Joplin Missouri May 22, 2011 520pm

I was at work in Branson, MO at the time the Southern part of Missouri went under the Tornado Warning. We had tornado touch downs all over.  The warning had people freaking out everywhere. My work turned the radios' on, and the Manager on Duty was constantly on his Cell checking where they were at and where they were heading. The Doors were being blown open by the amount of rain falling and the wind. It was so Dark that it was hard to just see our cars outside.  Than it happened, over the radio it blared "Hospital in Joplin MO destroyed by Tornado."  Everyone was talking about it and when it came to my attention. My first thought was, "Were is my cousin she works in one of the Joplin Hospitals."  I told the manager I needed to make a call. So I tried to call and all circuits were down. I was only able to call my Grandparents. Not exactly the people you want to tell that a Tornado hit and destroyed part of the town one of there Grand Children and Great Grand kids live in.  Took two days but they were okay house and all.

Joplin, MO
Everyone comes out for the Class of 2011 Graduation on May 22 a Day many will never forget. A event that changes one life. A way of passage many would say after many long years of school 13 to be exact for many. Was a Beautiful day to begin with. Than it got cloudy, dark and everyone parted to rush home before the rain came. To enjoy the rest of the day in celebration. Unknowing to many that the Tornado Watch would soon change to a Warning. Which in many times does but nothing every happens. Living in Tornado Alley its a normal day to have at least one Watch in the books. But this day was soon to change the views of Tornado for everyone.  Many were still driving home when this storm hit.  One of the many stories that has been shared is the one of Will Norton.

Will Norton Story reminds me a lot of the movie Twister. The part at the end as there driving and the twister is coming at them and the father is holding onto the son to prevent him from being pulled out the back of the vehicle.

                                 This is Will Nortons' Story

Will Norton was a Graduate of Joplin by only 30min before his life was taken. This is his story; They were rushing home before the rain hit. His mother and sister in the vehicle in front of them. Had pulled into the garage and was opening the door. While his sister called her father in the passenger sit of the Hummer Will was driving.  The Tornado now on the ground heading right for them. She ran into the house still on the phone with her father. When she heard him yell to Will "Pull Over NOW!!!!" as the Tornado came barreling though the town right at them. No were to run in sight of there home. The wind so strong that even with Will father holding him. He was unable to prevent Will from being pulled out though the sun roof. At this point all cell service was cut off. The last words Will said as he was being pulled away from his father was Biblical Verses his faith was strong and he was a great guy.  It took a week and Hundreds of people searching to find him.  He was found on the other side of the street from where the hummer was found next to a pound.  This is just one of many stories Joplin now has.

It was classified as a  EF5 multiple-vortex tornado with winds reaching over 200mph, its maximum width was a mile wide going though Joplin. It has also been the third tornado to actually hit Joplin MO.  The out come of this storm was over 150 Lost Souls ranging from Infants to Grandparents and Great Grandparents.  Over 1000people being injured, and hundreds of pets uprooted and many lost among the Human Death Totals. The Joplin tornado is the deadliest since modern record keeping began in 1950 and is ranked 8^th among the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/sgf/?n=event_2011may22_summary (Historical facts of records for tornado's comparison check it out) 
           RIP LOST LIVES OF JOPLIN MO MAY 22, 2011

Facebook was one of the only ways the people of Joplin were able to contact family and friends that they were okay and alive. It took over one-two weeks for cellphones and land lines to be back up. Cell phone towers were down everywhere. But they were able to access the internet portion of the Cell Phone.  There were many groups started for Joplin Missouri. Tribute sites, sites for animals that were lost, for missing people, and those that were lost. Before even 24hrs was over there was a count of 52people that had lost there lives.  By 3days the count had climbed to over 102 Dead.  People were sent to hospitals all over the country.  There were people found in Hospitals all the way down to Florida, Kansas City, Springfield, Arkansas. By the first week marker the count had reached a high of 152 Lost Souls.  There were some that were not found for a week because the Town was damaged that much.  Months passed and I beleave the last count I heard was 162 People had passed.  For injuries suffered and not strong enough to pull though.  Some from a Bactria Infection that came about during this tragic Ordeal.  NO one really knows how it happened but that we lost Loved Ones to it.
                  During the Storm and the After Math of it all.

The outcome of Joplins' Tragedy had prompted me to be more active in my dreams in expressing myself not only in writings but also in videos that I make.  I have a channel on YOUTUBE under Geer Creations and lmgeer either way it can be found. I have composed several movies for Joplin. Videos that express the towns devastation by looking at the damage of the town hrs after it hit.  I have complied a video with Pictures of the Lost Lives with there names.  Putting Names to Faces is what I was able to do for Joplin. The highest count I have is 132 Lost Lives. Some were Parents, Children, Heroes, Teenagers.  These videos have been viewed all the way across the world.  I know this because a group in Sweedin reached out to me to come to Joplin and do a documentary for there youth over in Sweedin.  They came and compiled a story with the teenagers of Joplin on how they are coping with the lost of loved ones and how they are recovering with the town. To show to there children the out come of a National Disaster and how people pull together.  Over 69*** Views on Youtube, go check it out.

After the devastation of the storm. Hundreds of people started traveling there from everywhere.  Kansas City came, Oklahoma City came, Springfield, St Louis, Arkansas, Houston Missouri all coming to help.  A cop from Kansas City lost his live during the search and rescue. He was coincidentally struck by lighting.  Go figure Tornado one day Lighting Strick the next.  Thousands of people have volunteered over the last year in helping rebuild Joplin. May 22, 2011 is a marker for the world like 9/11 is for the world.  Though this was just one town and not known everywhere. It has become and inspiration to us all.  The way here in Missouri everyone came together so fast to help find people, and clean the town up.

It was such an inspiration that Extreme Home Makeover came to Joplin and built 7homes in 7days, a new City park, A memorial site for the Lost lives and the Volunteers.  This was such a huge turn out that the rumor of it is. It was the Largest turnout for building.  It unfortunately will be the ending of the show.   Air Date is Jan 13, 2012 the last episode will be 2hrs long and will be the Shows Finally. Talk about going out with a BANG!!!!!!

Check out My youtube channel    http://www.youtube.com/user/lmgeer?ob=video-mustangbase
       Behind the Scenes of the Season Finnaly of Extrieme Makeover from the Volunteers' View

Watch the Videos and Learn, experience what JOPLIN did. Become a part of the world that has been Inspired with May 22, and the next time you hear that date you will think of JOPLIN MISSOURI......  The Same way when you hear 9/11 you think of New York and the Trade Centers, you think of Iraq and Afghan, and WAR.