Joplin, MO May 22, 2011

We were at Columbia Traders when the Joplin Tornado hit, we were blessed to be out of the path.

[@Livereater]

This tornado was an EF5, 200 mph+ winds, 158 deaths, and cost an estimated $2.8 billion in damages... Doesn't get any worse than that. You were all spared that day.

[@TheFroggiegirl25]

161 deaths

[@kimr7677]

Dear God..

[@rebeccajbrownbrown8]

I was just BARELY spared from the jaws of fate, as a toddler as well (Scary, AS- FUK)

[@Ins0mniBat]

And around a mile wide too.

[@AshGD_GD]

More then 300 deaths

[@justachannel9379]

Yes, lock the door. That way a tornado can't get in.

[@LacyCrusty]

haha

[@lanicedavis4936]

Right 😂

[@viengsamphet]

Also so the tornado doesn't rip off the doors.

[@depressedravensfansince2014]

justachannel A tornado has legs to walk?

[@Nick-lx4fo]

justachannel you never refuse a customer! They should let it in

[@jakepennyii2814]

Bosses be like, You still coming to work???

[@true2the_322]

Jake Penny II Mine was. But after that.. you don't even feel right going to work even if it wasn't hit.

[@aliceturnbull2368]

ikr 🤦‍♀️

[@awg6397]

That happened to me in the tornadoes that hit Beebe, AR in 1999. My boss called and said I would be considered no call no show if I didnt get to work.

[@true2the_322]

awg6397 Wow that is some crap. My boss asked if I was coming in after this one in Joplin after Cell service recovered. He said don't come back until I could handle it. I think I had a full week or two off. You just felt like you had to do something after this. My home and work made it thank God, but we were very very close to it.

[@aaronhickey4432]

Jake Penny II that is hilarious 😂

[@jeenashirkey1987]

That poor woman looked to be in shock. Thank you for letting her in.

[@GamerBrinedQw4w9WgXcQ]

@@jmiller297 you fucking jerk. SHE JUST WITNESSED A TORNADO KILL PEOPLE AND ALMOST HER AS WELL AND YOU THINK SHE WAS HIGH ON METH?!?!?!?!?!?!

[@excessivelysalty_81]

@@jmiller297 You should delete your comment, but seeing as how it's been up for a year I can only assume you don't mind the whole world knowing how stupid you are.

[@thediehardarkansasrazorbak7288]

@@jmiller297 You Ass..Have you ever been in a tornado?...No probably not..So do us all a favor and zip it!.

[@puertoricanandnicaraguanki149]

@@jmiller297 you freaking rude and nasty kid, delete your rude comment now or im gonna have to report you!

[@puertoricanandnicaraguanki149]

My comments keeps on getting deleted

[@Pain-io5zs]

Them: **Locks doors** The tornado: *LET ME IN* *LET ME INNNNNN!*

[@abby7274]

kokichi pfp 😳

[@muhammadaskari5793]

@@abby7274 😆😂😂

[@tangledshoelace4726]

Not by the hair of my chiney chin chin!!😂😂😂🐖🐷

[@hannahbuckley5552]

Danny Glick is that you?

[@Dekree6404]

*AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA*

[@crocodile1313]

It was great of those employees and people to let that lady in at 1:55 and the concern you had for the people upstairs. Little things like this can brighten our outlook on humanity--thanks guys!

[@kaffeice7]

true ,its so nice to see things like that ,makes u feel good even if the worst shit is happening

[@ntcrawford722]

CrocDoc1 we need more people like them for real

[@prozak715]

see plenty of people like that in south missouri. People out here have a strong sense of community.

[@benjaminlee4463]

Prozak bullshit I'm an angel we are going to kill all and set this place on fire Truth one of the last vision's that God gave me was me wrapping my wings around me and turning my back on people in the heavens above and I'm from mo horrible people period

[@prozak715]

+Bnjamin Lee You are either tweaking or schizophrenic, either way you need to check yourself in somewhere and get some help.

[@DarrelltheWolf]

That woman that they let in looked absolutely traumatized, like she just saw the devil imself, perhaps she did

[@TampaJohn]

She sure moved slow enough. The dude was like, “COME ON! COME ON! COME ON!”

[@teresamance8381]

She looked like the walking dead and slow walking, like she just got out of the shower

[@Sylvillian]

Only satan can produce a tornado that bad

[@strat5520]

lol. No. She looked doped up on benzos or maybe opiates or both most likely.

[@nunyabiz7473]

The devil isn’t real

[@hebneh]

I'm assuming the party that the decorations were for, didn't end up happening.

[@geraldswaddles4564]

Yeah that was Joplin’s High School graduation day, my cousin was graduating

[@wbuttry1]

@@geraldswaddles4564 yeah i had a friend die in that tornado JJ Petty

[@boxyice1017]

It's a good book I love the idea survived book series

[@dallas-sf1ib]

@@wbuttry1 Can you tell me a little bit about that person?

[@misterb9833]

Nope

[@imanalien6461]

Tornadoes have a funny way of making glass doors explode sending shards of glass at you going 200 mph. I live in Oklahoma and one thing we hear a lot is "Seek shelter and STAY AWAY FROM THE GODDAMNED DOORS AND WINDOWS!!!"

[@Jenbrinkerjackson]

Chuck Turner. I would kill for a weather alert to say that verbatim

[@anitatichacek6804]

They say leave windows open because of breaking glass. .

[@Philip02K]

Ima Nalien bathoom

[@mpk6664]

@@anitatichacek6804 Leaving windows open is actually worse than keeping them closed.

[@anitatichacek6804]

@@mpk6664 tell that to the teachers and principals of schools it use to be part of emergency drill..Before schools had tornado shelters..but with fire it was close windows and doors and get out of the building

[@bilboswaggins9921]

*wind starts rattling the doors* Don't answer it! It's the tornado!

[@SPCSafetyHarbor2235]

Aah you saw that vid too

[@carbonwolf1087]

ah i see your a man of culture

[@grimstnzborithbrisingr7296]

Ah, yes. A fellow man of culture, I see.

[@askingkennedy9570]

Bilbo Swaggins LMAOOO

[@melissayazzie4137]

That's so funny!!

[@smileplease_91]

Aww, you guys were awesome letting that lady in and being so concerned with everyone upstairs. Glad y'all are okay.

[@NebulousHaze]

2:00 anyone else see how stunned she was?! She was in complete shock!

[@taekwondotime]

You might say she was... weeetaaaaawwwwdid ;)

[@happydayz7857]

StoryMaker Upper well she had a drink in her hand sooooo...

[@xMoonlala]

Happy Day Yeah soda and water existence

[@maycygomez9026]

That’s how her face is, I saw her a few days ago in Joplin (I live here)

[@MrWolfSnack]

Glad she survived both the past and present Joplin twisters

[@DarthDimadome]

Sometimes the videos where you DON'T see the tornado can be creepier than the ones where you do. No one here knows where the tornado is, where it's going, or how strong it is. It's only now as viewers that we know exactly what horrors were occurring while this video was being recorded, and it's scary.

[@happychaosofthenorth]

I just finished watching a video from inside a store that was hit. It was terrifying and you couldn't see anything, but you could hear it.

[@hannahbg1852]

@@happychaosofthenorth I know what video you're talking about, it's absolutely terrifying.

[@wadewilson8011]

No, seeing it on these videos are preferred. The creep factor is already there. we want to see the storm, the damage, and results. None of us wish for them to happen. But since nobody can stop them, and they happen anyway, we click on the vids for a reason, and it's not to guess where it is, and see no results. We're here for the action. IT'S a sad truth, but it's the truth none the less.

[@sydneyvaughn9471]

i’ll never forget that day i was only 7 and i was by myself when i heard the sirens. i didn’t know where my sisters where or what was happening with my mom, since she worked at the st. john’s. rip to the lives & the homes that were lost.

[@sourpuss5951]

That's sounds absolutely terrifying. I would have started sobbing if I was seven and alone during a tornado touchdown warning.

[@tthappyrock368]

You must have been terrified! All the best to you and your family!

[@squshy7581]

I was outside filling out my girl scouts form in a tree then i heard tornado sirens and ran inside....that form was never to be found again haha, in all seriousness the storm barely missed my house and i remember seeing everything that was torn up, I am thankful that my family along with others DID survive that day

[@RocketJockey1300]

A person named "squishy lover" was filling out Girl Scout forms, in a tree?? I'm sorry, but did I miss something here?? 🤔 Sounds like the build-up to a funny story....If it wasn't such a tragedy, this situation would actually be comical....

[@seheadhunter50]

@@RocketJockey1300 Shut up.

[@Say_No-2_Animal-Abuse_]

@@RocketJockey1300 Lol I read it twice, I couldn't figure it out...🤷

[@oldwaysstillwork]

I was not in that building that day, but my family and I were in a restaurant 50 yards from the edge of the tornado. It clipped my brother's house and destroyed so many homes. It was like nothing I had ever seen before and if I live to be 100, I never want to see it again. There were cars driving to the one remaining hospital with blown out glass and tires, people covered in blood in the backseats, it was terrible. A lot of people suffered PTSD from this night. Whether you were on the edge, or in the direct path, it haunts you everytime there's a storm here now.

[@zachalejandro]

I was literally smackdab in the middle of it, we lived a street between 17th and 15th streets so on 16th, luckily it actually didn't touch us, it jumped not once, but twice before it hit. Flattening houses between ours and the house to the right. All the others were destroyed. The bedroom that I had didn't even get a single scratch. Everything stayed still. I was shocked my bedroom windows weren't damaged either. I was amazed and blessed that God was watching over us that fateful night

[@PeaceIsYeshua]

@@zachalejandro Wow, that is truly incredible. 🙏🏻

[@finlandball1939]

@@zachalejandro Well it’s unfortunate that this “god” decided the other over 160 people weren’t worthy of surviving and brutally killed them… In other terms though, I’m really you survived. Seems that you got to witness the strange “jumping* effect” that tornadoes sometimes have. Not the worst that could’ve happened though. That bastard has got it coming to him. *Maybe Satan was the good guy after all…*

[@nobodyspecial7205]

Cool story

[@StormChaserMaci.]

Anytime I even hear the name Joplin my hair stands up. I watched it tear through town from other chasers that day.

[@sonimbetterthanyou]

When you hear the name Joplin tornado there's a level of awe to it. That tornado was absolutely evil in every sense. The amount of power something like the Joplin or Moore tornado had is scary to the soul.

[@kevinmingus3221]

Add Mayfield to that list as well

[@dianefarley37]

Mayfield, Kentucky.

[@d.dementedengineerc99isurf26]

@@kevinmingus3221 Say that again. I had Joplin aerial damage images playing in my head when I first heard of Mayfield's

[@loopthetube]

Same with Jarrell

[@finlandball1939]

@@loopthetube No. Jarell was a different beast all together. It was likely stronger than any tornadoes that have ever happened since. The tornadoes listed above you in the comment section were apocalyptic, but left crumpled up vehicles and bodies behind. Jarell didn’t. Many of the vehicles thrown by the Jarell twister weren’t even recognizable afterwards, as they were torn into parts so small that they could be mistaken for a crumpled soda can. And the bodies, or lack-there-of, found after the Jarell tornado also almost didn’t exist. When rescuers found no body’s in the short term, they were relieved, but confused on how so many were still missing. That’s when they began looking closer, and found much, much smaller things. Random Toes, fingers, and unidentifiable chunks of human flesh and bone were found. Many of the body parts couldn’t be linked together to form their respective bodies and the amount of remains for each of the victims was minute. I remember hearing or seeing one of the first responders on a documentary or book say something along the lines of this: “It was almost impossible (and even so in some cases) to visually tell human remains apart from those of animals like the cows that were also hit.” Apparently, some debris from the tornado was imbedded so far into the soil that some is still being dug up today in the fields or small bodies of water. Most of this info came from a book about the weather monitoring life of storm chaser Tim Samaras and his life itself, from the humble beginnings all the way to the tornado that killed him and his crew in 2013. It’s titled “The Man Who Caught the Storm” and I highly recommend you read it, as besides being an autobiography, it’s also an extremely reliable source of info about different tornadoes such as Jarrel.

[@ChicagoHOG27]

I live in Bentonville, AR. This Joplin tornado's destruction was EASILY the worst I have ever seen in my 42 years. A war zone doesn't usually have this thorough of damage. Tile was completely stripped from floors. Some paved roads had lost chunks of pavement to the wind. Entire neighborhoods toothpicked into rubble. A 2x4 impaled a concrete curb! I saw numerous home foundations where the ONLY things remaining were the bases of toilets, because they were anchored into the floor. I saw vehicles that were so mangled that you could look at them for five minutes and not know what they used to be. I saw a large flatbed truck wrapped around a tree like it was a soft taco, and cars on top of buildings. And I saw a 7 or 8-story hospital destroyed. It was horrible, and I was up there a full week after it hit. Material worlds were essentially erased, as well as many lives. Heartbreaking.

[@juliettedemaso7588]

You should be a Writer. I could have gone on reading your account, forgot I was in the KZbin comments for a sec there.. 👍

[@sweettrubble4635]

Incredible. And reported better than any newscaster I've ever heard.

[@weaponsofluv283]

Thx 4 writing

[@Brandon-lw1wx]

I live in Springdale not far from Bentonville. It was a scary day even here. We had a tornado warning going on as news of the Joplin tornado was breaking. We had never really taken tornado warnings seriously before but we have since that day. Luckily the tornado lifted before it got here.

[@fayebrown914]

I was in the hospital (with a clavical joint infection) in California, when I saw this on the TV. I remember hearing about the events of the day, and about the lives that it destroyed. I felt SO BAD for ALL of the victims, and I still do!! THIS is the first video, that I've seen of some of the lives that it "touched." I hope, that people have recovered and healed from their injuries and from the loss of loved ones!!!! I am, also, SO SORRY for the loss of people's loved ones.

[@amydavis4945]

Some people might complain that there was nothing "exciting" on this video or because it doesn't show massive destruction... that's a GOOD THING! I'm so very glad that you were all safe, and that despite your anxiety, you let that woman in and gave her refuge. So happy for all of you!

[@ScratRedemption]

I was actually shopping at Academy Sports the day before that hit. My mother was working at freeman, about to leave her 12 hour shift, when the tornado finally touched down. She was there for another 7 hours helping everyone coming in. No one in my family was harmed thank god, but my mother is forever scarred from the things she had to see come in through those emergency room doors. Even today, my prayers go to all the families who lost loved ones that awful day. Never forget.

[@mikah3312]

I like how the most dangerous tornado in the US just rolled over them and they're like "eh it's fine, we're alright".

[@rhondahoward8025]

Because that's what you have to say, otherwise you'll panic and do dumb shit. What, you expect them to scream and cry the entire time?

[@2436golden]

@@rhondahoward8025 Well, it still did not keep them from doing dumb shit, like locking the door to keep the tornado out, or going outside to look for the tornado. I would have preferred that they get into the safest spot they had and scream and cry. At least that would have made more sense.

[@nyanyania]

@@2436golden They went outside to look after it passed???

[@JayTor2112]

Didn't look like it hit them at all actually. Unless it happens after the video ends.

[@jnovak3249]

That’s because it’s par for the course here in Missouri 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@96NightRider96]

"start getting in rooms" i would have BEEN in a room

[@Zoomer30]

This shows how surreal a tornado is. Half the town is getting leveled and just a few miles away, nothing.

[@alfredwaller3072]

Lived in Joplin for a year, the strongest people I've ever met, respect

[@JesseHuffey]

Ever met the tweakers yet lol

[@alfredwaller3072]

@@JesseHuffey yep

[@clairekettle448]

I have to be honest I like how calm they all are. They are keep calm and keeping as much as they can under control.

[@backyardstormchasing2240]

Who else heard the emergency alert system?

[@misterb9833]

Me!!

[@yorhano9typesaka9s52]

I did, as well.

[@SPCSafetyHarbor2235]

Meh

[@notajedimaster2489]

They had the sirens going in Kansas City.

[@tricky7153]

Me

[@shanamiksell5802]

Born and raised in Joplin Missouri, still live here. This was a very tragic day in our town 😢

[@FoxTailGames]

dude, walking towards a giant glass wall with a tornado nearby, might be the single stupidest thing you could possibly do aside from just, standing outside.

[@Strange-en4qd]

someone made a book of this called "I SURVIVED" Joplin tornado. who else read it?

[@masterxgaming4230]

LULULULULULULULULU LU

[@Strange-en4qd]

master x gaming LULULULULULULULULU

[@masterxgaming4230]

LULULULULULULULULU LU

[@LacyCrusty]

Lauren Tarhis

[@odeiup]

LULULULULULULULULU LU I have

[@mairaceciliaalvarado6826]

I was born in Joplin MO but I was raised in Arizona. I went back to Joplin 8 months after the tornado. I was broken to know I didn't get to see the Joplin I was born in but I'm thankful to see how Joplin got together to help each other out! It's amazing to see the community's love something I don't see here in Arizona.

[@tru816indo]

Maira Cecilia Alvarado Joplin sucks.

[@kossur10]

Maira Cecilia Alvarado people from all over the country came to help

[@tru816indo]

Aaron Cole yeah true. But that tornado did Joplin a favor

[@ericamora1200]

Maira Cecilia Alvarado I was born in Arizona but moved to Joplin

[@Jetstar-97]

@@tru816indo Excuse me! You need to learn some respect!

[@jcextranow]

Can't believe those lights stayed on during the blast of the wind. Did they have a backup generator or something?

[@Babiisicko]

I will never forget that day I never in my life been so scared I was out with my ex bf in the moped 🏍 leaving the Joplin mall at the time right when it all started First came the rain Then came the hail Then came the lighting and the wind 💨 picked up instantly Everything happened in a blank of a eye I was living right down the street ( Webb City ) After it hit Me and my ex Volunteered as clean up workers I never been the same after that tornado 🌪 So many people lost their lives and homes 🏡 😭😔

[@kirara2516]

You guys are awesome for checking on those upstairs and helping that woman.

[@lilacscentedfushias1852]

I’ve watched a few videos like this, I’m impressed with the older adults on all of them, taking charge and giving calm reassurance to younger colleagues.

[@caitlynmosley-rives5497]

A couple miles away and there I was hiding in my closet from this monster

[@karenwebber9200]

You must have been terrified

[@reaganec]

I'm surprised that their lights stayed on for that long time

[@jayasmrmore3687]

Same

[@Iceify_]

I think this was city centre Joplin which just got severe thunderstorms. Pretty surreal that miles south it looked like a war zone

[@nitheunholylordofgarlic6367]

1:56 You can hear the EAS going off.

[@glorygracek.1841]

Niderp Speckles I know, that sound gives me goosebumps!

[@joshuamcdonald4909]

Oddly enough, I believe this may be the only EAS of the Joplin tornado on YT...

[@slopoke1471]

It's scared the crap outta me

[@Saymeow_Kay]

The EAS is Creepy! D: Its creepy, I have my radio on at night because when I hear no sound at night, Its creepy, and I feel lonely!! BUT!?!?!? In my area, The EAS people are so dumb that they do it in the middle of the night! I get shocked, But I fall asleep if their is a test, I understand the test, but not a real emergancy, DO IT IN THE DAY!!! >:( Yeah, I hate Eas!

[@fredsilvers1427]

If you're in a situation like this it's a good idea to watch the radar on your phone or listen to the radio for the location of the tornado. They can move really fast. You don't want to be standing around blind like this.

[@ARandomInternetUser08]

they had weather radios. I heard the sound that always accompanies severe alerts like this... "BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP......BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP......BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP........ *BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP* "

[@ARandomInternetUser08]

@Eddie Money and here we go. More of the same.

[@ARandomInternetUser08]

@Eddie Money nope, not more of the facts. More of the BS that you keep spewing.

[@bennybooboobear3940]

@@ARandomInternetUser08 they deleted their comment, what did he say?

[@ARandomInternetUser08]

@@bennybooboobear3940 they kept thinking they're right about the F scale being used and completely ignored what I was saying. I kept saying "THE EF SCALE IS NOT USED ANYMORE" and I kept telling and showing him the facts but he just refused to accept the truth. This guy kept mocking the people in Joplin, saying they're stupid because so many died, kept saying F scale info even though I kept showing that that scale is not used anymore. That guy was frustrating me so badly with how dumb he was.

[@RestorationRanchHealing]

My mom and nephew had the doors at a convenience store closed and locked as they were at the door in a tornado. They were told by a manager that is their policy once a tornado warning is issued. They were able to take shelter at a nearby location. If this is in fact a city ordinance the city needed to be sued. There are people who get stranded or don’t have a safe place to shelter. How many people are randomly killed because of this?

[@salmonflavored]

Very sad. Probably to save a few bucks from people who might try to loot the store while staff are hiding 😡

[@RestorationRanchHealing]

@@salmonflavored you bring up a good point. My mom and nephew were actually locked out and a manager even came to the door and told them ( as tornado sirens were sounding ) . They were able to find another store close by but I’m curious how many people are killed by these people not allowing others to shelter. Also I have heard for years about looters or people stealing because of the tornado warnings etc. I’m curious if there are any stories etc of proof where someone just runs around in tornadoes to find open doors to businesses and steals. Also most registers have passwords for the cash. At most if it’s a store with merchandise etc how much can they steal and if a tornado happens, the whole stole will be destroyed.

[@K.Spade7902]

I'm really relieved they let that lady inside! That was the right thing to do.

[@rhodabrands6723]

This is terrible what these people went thru the look on that lady that walked in was priceless who knows what she had already seen before she walkes thru those doors 😞

[@gabrielm.942]

Nothing this was on Main Street, about a mile or 2 away from the section of main that got hit. Visibility was so bad in the 5 to 10 mike radius that you could hardly see anything the rain, how dark it got, and the wind was pretty rough.

[@Bumblexo]

Awww, I’m so glad that lady was alright

[@billfowler6595]

I was there for this. Thank goodness I was in Webb City and missed the brunt of the tornado. Poor Joplin was destroyed. That day still haunts the city.

[@stephbaird3598]

Can't believe the 8 year anniversary of this tornado is coming up.

[@coloradorocky1298]

My family went out there with our church to help in the aftermath.... this was such a devastating tragedy. You guys go so lucky, some of the stories are truly horrific! The boy coming home from his high school graduation who was sucked out of his dads arms from his SUV & found in a pond, is clear in my mind. He was an upcoming KZbin star.

[@thaliabirrueta8456]

Rest in peace, Will Norton. Whenever I hear about the Joplin tornado, he's the first thing that comes up to my mind. He'll never be forgotten.

[@SVTCO]

Damn, Joplin is sooo well known for the tornado that you automatically know the video is about the tornado without saying "tornado". If I buy a pair of pants and the tag says "made in Joplin" first thing that comes to my mind is "violent tornado".

[@lilliputlittle]

I didn't see what the effects of the tornado had *during* the time it passed through town. We had to take shelter for our lives. It is fascinating to the effects it had just outside of the storm path. We were sitting in a closet and my eyes were closed. I was hugging my son and tuning out all the noise and crashing and everything else. I lived through a tornado but to this day I've never actually seen the effects first hand with my own eyes. Weird, eh?

[@LetustheDragon]

Seeing the woman's face broke my heart. I'll cannot fathom the horror these people felt that day.

[@lisaspayandneuter7402]

My husband went Joplin to live for 9 months after to help rebuild their hospital and high school he could not even comprehend the damage My God how horrifying that must have been😭

[@dallascowboys1683]

That’s Main Street in Joplin, Mo. The tornado was about a mile to the south of that location moving west to east.

[@Jenbrinkerjackson]

I ant decide if the woman is...delayed...or in shock?

[@inarumu]

Jennifer Jackson i think she was in shock plus elderly.

[@cd1673]

inarumu and delayed

[@donnamariedavidson5065]

Jennifer Jackson in shock. My cousin knows her. God bless the people there in Joplin.

[@dilbertdoe601]

Delayed

[@mixmaster9579]

She was just caught outside in one of the most violent tornadoes in US history, she's stunned.

[@brianhebert6152]

1:55 You can faintly hear an EAS broadcast. This may be the only known recording of a broadcast for the Joplin tornado.

[@amyslingsby6947]

Where I’m from we have blizzards not tornadoes, so correct me if I’m wrong. Aren’t you supposed to leave windows open so the pressure won’t break everything? I think it won’t help if the tornado is right on you, but if it’s near you could save your whole shop front or window frames from breaking? No???

[@Eddy12700]

who is watching this after Jefferson city may 22 2019

[@vixenwolfvirtualfarms4185]

I'm from Dayton so watching this after the F4 in 2019 is kinda therapy after seeing the damage

[@JoeyCaitiff]

I was at my grandparents in Sarcoxie when it hit. Even there it was crazy. We got some sized hail.

[@JesseHuffey]

I grew up in Joplin for almost 20 years, graduation 2010 JHS. We all grew accustomed to the sirens due to decades of cry wolf,till that horrifying day. The wolf finally came,buddies and me were downtown Joplin on a day off watching this monster go into Joplin like watching a Godzilla movie.

[@scarlett5595]

I remember this, I live in Springfield, we got the sirens too, my moms best friend was here, she got injured, my mom was so brave to go up and get her and take her to our house

[@StoryGirl83]

I spent half the video trying to figure out where that was and after seeing the name on the door, I still have no idea, but it looks like they were safer than many that day despite the lackadaisical attitude, which was not uncommon that day, sirens are not so uncommon, tornados actually touching down and doing major damage, thankfully, is. The day of the tornado, my parents went to the theater and I’m so glad they left when the sirens came on, because so many people were hurt there and two died there that day (one more died a while later as a direct result of the tornado). My parents made it up to sixth street before seeking shelter in a parking garage that thankfully was not in the direct path of the tornado. I’ve heard a lot of people’s stories of that day and my family definitely came out of it a lot better than most. Some of my coworkers at the time lost family members. A lot of people I know lost their homes. Where I work we couldn’t use tap water, which include the soda fountain, and because it was still standing and a restaurant in an area suddenly feeding a lot more people with a lot less resources, we had people coming to help us from three other states and we were so extremely busy. It was incredible to see how people came together to help each other out. We had people from all over the world, at least from two other continents, probably more, and I don’t have a clue how many countries. The event itself was horrible and the area was devastated for a long time. There are still empty places that used to have homes and businesses because no one built back in those locations. And yet the outpouring of love from everywhere was overwhelming is the best way possible.

[@modasher]

It was Columbia Traders. It’s permanently closed today but a Google search shows that it was at 420 S. Main. So this is right in the heart of downtown but quite always north of where the tornado hit.

[@LulaMae21]

I'm glad your family was okay. I lived in east Texas at the time and came with a group from my church two or three weeks later to help out. We stayed in the dorms at a little college and helped sort some of the donations coming through. The destruction was like nothing I've ever seen, and I've never forgotten it.

[@StoryGirl83]

@@LulaMae21 I'm sure you've been told this before, but thank you for helping out. Sounds like you were probably at OCC. We do have two colleges with dorms (and some tech schools), but OCC is the smaller of the two, at least I think so. I'm glad my family was all fine as well. We only had another eleven months with my dad (cancer), but at least we had those. One of my coworkers at the time lost his dad in the tornado. I can't imagine going through that one day they are there, the next they aren't with someone close to me.

[@kerryboyd2245]

yes these guys are awesome so cool and collected

[@cita_m]

I was in bham in April 27th 2011 working in a restaurant. It was one of the scariest days of my life and this video brought back some memories. The sky was a pea green and I stepped outside before it hit and it was so quiet. Awful.

[@eugeniolopez8539]

If a tornado is coming your way why would you be locking the doors instead taking cover?

[@jawoody9745]

Thank God you are all still alive!

[@thehappyfamily9868]

Thank god for the tornado!

[@emorymitchell4374]

OMG I remember that tornado I lived in joplin I was three years old!!!

[@nikkinicklus7587]

Yeah BOULSHIT!!!

[@sauceitupbolt6027]

I live in joplin and I don’t remember what place this is can someone give some insight

[@chechelgbt2053]

Bryce Bolt it was Columbia traders on main.

[@_camrondejuan_]

I used to live a miles away from Joplin but we moved to Atlanta right after this

[@nitroman365]

The real tragedy happened at 0:50. Lol.

[@grasieh.7459]

nitroman365 oh GOD!! THAT HAIRSTYLE DOH

[@bigbiddygothbih4404]

oh dats fucked up

[@isaiasduran4429]

Satan has

[@princesskenny85]

Is that Chuck Lidel? Lmao

[@lauradent5420]

Hahahahahahah...you nailed it!

[@GLING17]

One of the worst tornadoes in history right here! You can’t get worse that an EF5. Terrifying.

[@mandysimmons2769]

I'm nearly tearing up at how wonderful you guys were in this. I love good people!

[@randallfrink2701]

Bless that man for rushing to let that lady into safety without hesitation. A real act of humanity that we rarely see and it rarely is acknowledged.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

My home town. It was hell that day

[@aametriigraham8489]

Omg... I would've had a heart attack... I hope all of your loved ones were ok too... I'm a trained spotter with SkyWarn and this tornado is part of every class in the Twin Cities...

[@Jekyll_Island_Creatures]

What made this tornado unique?

[@izzymarie8987]

Eric21ND It pretty much flattened Joplin. That beast had to be insanely wild to do so.

[@SoulShines4U]

Send A Raven It had all the worst qualities a tornado could have. Over a mile wide wedge, multi vortex, and rain wrapped. And it smacked into a heavily populated area. For 158 people to die in today's age is horrific.

[@kiaraturnervlogs2595]

It was a bad bad day

[@zachj9359]

I'm a trained twin cities spotter as well!

[@amandagish5976]

That darkness was the same as I saw out my front door, four miles away from the tornado. It was that bad.

[@virginiawolff7395]

I wonder how they felt when they found out the tornado wasn’t north of them, which they were I believe at 5th and Main Street, but several blocks to the South of them??

[@ihategoogleplus5308]

Almost wonder if it's better to leave the doors unlocked. Could prevent what is basically an explosive decompression. That kind of thing can happen in storms.

[@dilbertdoe601]

"Not only is this wrong - it’s dangerous. Opening a window or door brings in high-pressure air, which then must escape. That’s usually out other windows or doors, or through the ceiling or roof. Cracking the windows could even cause a house to explode. A better defense is covering openings with reinforced plywood, so air flows over (not into) the house."

[@Saymeow_Kay]

They locked it because so water, wind ETC could not get in

[@mikexxxmilly]

“It’s right on top of us.” No sir, you’d be dead had that been the case

[@Jamie-zs2bl]

Gotta love when you're trying to record or photograph something and someone decides to stand in front of you.

[@pattibrooks1907]

God Bless you all I pray for you all daily ! You are all in my prayers daily just know that ok ?!!

[@depressedravensfansince2014]

This is why I never go anywhere when there's a possibility for a tornado. Order Pizza and come to my house and deliver it.

[@dannyrichards6233]

🍕 🏡

[@dannyrichards6233]

🌪

[@noahkdkdkd8934]

I'm a native San Franciscan whom resides in Omaha and we get these often, but they usually always end up passing us. I couldn't imagine being in Joplin during that time.

[@megslynnandrade]

We get them in Colorado, I remember my sinor year of high school, I was at an afterschool activity when a teacher came in and told everyone to leave and go home, the weather was getting bad, you couldn't hear the sirens, or they hadn't gone off yet, it was August so it wasn't a normal time of the year to get them, I was about to text my brother to tell him to come get me when he texted me that our mom who worked at a school had texted him and told him to go get me out of activity and to go home, we were going to drop a friend of mine off like we always did on Tuesdays, but on the way home my mom call and asked if we were home yet I said no, but we will be after we drop steph off, she said theres no time take steph to the house and get in the basement, at that point hail was falling, and it had gotten dark for it being 2:30 almost 3 pm in August. Nothing came of it but the sirens did go off but that was it. I was supposed to work that night but they shut the store down and sent everyone home, called everyone who was supposed to come in and said stay home.

[@Bestmovies781]

1:56 You can hear the EAS going off One thing for sure, this was a really horrible tornado, R.I.P to everyone who died

[@nathanlester9985]

See, me when I hear the warnings moving towards us, thats what my heart starts bumpin, and it'll remain that way through the course of the storm. but when I hear the sirens start and it really starts kickin outside, that's what the cold sensation rolls down my chest lol I live in here in Northeast Ohio, where it's either thunderstorm or dooms day XD

[@earlarnoldjr7019]

Grew up there

[@mccaulla]

Tornadoes are not a joke so I don't why people were laughing 😡 Plus, WHY DID YOU GO OUTSIDE?!

[@wesleyhopkins3036]

People deal with situations differently some people laugh when they are uncomfortable or nervous I do it

[@newmilo3736]

People in tornado alley don't really give a shit about tornados. I'm from Iowa born and raised and everytime a tornado hits we get out our alcohol and lawn chairs and sit on the porch. I've seen other states in tornado alley including Missouri and Oklahoma do the same thing while visiting. Even then some people laugh in serious situation.

[@nifixious7600]

10th anniversery of this hell. May all that died rest in piece.

[@s.hadeclaw]

I saw the aftermath of the Joplin tornado when coming back from going on vacation to Oklahoma for my 10th birthday (May 21st my bday, came home the 23rd. Day after the tornado) all I can really remember that gave me the chills was seeing neighborhoods that once stood were nothing more than debris flung everywhere, even near the highways.

[@Jenbrinkerjackson]

Shade Star Shitty birthday trip, oklahoma. Which family member did you piss off this year? The tornado was your reall gift.

[@s.hadeclaw]

Jennifer Jackson Wow someone is being an unnecessary fucktard.

[@s.hadeclaw]

Jennifer Jackson Wow someone is being an unnecessary fucktard.

[@revertinotse8582]

Does this Restaurant want a death wish??? Get the hell out of the doors!!!! Their DAMN Lucky it was only rain.

[@kaitlynslaymaker1343]

Reassurance is always the key to help pass big storms!

[@GhostofMrsMuir1443]

Sounds sarcastic. Perhaps you don’t mean it to sound that way. Being reassuring in a stressful situation is actually a very good thing to do.

[@firealarmduderoblox8060]

Was that beeping in the background the fire alarm panel

[@num1hendrickfan]

Firealarmdude ROBLOX that’s the EAS broadcast. Very useful to have a radio scanner available in hurricanes and other severe storms.

[@jcritch42]

They were on Main St. Between 4th & 5th Streets. Well out of the tornado path. On Main St. the damage was approximately from 15th to 30th Streets. Main St runs North South. The East West track of the tornado was a considerably longer track.

[@SkyCloudSilence]

Actually, the safest thing to do in a tornado is open all the doors to prevent a pressure blowout.

[@jcsussex]

Pulitzer level footage of the front door and the sidewalk.

[@oliviaclark5479]

Oh my god I remember this exact day to the dot.....a real tragedy. So many good people lost😢

[@mickeybinas]

What happened to that ladies face? I'm not being mean did she get stuck in the tornado?

[@sauceitupbolt6027]

“It’ll blow over”

[@taylorrentz9297]

i am from Florida and this legitimately looks just like a summer storm 😂

[@drewblaz740]

They didn’t get hit by the tornado they are likely on the outskirts

[@misterb9833]

Lol

[@SPCSafetyHarbor2235]

Exactly

[@lambassted3040]

I am a Joplin native. They are about 12 blocks northth of the path. When they opened the doors, the camera pointed north. The tornado path wasnt visible. To anyone saying this was a usual thunderstorm should look up the carnage. I must say that it was indescribable. However, I could not be prouder of the way that the community picked itself up and supported one another. Joplin Strong.

[@elkhannahcarson7538]

I was about 7 years old when this happened I lived about two cities away and it rained bad for 3 days straight.

[@goodegggreg8189]

My dad and I drove through there on a cross country trip a few months after that and I just thought it was a forgotten neighborhood whose homes had been demolished for other reasons and then we realized later how retroactively devastating that imagery was that we were right in the middle of.

[@Agarico]

I remember this happening I was super scared

[@karencarney7595]

*look at the guy acting all corney, putting this hand up like a self-proclaimed hero, 'i got this, stand BK everybody'* LMAO.

[@patricks.7951]

I've been to Joplin a couple times for work. It's sad seeing half the town with new buildings (the ones that got hit in 2011) and the other half of town with old buildings. It's a really hard not to notice, reminder of what happened in Joplin.

[@wilobrien9731]

Kudos to the guys working there. They had no idea what to expect, and yet they were calm while reassuring the others. I have to wonder what the lady at 1:55 had just gone through. She really had a look of shock on her face. It looks as though she might have been near the tornado and was trying to get away.