2011 — May 22, Tornado, Joplin, MO 161-163
–159-163 Wikipedia. “2011 Joplin Tornado.” Sep 17, 2011.[1]
— 161 Kuligowski, et al. “Lessons from the 2011 Joplin tornado.” NHO, Sep 2014, p. 10.
— 159 Kansascity.com. “Joplin Tornado Records 159th Fatality.” July 8, 2011.
— 159 NWS. NWS Central Region Service Assessment. Joplin, Missouri, Tornado. 7-2011.
— 159 Wikipedia. “2011 Joplin Tornado.” Aug 3, 2011.
— 158 KY3 News. “Joplin Death Toll Up to 158.” June 25, 2011.
— 155 Reuters. “Another Death in Joplin From Tornado brings Toll to 155.” June 20, 2011.
— 139 CBS News. “Death Toll from Joplin Tornado Now 139.” May 28, 2011.[2]
— 138 Associated Press. “Officials Say Death Toll from Mo. Tornado Now 138.” 6-2-2011.
— 134 Associated Press. “134 Now Confirmed Dead After Joplin, Mo., Tornado.” 6-1-2011.
–126-132 Reuters. “Joplin Tornado Death Toll Rises to 132.” May 27, 2011.
–125-132 NYT. “Accustomed to Bad News Joplin Chaplin Takes It Personally…” 5-27-2011
— 122 New York Times. “Many Still Unaccounted for After Joplin Tornado.” May 24, 2011.
— 122 Ozarks First. “Joplin MO Tornado Upgraded to EF-5; Death Toll 122.” 5-24-2011.
–116-118 Bloomberg. “Missouri Officials Debate Joplin Deaths.” May 24, 2011.
Breakout of fatality locations: Kuligowski, Erica, Franklin Lombardo, Long Phan, David Jorgensen. “Lessons from the 2011 Joplin tornado.” Natural Hazards Observer, Vol. XXXIX, No. 1, Sep 2014, pp. 10-15. Accessed 8-28-2014 at: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/o/archives/2014/sept14_observerweb.pdf?utm_source=NHC+Master+List&utm_campaign=a4bb266607-September_2014_Observer&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dabc309806-a4bb266607-54400545
Narrative Information
Wikipedia: “The 2011 Joplin tornado was a devastating EF5 multiple-vortex tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, USA late in the afternoon of Sunday, May 22, 2011. It was part of a larger late-May tornado outbreak sequence and reached a maximum width of in excess of 1 mile (1.6 km) during its path through the southern part of the city. It rapidly intensified and tracked eastward across the city, and then continued eastward across Interstate 44 into rural portions of Jasper County and Newton County. This was the third tornado to strike Joplin since May 1971. Along with the Tri-State Tornado and the 1896 St. Louis-East St. Louis tornado, it ranks as one of Missouri’s and America’s deadliest tornadoes and is likely to be the costliest; the cost to rebuild Joplin could reach $3 billion. It was the first F5 or EF5 tornado in Missouri since the Ruskin Heights tornado struck south of Kansas City in 1957. It is also only the second F5 or EF5 tornado in Missouri history dating back to 1950. The May 2011 tornado was the deadliest tornado to hit the United States since 1947 – the seventh-deadliest single tornado in U.S. history, and 27th-deadliest in World history. As of July 8, officials reported that 159 people died from the tornado, with another killed by a lightning strike during cleanup operations the next day.
“The insurance payout is expected to be $2.2 billion — the highest insurance payout in Missouri history and higher than the previous record of $800,000 in the April 10, 2001 hail storm (which has been billed as the costliest hail storm in history as it swept along the I-70 corridor from Kansas to Illinois). Estimates earlier stated Joplin damage could be $3 billion. Through July 15, 2011, there were 16,656 claims….
“The tornado initially touched down just east of the Kansas state line near the end of 32nd Street… at 5:34 p.m. CDT (2234 UTC) and tracked just north of due east. Damage was minor in the rural areas southwest of Joplin, with only minor tree damage. As the tornado tracked into the southwest corner of Joplin near Twin Hills Country Club, damage was generally moderate with some severe damage. Many houses sustained significant damage in the area, including total roof loss. Damage in that area was rated EF2 to EF3.
“The tornado intensified greatly as it entered a more densely populated portion of the city at about 5:41 p.m. CDT (2241 UTC) and damage became very widespread and catastrophic as it entered residential subdivisions in southwest Joplin. In addition, St. John’s Regional Medical Center in the same area was heavily damaged with many windows and the exterior walls damaged and the upper floors destroyed. Several fatalities were reported there…. Virtually every house in that area near McClelland Boulevard and 26th Street was flattened, and some were blown away in the area as well…. At and just north of St. John’s is the beginning of the EF5 damage corridor, with EF4 damage elsewhere in the area.
“As the tornado tracked eastward, it intensified even more as it crossed Main Street between 20th and 26th Streets. Virtually every business along that stretch was heavily damaged or destroyed and several institutional buildings were destroyed. It tracked just south of downtown, narrowly missing it. More houses were flattened or blown away and trees continued to be debarked. Two large apartment buildings were destroyed, as well as Franklin Technology Center and Joplin High School…. It approached Range Line Road, the main commercial strip in the eastern part of Joplin, near 20th Street. Damage in this area was rated as a low-end EF5.
“The tornado peaked in intensity as it crossed Range Line Road. In that corridor between about 13th and 32nd Streets, the damage continued to be very intense and the tornado was at its widest at this point, being nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) wide. As the tornado hit the Pizza Hut at 1901 South Range Line Road store manager Christopher Lucas herded four employees and 15 customers into a walk in freezer. Since the door could not be shut Lucas wrapped a bungee cable holding the door shut around his arm until being sucked into the tornado where he died. A sixteen year old waitress named Kayleigh Teal was also pulled out of the freezer and killed.
“There were also others that perished in Pizza Hut as well due to the pressure change in the cooler after the door was torn from the cooler. Some of the many severely affected buildings include Wal-Mart Supercenter #59, a Home Depot store, and numerous other restaurants, all of which were flattened. Engineers later criticized the tilt up construction practice in the Home Depot in which all but two of its walls collapsed in domino effect after the tornado lifted the roof — killing seven people in the front of the store although 28 people in the back of the store survived when those walls collapsed outwards. The Wal-Mart and nearby Academy Sports had a different concrete block construction and their walls survived although they lost their roofs. Three people died in the Wal-Mart but 200 survived. Home Depot officials said they disagreed with the study published by The Kansas City Star and said they would use the tilt up practice when they rebuild the Joplin store. Heavy objects, including concrete bumpers and large trucks, were tossed a significant distance, as far as 1/8 mile (200 m) away from the parking lots along Range Line. Many fatalities occurred in this area. Damage in this area was rated as a high-end EF5.
“Extreme damage continued in the area of Duquesne Road in southeast Joplin. Many houses and industrial and commercial buildings were flattened in this area as well. The industrial park near the corner of 20th and Duquesne was especially hard hit with nearly every building flattened. One of the many warehouses affected was a Cummins warehouse, which was a concrete block and steel building which was destroyed. Damage in this area was mostly rated EF4, with the EF5 damage area ending in the western part of the industrial park.
“It then continued on an east to east-southeast trajectory towards Interstate 44 where it weakened; nonetheless, vehicles were flipped and mangled near the U.S. Route 71 (Exit 11) interchange. The weakened tornado continued to track into the rural areas of southeastern Jasper County and northeastern Newton County where damage was generally minor to moderate. The tornado lifted east of Diamond at 6:12 p.m. CDT (2312 UTC) according to aerial surveys. The tornado’s total track length was at least 22.1 miles (35.6 km) long. A separate EF2 tornado touched down near Wentworth from the same supercell about 25 miles (40 km) east-southeast of Joplin.
“Many people were reported to have been trapped in destroyed houses. Seventeen people were rescued from the rubble the day after the tornado struck.
“According to the local branch of the American Red Cross, about 25% of Joplin was destroyed, but the town’s emergency manager stated that the number was between 10% and 20%, with roughly 2,000 buildings destroyed. According to the National Weather Service, emergency managers reported damage to 75% of Joplin. Communications were lost in the community and power was knocked out to many areas. In total, nearly 7,000 houses were destroyed (most of which were flattened or blown away) and over 850 others were damaged.” (Wikipedia. “2011 Joplin Tornado.” Sep 17, 2011.)
May 24: “Joplin, Mo. — About 1,500 people are unaccounted for in this battered city, a Fire Department official said Tuesday, as rescue workers took advantage of a few hours of sunny weather to continue searching for survivors in buildings leveled by the country’s deadliest tornado in more than 60 years. At least 122 people have died.
“While the number of those unaccounted for is alarmingly high in a city with only 49,000 people — and raises the specter of a far higher death count — it may merely be a reflection of the widespread breakdown of communication systems here in the wake of Sunday’s vicious storm. Many residents who fled ahead of the tornado or survived it may be unable to notify the authorities or family members who have reported them missing.
“Capt. Robert Daus of the Maryland Heights Fire District, who is helping to lead a team of about 100 St. Louis-area firefighters in search and rescue operations in Joplin, said that in addition to the 1,500 people who remain unaccounted for, an additional 750 had been injured by the tornado, which cut a three-quarter-mile-wide path through this southwestern Missouri city and damaged as many as 30 percent of its buildings.
“The National Weather Service said the tornado that struck the city Sunday evening was an EF5 storm, with winds greater than 200 mph — the most powerful category of tornado….
“A tornado touched down Tuesday afternoon about two miles north of Canton, Okla., according the National Weather Service. The Associated Press was also reporting Oklahoma City metropolitan area at the start of evening rush hour, damaging homes and injuring a number of people. On Tuesday morning, American flags flew outside many houses in Joplin, including flags that had been draped over sections of ruined homes. When there was not enough structure of a house left behind to support a flag, flags were placed in nearby trees that had somehow managed to retain a few branches.
“About one-third of the most heavily damaged sections of the city were cordoned off by the authorities on Tuesday as rescue teams with dogs combed rubble. The doors of houses that had been searched were marked with an “X.” If bodies were found inside, a number was listed under the “X.” The authorities said they planned to complete a second sweep through the city on Tuesday, methodically examining every structure that had been damaged — at least 2,000.
“On Monday, crews pulled seven people out of buildings that had collapsed, officials said. But on Tuesday, some 60 hours after the tornado struck, no survivors had been found. “We’re hoping to find more folks, that’s why we’re doing these searches,” said Keith Stammer, the Jasper County emergency management director. Mr. Stammer said the city planned on conducting at least two more rounds of searches, but those would likely not take place until after the storm expected Tuesday evening had passed….
“Among the buildings that search and rescue teams were focusing on Tuesday was Hampshire Terrace, a 100-unit apartment complex with about 300 tenants, where the tornado’s fierce winds had ripped off and blown away nearly the entire second story of the two-floor building…. Most of the building’s residents were low- or moderate-income families, including elderly people and families with children, said Amy Thompson, vice president of Heritage Management. About 20 percent of the tenants received federal Section 8 housing vouchers….” (New York Times. “Many Still Unaccounted for After Joplin Tornado.” May 24, 2011.)
May 24: “(Joplin, MO) — The number of lives ended by a tornado that ripped through Joplin, Missouri on Sunday has jumped to at least 122. Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr announced this afternoon more than 750 people had been treated for injuries suffered in the storm and 1,500 Joplin residents are still listed as missing. Since Sunday’s storm, nine people have been recovered alive in the debris.
“The National Weather Service has confirmed the twister that ravaged Joplin was an EF-5 with wind in excess of 200 miles per hour. The weather service says the storm goes into the record books as the eighth most deadly on record.
“President Barack Obama plans to visit the area Sunday to inspect the damage from Sunday’s massive tornado, and console the victims. Obama told reporters in London he wants people in areas hit by the storm to know that “all of America cares deeply about them and that we are going to do absolutely everything we can to make sure that they recover.”
“A three-quarter-mile wide tornado tore through Joplin at about 5:30 pm Sunday, killing at least 116 people and destroying and damaging 2,000 buildings, including St. John’s Regional Medical Center, the Joplin High School, large retail buildings and entire neighborhoods.
“Obama said he told Missouri Governor Jay Nixon Monday that “we will give him every ounce of resources that the federal government may have to bring to bear.” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano also called Nixon. Federal Emergency Management Administrator Craig Fugate is in Missouri Tuesday.
“Search teams say those reported missing may simply have failed to connect with family members to let them know they’re safe. Rescuers aren’t taking any chances. They’re conducting another sweep of the city, looking for any possible survivors….
“And with the path of devastation six miles long and as wide as a quarter mile, the big question is ‘where do we begin’.” (OzarksFirst.com. “Joplin MO Tornado Upgraded to EF-5; Death Toll 122.” 5-24-2011.)
May 24: “Governor Jay Nixon’s office said today that 118 people were killed in the May 22 twister, while Joplin Fire Chief Mitch Randles said at a press conference that the death toll stands at 116. If the governor’s report is confirmed, the tornado would surpass the record set June 8, 1953, when a twister in Flint, Michigan, killed 116 people….
“At least 481 people have died in tornadoes so far this year, the earliest that such a high toll has been reached, Schneider said. The U.S. began tracking fatalities from individual tornadoes in 1950….
“The deadliest year for tornadoes in the U.S. was 1925, when 794 people were killed, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration….
“A three-quarter-mile wide tornado tore through Joplin at about 6 p.m. May 22, destroying and damaging homes and buildings including St. John’s Regional Medical Center, according to state and local statements. The tornado’s winds may have reached 198 miles per hour (319 kilometers per hour), said Jack Hayes, director of the National Weather Service….
“Joplin Mayor Mike Woolston declared a local disaster, according to the city’s website, while Nixon declared a state of emergency and sent National Guard troops to help….
“Emergency crews worked late into the night in a commercial area in the southern part of the city where a Home Depot, Wal-Mart and other stores were damaged or destroyed. Nearby residential neighborhoods were dark, with debris scattered around houses and in the streets….
“Temporary clinics were set up at the Joplin Memorial Hall and McAuley Catholic High School to treat wounded residents and transport serious cases when hospital beds become available in the region, said Darlene Thompson, a registered nurse working at the high school.
“The tornado partially tore the roof off and caused extensive damage at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, where 183 patients were being treated when the storm hit. Five patients and a visitor were killed, and the surviving patients were evacuated to other hospitals in the area, said Cora Scott, a spokeswoman for Sisters of Mercy Health System. There was only five minutes’ warning and time to start moving patients to interior hallways, Scott said….” (Bloomberg. “Missouri Officials Debate Joplin Deaths.” May 24, 2011.)
May 27: “The death toll from the monster tornado that tore through Joplin on Sunday rose to 132 on Friday after six more victims were identified, Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr said. Earlier in the day, a Missouri state official said the death toll was unchanged at 126. Officials said the discrepancy was because the situation was so fluid.
“The number of people still unaccounted for was pared down to 156 on Friday, officials said. “We are working around the clock to expedite this process so that families can have their loved ones returned to them,” Missouri Deputy Director of Public Safety Andrea Spillars said.
“Authorities on Thursday released a list of 232 names of people still unaccounted for. Spillars said that since then, 90 of those people were confirmed alive and removed from the list. Two names were removed as duplicates, and six were confirmed dead. ‘But another 22 missing person reports were received’, she said.
“Authorities also said the remains of only 19 of the dead have been identified and released to families. There has been rising frustration in Joplin that families were unable to view the bodies in morgues or get answers on the fate of their loved ones. Spillars confirmed family members are not being admitted to the morgue to view the dead. Many of the bodies are in such poor condition that officials said they are using fingerprints, medical records, distinctive tattoos, DNA and other methods to identify them. Investigators were also using tips from family and friends as well as Facebook and other social media posts to separate the missing from the dead. “It is not necessary for family members to actually go out to the morgue to identify bodies,” Spillars said.
“The tornado on Sunday was rated an EF-5 or the strongest possible and is already the deadliest twister in the United States since 1947. The storm scored a direct hit on the city of 50,000 people in southwest Missouri and left a swath of destruction nearly a mile wide, damaging some 8,000 buildings. More than 900 people were injured, although officials said that figure could be higher because some people did not got to hospitals.” (Reuters. “Joplin Tornado Death Toll Rises to 132.” May 27, 2011.)
May 28: “Joplin, Mo. — The death toll from the monster tornado last week in Missouri has risen by seven to at least 139, city spokeswoman Lynn Onstot said Saturday. The state has been working to pare down the list of people missing and unaccounted for in the wake of the deadliest single U.S. twister in more than six decades. It said Friday that the original list of 232 missing or unaccounted for residents had dropped to 156 by Friday, and planned to give an updated total later in the day.” (CBS News. “Death Toll from Joplin Tornado Now 139.” May 28, 2011.)
June 1: “Joplin, Mo. (AP) — Everyone reported missing since last week’s massive tornado in Joplin has been accounted for, and at least 134 people have been confirmed killed, state officials said Wednesday. The Missouri Department of Public Safety said the confirmed death toll of 134 includes 124 people who had been on the unaccounted-for list, seven people who were taken immediately to funeral homes after the storm, and three people who have since died in the hospital from their injuries.
“More than 8,000 homes and apartments, and more than 500 commercial properties, were damaged or destroyed in the tornado.
“Officials said the final 10 people on the list were tracked down by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which has led the effort to find the 268 people listed as unaccounted for after the May 22 tornado. “Our troopers worked 24/7 to locate these individuals and to bring relief to the families of the living and closure to the families of those who died,” Gov. Jay Nixon said. “This was a critical mission that our Missouri State Highway Patrol performed exceptionally well.”
“The state said the Jasper County coroner has authorized the release of bodies that had been at a temporary morgue to their families so they may be laid to rest. By Wednesday afternoon, 119 victims had been released from the morgue, the state said in a news release.
“The state now believes the 134 deaths is the up-to-date death toll but cautioned there could be more from people currently hospitalized with severe injuries. “It is our belief that, pending further deaths from those injured, the count is 134,” said Seth Bundy, a spokesman for the state. “We do have some folks critically injured in hospitals, and we’re hoping and praying that they will pull through.” Bundy said he did not know how many people are critically injured.
“The announcement came as crews began the long task of removing millions of cubic yards of debris from the damage zone. City and federal officials warned Wednesday that people should take precautions to avoid dust and other airborne particulates that could contain hazardous material. The Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Missouri National Guard and other agencies are working together on debris removal that will raise potentially hazardous dust as bulldozers move piles of rubble and streets are swept. The Environmental Protection Agency has provided masks and safety instructions to search and rescue crews, contractors, volunteers and residents. “If it’s dusty enough that you can visibly see dust coming at you, you should wear the masks that have been provided as a precaution,” said Eric Nold, an on-scene coordinator for the EPA. The EPA has been monitoring air quality in Joplin at six ground-level sites in the debris field since Saturday, checking for asbestos and other potentially harmful particulates that could be floating in the air from the devastating tornado that ripped through more than six miles of town. So far, tests show particulate levels are normal, city officials said. No asbestos has been found in testing. The city said temporary, roving testing stations will be installed where debris collection is occurring. While dust and particulate testing shows immediate results, testing for asbestos takes about two days to process. “We have no reason to believe that dust or particulates are a health hazard at this point, but we simply want people to be aware and take precautions as they go about their work,” said Sam Anselm, Joplin’s assistant city manager.
“FEMA said more than 7,000 Joplin-area residents have registered for assistance since the EF-5 tornado that packed winds of more than 200 mph. Also Wednesday, Nixon announced creation of the Missouri Disaster Recovery Jobs program, which will use $5.8 million from the federal Workforce Investment Act to create 400 temporary jobs for Joplin workers who lost their jobs because of the tornado. The workers will assist with clean-up and humanitarian efforts in Jasper and Newton counties.” (Associated Press. “134 Now Confirmed Dead After Joplin, Mo., Tornado.” 6-1-2011.)
June 2: “Joplin, Mo. — Missouri officials say the death toll from the massive May 22 Joplin tornado has risen to 138 people. The state Department of Public Safety announced the increase from 134 to 138 on Thursday after confirming that four more people died in hospitals of injuries suffered in deadliest single U.S. tornado since 1950.
“More than 8,000 homes and apartments, and more than 500 commercial properties, were damaged or destroyed when the twister ripped through more than six miles of the southwest Missouri town.
“Officials say everyone reported missing after the tornado hit has either been located or confirmed to have died. Some remain hospitalized.” (Associated Press. “Officials Say Death Toll from Mo. Tornado Now 138.” 6-2-2011.)
June 20: “Nearly a month after a massive tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri, another person has died from injuries, bringing the death toll to 155, the city announced on Monday. Edmon A. Cooper died of injuries in the tornado, said Lynn Onstot, public information officer for the city. Cooper died several days ago, said Rob Chappel, Jasper County coroner. There was a delay in his death being reported by the hospital and it then had to be confirmed as tornado-related, Chappel said. Cooper’s death was not caused by a fungal infection that doctors said has claimed the lives of some other injured people, Chappel said. The tornado death toll includes a Kansas City area police officer who was struck by lightning while helping at the scene the next day.” (Reuters. “Another Death in Joplin From Tornado brings Toll to 155.” June 20, 2011.)
June 25: “Joplin, Mo. — City officials confirm that two more people have died from injuries they received in the May 22 tornado brining the total death toll to 158. Alice Cope and Burnice Bresee died earlier this week. The EF-5 tornado that tore through the city is the deadliest single tornado in more than sixty years.” (KY3 News. “Joplin Death Toll Up to 158.” June 25, 2011.)
July 8: “Another person has died from injuries suffered during the May 22 tornado that devastated Joplin, bringing the total number of deaths to 159, city officials said. The name of the most recent casualty is Janice McKee. No other information was released about her death.” (Kansascity.com. “Joplin Tornado Records 159th Fatality.” July 8, 2011.)
Sources
Associated Press. “134 Now Confirmed Dead After Joplin, Mo., Tornado.” 6-1-2011. At: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfsXzErCFFIEVK7HGE7fiwCoMpTg?docId=767d32a77ebc489a8efb651f04f56a30
Associated Press. “Officials Say Death Toll from Mo. Tornado Now 138.” 6-2-2011. Accessed at: http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110602/ap_on_re_us/us_joplin_tornado_death_toll
Bloomberg. “Missouri Officials Debate Joplin Deaths.” 5-24-2011. Accessed at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-24/storms-may-sweep-across-u-s-plains-after-tornado-that-killed-at-least-116.html
CBS News. “Death Toll from Joplin Tornado Now 139.” 5-28-2011. Accessed 5-28-2011 at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/28/national/main20067073.shtml
Kansascity.com. “Joplin Tornado Records 159th Fatality.” July 8, 2011. Accessed at: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/08/3002580/joplin-tornado-records-159th-fatality.html
Kuligowski, Erica, Franklin Lombardo, Long Phan, David Jorgensen. “Lessons from the 2011 Joplin tornado.” Natural Hazards Observer, Vol. XXXIX, No. 1, Sep 2014, pp. 10-15. Accessed 8-28-2014 at: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/o/archives/2014/sept14_observerweb.pdf?utm_source=NHC+Master+List&utm_campaign=a4bb266607-September_2014_Observer&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_dabc309806-a4bb266607-54400545
KY3 News. “Joplin Death Toll Up to 158.” June 25, 2011. Accessed at: http://articles.ky3.com/2011-06-25/deadliest-single-tornado_29704600
National Weather Service, Central Region HQ. NWS Central Region Service Assessment. Joplin, Missouri, Tornado – May 22, 2011. Kansas City, MO: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, Central Region Headquarters, July 2011. At: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/assessments/pdfs/Joplin_tornado.pdf
New York Times. “Accustomed to Bad News, Joplin Chaplin Takes It Personally This Time.” 5-27-2011. Accessed 5-27-2011 at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/us/28joplin.html
New York Times. “Many Still Unaccounted for After Joplin Tornado.” 5-24-2011. Accessed at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/us/25tornado.html
OzarksFirst.com. “Joplin MO Tornado Upgraded to EF-5; Death Toll 122.” 5-24-2011. Accessed Apr 24, 2011 at: http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=460717
Reuters. “Another Death in Joplin From Tornado brings Toll to 155.” 6-20-2011. Accessed at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/20/us-tornado-joplin-idUSTRE75J7D220110620
Reuters (Elliott Blackburn). “Joplin Tornado Death Toll Rises to 132.” 5-27-2011. Accessed 5-27-2011: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/27/us-weather-tornadoes-missing-idUSTRE74P7QT20110527
Wikipedia. “2011 Joplin Tornado.” Aug 3, 2011. At: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Joplin_tornado#cite_note-death_toll_158-25
[1] Within the text 159 direct fatalities are noted and one indirect (police officer). In the sidebar, however, 162 direct and one indirect fatality is noted – with no citation.
[2] Apparently incorrect, assuming AP report of June 1, and its sources are correct.