USA Storm Chasing Expedition - 22nd May 2011
Car has driven over
10,000 miles already.
The HailStone Convoy.
Welcome back to Kansas.
Storms are getting
close.
Heading to our target.
Before we know it, a
large storm is producing major rotation. Reports were received that a police
officer
had been blown away by a tornado, and a search was taking place. He was later
found safe and well.
Debris everywhere.
Chaos.
Over a dozen semis were
blown over around this area.
Heading south assessing
other damage nearby.
This town was not hit
all that hard.
Although reports were
being received that Joplin was hit hard.
After I heard the
reports I decided it was necessary to split from the project to report on the
Joplin Tornado.
I had no idea just how
bad the carnage was.. This was a load of batteries that was being transported in
a truck.
Heading into Joplin.
The area had lost
power.. Heading into main street.
Absolute chaos. There
was a constant stream of fire, police and ambulance.
People being
transported any way they could.
A power pole snapped in
half.
Salvation army in the
process of setting up.
A destroyed car outside
a supermarket.
A nurse helps with
allocating food and supplies to emergency workers.
The missing person list
has just been established.
Touring the destruction
on foot.
Power is out to the
entire area.
This was some of the
lesser damage.
It gets a whole lot
worse.
Search and rescue had
begun around 4 hours ago.
Buildings have been
levelled.
The storm has passed,
but the destruction remains.
Debris everywhere.
People are walking the
streets dazed.
A man gets a ride on a
construction vehicle.
It did not take long
for the flag to fly again.
A line of ambulances as
far as the eye could see.
Staging area.
Staging officer
planning out the crew allocation for search and rescue.
A dog is heard barking
in here.
Search and Rescue try
and get the dog, but they would have been bitten. The dog is left alone
until later.
Crushed.
A large street sign is
snapped.
Fire trucks light the
buildings with their headlights.
I was asked by the
elderly gentleman to help him find his daughter. A volunteer EMS worker and I
scour a flattened
house expecting to find a body..
The house was too far
gone to find anything.
Leading people to
safety, and a large gas line is venting nearby.
EMS volunteer comforts
the man at the steps of his daughter's house.
Storm is still
producing lightning in the background.
I head back to my car
to get some rest.
I stay in Springfield
that night watching dozens of ambulances pass in both directions..