May 2011: JOPLIN TORNADO DISASTER

On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado touched down in Joplin, Missouri. The tornado grew in size to three-fourths of a mile wide and reached speeds of up to 200 mph.
The tornado damaged 553 business structures and 7500 residential structures were damaged.
The tornado generated over 3 million cubic yards of residential debris, making it the costliest tornado on record with a loss approaching 3 billion dollars.
Through January 2014, 182,044 people volunteered through AmeriCorps to provide post-disaster aid, and FEMA offered much aid and support to the Joplin community.

Death and Injury

Of the 7500 residential structures, 4000 were heavily damaged or completely destroyed, displacing 9200 people.
Over 17,000 peple were impacted by the tornado. The death toll reached 161people, and over 1000 people were injured.
The Joplin tornado was the deadliest single tornado on record since official records began in 1950.

Research on the mental health effects of tornadoes is less extensive than research on other types of disasters.
Tornado survivors can often exhibit signs of confusion, despair and disorientation within twenty-four hours of the disaster.
The immediate impacts on survivors’ mental health can usually be described as acute stress disorder. Survivors may immediately have higher levels of anxiety, feel disoriented, and have difficulty eating and sleeping.
The most frequent long-term psychological effects found after the Joplin EF-5 tornado were PTSD and depression.
The levels of distress experienced by children may be increased even more because of the affects the disaster has on caregivers and families

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