Tornado in Joplin, MO

I have seen the death toll climb since yesterday as more victims are recovered. The country has suffered substanial loss of life since the tornado season began this year. Glad to hear Chris is okay. I hope all our other Cat Clan escaped serious injury.

I just went home to get new DRY clothes. Most of us have not had a break or any sleep since Sunday morning. The town is full of hundreds of pieces of cat equip at the present time and if I can find time I will post some pics. There is a 1936 RD 8 with a cable pan that was only a few hundred feet from the cat dealer that was demolished and a long reach 322 that was found upside down.

Our thoughts and Prayers go out to all of you.
some amazing pics http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/tornado052311/s_t19_RTR2MSQN.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nationaljournal.com/tornado-ravages-joplin-missouri-20110523&usg=__30W32Vt4gMXA8ydXfOijTd9EICo=&h=563&w=991&sz=628&hl=en&start=132&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=_O0FJFuoAwOgYM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=149&prev=/search%3Fq%3DTornado%2Bin%2BJoplin,%2BMO%26start%3D126%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D21%26biw%3D1577%26bih%3D747%26tbm%3Disch&ei=dpfbTb-VEoLPgAeZp4j1Dwyou will have to wait a moment for the page to load

I just got off the phone with Chris and he was filling me in on what he is seeing and doing in Joplin. Chris has a team of 9 rescue team members that are working with him and his equipment. Yesterday and last night they were successful in recovering live persons as well as fatalaties.

Chris wanted me to thank whomever the persons or person is who sent the wheeled excavator and 2 light towers out of a rental pool to him to assist in the rescue/recovery. All the rental tag said was from someone from the Board. That wheeled excavator is responsible for digging out 3 live persons and one fatality so far. Chris would like to thank the responsible party/parties personally if they care to come forward. If they desire to remain silent, then he sends his thanks.

Chris also said that of the 3 rescuers that were killed yesterday, 2 were police officers killed when they were struck with lightening and a fire fighter on Chris' team that was killed when a gust of wind blew debris from a damaged building on top of the individual.

Chris lives about 15 minutes away from the main path of the tornado and in driving to and from the areas of destruction he said the pictures on tv do not begin to tell the story of just how total the destruction really is. He said that they know that there are additional fatalities they have not recovered but there is just so much destruction that there is not enough man power and equipment to search all of the debris and damaged areas.

The additional bad news is that there are more tornados expected tonight and into tomorrow in the same area.

Keep sending the prayers and good thoughts to all of the folks in Joplin and all over the US who are experiencing the tornados, floods and fires that this season is testing the country with.

Tom, If you talk to Chris again, I am about two hours away from Joplin and have a bobcat which I could haul down to help out. Also a 5th wheel camper which could be set up as a place to work out of if needed. Phone number is 573-336-2215. I think it would be better if I had a point of contact than just to show up.

bboaz, Saint Robert, MO

We have recovered several more survivors today and the weather was good untill this evening when we all emegency search and rescue had to evacuate the area due to more tornados that were on the way. We had 3 different warnings that were less than 10 miles from the last track of sunday night, at this time they remained in the air for the most part and the only additional major damage to structures reported was the loss of a public works building about 12 mikes southeast of Joplin. At the end of the day in the last meeting I was asked if I knew any one in law enforcement that would volunteer some time especially at night to help, sadly the number of unaccounted for by friends and family has now risen to over1,100 people. I want to thank the member for the great gift of the equipment. If anyone has any law efforcement axperience and be willing to help some let me know and I will help you get you set up. Well I got to come home for a few hours tonight to get some sleep and I will try to post some pics of some cat stuff and the destroyed Fabic Cat dealer when I have some time. Bboaz I got your number and will contact you when we need more help.

We've had some close calls (and are even under a Tornado watch as I type this), but have never been hit directly by one. I have seen the devastation from some first hand, and my thoughts and prayers definately go out to the people of Joplin, and those down there helping.

Here are some pics of the Joplin Fabick store after the tornado.
[attachment=9236]tornado_102.jpg[/attachment] [attachment=9235]tornado_103.jpg[/attachment] [attachment=9234]tornado_101.jpg[/attachment]

Does anyone have any updates on the cleanup effort in Joplin? We would like to run a story on it in the next issue of the magazine. Feel free to contact me directly if you have information and/or photos. Thanks!

Kevin Kizer
ACMOC Editor

Hi, Folks.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have been hit by the tornados and those who are helping with the rescue and clean-up. We don't have tornados as such where I live but I have seen the aftermath of a cyclone, equivalent to your hurricanes, and it is not pretty.

Stay safe.