too complacent to assume that there was no danger when the tornado sirens began wailing shortly after 5:30 PM Central Daylight time on May 22nd, 2011. If you are outside and hear a tornado siren go off on a day that is not a scheduled test day; get to safety or die. What was also unfortunate about the Joplin tornado is that it was hidden by rain. Anytime there's a tornado warning; the National Weather Service will specify if the tornado is hidden by rain and difficult to see. In addition to stating this important bulletin; the warning will have this extremely sobering text: "Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. Do not wait, take cover now!"

[@ttjoslin]

Heartbreaking to listen to. God bless all of the emergency responders in this and other tornadoes around this same time. So many more people wouldn't have made it if it weren't for these brave folks. Thank you!!

[@AA-bs3iy]

Anyone else notice at 3:06 a firefighter radios to report a tornado on the ground twice and nobody responded back to him

[@jrd1403]

+mopar or no car .....Maybe they were a bit busy fucktard.

[@karrigoddard9521]

+mopar or no car this is several different channels all mixed together so not full channel feed.

[@cloroxbleach5474]

JRD 1 hey buddy, drink me

[@TheStricklers]

You guys done a great job, in a very bad situation!!! You went in when other people where trying to get out!!!!!! You guys are the true heros!!!!

[@evelyntheidiot6]

strange seeing this on my recommended years later. the same outbreak that lead to this tornado resulted in an hour taking shelter at my school in blue springs missouri. thankfully no damage in my home but after the whole incident I was fascinated with severe weather for a while.

[@rarebasses]

I am a survivor.

[@seanoreilly1832]

If you like listening to disaster radio traffic.. another good one on youtube is "M/s estonia mayday call with subtitles, tribute "

[@waynebrasler]

What has come out of this historic disaster is the bravery, courage and selflessness of the people of Joplin. With chaos surrounding them as far as the eye could see, and no knowledge of what exactly had happened, everyone pitched in immediately to save lives. The response of the police, fire department, emergency services and medical services was truly heroic. I have read criticism of the weather service, including a detailed report, but this storm was highly in how it formed and in scope.

[@donaldwuertz887]

The only thing worse listening to this is listening to a fellow fire fighter brother call in a maday

[@blackcitroenlove]

True, it does sound like a synth. Those are actually the tones going out to various departments--police, fire, etc. and their respective stations. My mother is a firefighter, and after hearing her radio go off enough, we could tell exactly which station what tone was for.

[@sheilah1101]

Praying for all those in Joplin.

[@Yzerman1991]

I can't imagine how overwhelming that had to have been for first responders, for dispatchers. Hundreds upon hundreds of calls for help/gas leaks/etc.

[@michaellovely6601]

Neither can I. However; a dispatcher for the Joplin Police Department by the name of Sherry Nauta talked about her experience with the May 22nd, 2011 tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri on an episode of the Weather Channel program "Tornado Alley: Real Time Tornado" that profiled the Joplin tornado. However, this video clip of emergency services audio from the Joplin tornado is one reason why I could never work as a 9-1-1 operator. Awhile back; my older sister suggested that I should apply for a job as a 9-1-1 operator, so I listened to a few well-known 9-1-1 calls in order to get a better understanding of what questions to ask the caller in order to send the right help. One of the calls I listened to was the 9-1-1 call placed from the library of Columbine High School during the shooting there on April 20th, 1999. The call was placed by teacher Patti Nielsen and answered by dispatcher Renee Napoli at 11:24 AM Mountain Time. Even though she was in a state of extreme panic; Patti Nielsen was able to give as much information as she could about the shooters, where she was at in the school, and that she had managed to get the students in the library to hide under the tables. Many people wonder why Patti didn't try to shut and lock the doors to the library or even order the students and faculty members in the library to evacuate because there were two emergency exit doors in the library; one that lead downstairs to the cafeteria and the other leading out to the sidewalk by the school's west entrance. Because there were two students who committed the massacre; Patti reasonably assumed that the shooters would ambush the students and faculty members the moment they either came downstairs from the library into the cafeteria or came out to the sidewalk if she told them to evacuate. If she tried to shut and lock the doors to the library; the shooters would have tried to blow the doors down using the bombs they were carrying with them as they were already in the library hallway. One of the bombs was heard on the 9-1-1 call as it exploded in the library hallway and damaged several lockers.

[@rolandmiller5456]

After I was retired from the service I came to work down in Houston as a contract paramedic. I started my work at about a year after I started working Hurricane Harvey hit. If you remember how damaged Houston was after that you can imagine what it was like trying to answer calls There were areas of the city that we literally could not get into except with an MRAP because of high water down water down power lines you name it.

[@MichaelLovely-mr6oh]

​@@rolandmiller5456What I remember the most about Hurricane Harvey is that Reverend Joel Osteen refused to let people shelter in his church in Houston after Hurricane Harvey. Another reason why I thoroughly detest televangelists.

[@spacestevie2]

This is a massive disaster in progress. As one who has experience in emergency situations I am impressed with at least getting the people into the area. There is really nothing better could be done. One has to remember that a lot of the communications infrastructure is disabled. Cell phones and phone lines are down and the radio is the only way to get through to people. In a disaster of this magnitude its a wonder that anything can get done.

[@dv6000hp]

It would be nice if someone had recorded Joplin's radio system. That would have been interesting audio for sure! Godbless everyone involved with this disaster. I lost a friend in the tornado may he and all the lives that were lost that day and days following and weeks later RIP!

[@michaellovely6601]

Sadly, that can't be possible because the Joplin Police and Fire station was destroyed by the tornado.

[@mikegallant811]

@@michaellovely6601 it was knocked out too?.... Jesus Freaking H. Christ!😱

[@michaellovely6601]

@@mikegallant811 Unfortunately.

[@mikegallant811]

@@michaellovely6601 oh Madonn'!

[@michaellovely6601]

@@mikegallant811 Several years ago my older sister suggested that I should apply for a job as a 9-1-1 operator; so I listened to the emergency services radio traffic from both the 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado and the 2012 Branson , Missouri tornado as well as the 9-1-1 call placed from the library of Columbine High School during the shooting there on April 20th, 1999. Sufficient to say that all of it scared me out of applying for the job. Now I work in the Dietary Department of my local hospital and I feel content in a "behind the scenes" role. The only downside is that the month of December is the busiest month of the year for hospital employees because there are a lot of functions and patients electing to get any necessary surgical procedures done before New Year's.

[@jeromehenderson5421]

this will make the 8th year since it the ef5 to the family of lost love ones my prayers will be with all of you

[@DroobieFromDrenden]

I dont know what to say to some of you people out there who think its ok to judge how anyone of these people responded. Police, Firefighters, EMT, or just a shaken citizen ready to help in any way you can, I tip my hat to you. All those who were out there Breaking people free, saving peoples lives or just lucky to be alive! An act of nature in that magnitude could have killed thousands of people there. Joplin is my home town, its all I have ever known, and its pretty much wiped out now.

[@ChelseyAnnPope21211]

@Zebraprintpaintjob I live in Abilene and have several family members in Joplin and Miami, as well. Went to college in Joplin also. :( My grandmother was actually a patient in Freeman Hospital on this day. Im so glad your family was safe also.

[@msjdb723]

Just listening, I am so stressed out. I can't imagine. 💔

[@Raiukage]

A rain-wrapped tornado is nearly impossible to see until it's on top of you, and it's a sad fact in this day and age that there are simply so many warnings issued for Doppler-detected rotation that never spawn a thing that, in places which might get dozens of warnings per year, people stop reacting to them as life-threatening situations because they've become routine. Add this to the "oh, even if one spawns, what the odds it'll come near me?" mentality that some folks have...

[@alabamared2568]

This tornado was a mile wide..it wasn't rain wrapped..it was soo big it looked just like a black wall..

[@michaellovely6601]

@@alabamared2568 Actually, some of the people who survived the tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri have said that the tornado was wrapped in rain. If a tornado is wrapped in rain; that makes the tornado difficult to see. This is why if you hear a Tornado Warning or a Tornado Emergency being issued; the bulletin will usually specify that the tornado is hidden by rain and will be very difficult to see. In addition; the bulletin will say "Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. Do not wait. Take cover now!"

[@Tempest_Tracker]

@@alabamared2568 I mean it was rain wrapped the footage you prolly saw was behind the rain shaft

[@mikegallant811]

​@@alabamared2568finger of freakin' God dude.... shit!! That one was a doozy!