Damage in Joplin
The devastating EF5 Tornado on May 22, 2011 became the nation’s seventh deadliest tornado with a death toll of 153 people in Jasper County, Missouri and 116 people in Joplin alone. Before the tornado, the city was just like any other. Falling somewhere between a metropolis and the safe, small town feel, Joplin had a population of approximately 47,000 and a market area of about 500,000 due to businesses in the area. With the cost of living being about twelve percent below what the norm is in the United States, the city had plenty to offer. Two hospitals, a transportation center, and a good public school system make up this 5,000-square mile area full of commercialism and culture surrounded by the Ozarks. The Ozarks are a highland region that covers the majority of the southern half of Missouri. This region is a plateau, although commonly mistaken for mountains with many beautiful lakes and rivers. The city has had its share of difficulties with tornadoes before but nothing to this extreme.
One of the most devastating losses caused by the tornado was the destruction to the schools. Some were completely destroyed, others heavily damaged and still others are in need of repairs. It put many children out of their schools and into new environments. Some of the schools most heavily damaged include: Cecil Floyd, Irving, and Emerson Elementary Schools, South and East Middle Schools, Joplin High School, and the Franklin Technology Center. There are plans for five of these schools to be rebuilt by 2014. The plan, as of now, is to begin with East Middle School and two of the elementary schools, which will hopefully be rebuilt by December of 2013. The road to recovery within the school system will be long, but will be an imperative part of the healing process.
The tornado left a lot of damage behind, and it took months for much of the heavy damage to be taken care of. As of September 27, the city began to remove
demolition debris from residential areas. There are some homeowners who have chosen to demolish their houses because the tornado damage was too great, and there are others who have chosen to keep the foundations and to rebuild for themselves. According to an article written by Debby Woodin in The Joplin Globe, “City officials want to know a property owner’s plans so they will know which lots will need to be cleared by city action.” Joplin is also starting a program that will help replant the trees that have been lost in the city. (Woodin).
On July 19th Jay Nixon, the governor of Missouri, announced that a $122 million initiative was to take place to address the housing needs for the families who lost their houses due to the Joplin tornado on May 22nd. Jumpstart Joplin, the name of the initiative, has two main objectives, one a short-term solution and the other a long-term solution. Both objectives aim to construct and fix single-family homes, as well as multi-family homes, and will provide housing to those who were affected by the tornado. The short-term objective is to recover damaged houses and create temporary housing, while the long-term objective is to create permanent housing for residents.
The near-term housing recovery will deploy state resources to support new construction and rehabilitation of single-family homes in crucial areas majorly affected by the tornado’s path. As stated by the Department of Economic Development, the two main purposes are“[to] provide rapid deployment of targeted resources to support new construction and rehabilitation of single-family, owner-occupied homes in critical areas within the tornado’s path and within other designated and approved areas, [and to] provide construction financing to support the development of new single-family owner-occupied homes in acceptable styles and at price points accessible by homeowners at 140% of Area Median Income (AMI) ($83,860, regardless of family size) impacted by the tornado.” This will cost approximately $22 million, which includes: $10 million in construction financing through the Missouri Housing Development Commission, $7 million for the Neighborhood Preservation Program, $3.5 million in Community Development, $1 million in down-payment assistance, and $600,000 for home repairs. Right now, this is the main focus since the need for some type of housing is the most critical.
According to Jumpstart Joplin, the long-term permanent housing development will address the long-term community housing needs and will direct
about $90 million in state and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits to the Joplin area to support the long-term housing developments. Not only will this create permanent housing, it will also create thousands of new jobs.
The physical damage was not the only thing that the tornado created; it also destroyed many memories and created emotional damage. The strong winds tore down houses and blew belongings away from their owners. Joplin Rescued photos is an extension of the Operation Photo Rescue Organization, which is where volunteers find photos and take digital pictures of those photos and post them on different websites to help find the rightful owners. All of this is available for free.
The Joplin website explains how to use Flickr to upload and claim pictures. They have Flickr divided into locations for a more efficient way to find owners. There is also a list of drop-off sites for the photos as well as yearbooks, personal documents, diplomas and IDs. They are also on Facebook with a few pages full of pictures and information.
Immediately following the Joplin disaster, the city received much press coverage and assistance from kind people across the country and even the world. However, this city is just one of many cities to have been affected by a disaster, and it is important to keep in mind that help is still needed, even five months later. The initial shock has been eliminated, but now it is key for everyone to step up and help out the community and help the residents get their lives back together. Even as the physical damage is repaired, the emotional scars will take awhile to heal, but with time and support, the victims will be able to restore their lives somewhat.
Page created by the "Damage in Joplin Research Group" at Illinois State University, Geology 207 Honors Section
One of the most devastating losses caused by the tornado was the destruction to the schools. Some were completely destroyed, others heavily damaged and still others are in need of repairs. It put many children out of their schools and into new environments. Some of the schools most heavily damaged include: Cecil Floyd, Irving, and Emerson Elementary Schools, South and East Middle Schools, Joplin High School, and the Franklin Technology Center. There are plans for five of these schools to be rebuilt by 2014. The plan, as of now, is to begin with East Middle School and two of the elementary schools, which will hopefully be rebuilt by December of 2013. The road to recovery within the school system will be long, but will be an imperative part of the healing process.
The tornado left a lot of damage behind, and it took months for much of the heavy damage to be taken care of. As of September 27, the city began to remove
demolition debris from residential areas. There are some homeowners who have chosen to demolish their houses because the tornado damage was too great, and there are others who have chosen to keep the foundations and to rebuild for themselves. According to an article written by Debby Woodin in The Joplin Globe, “City officials want to know a property owner’s plans so they will know which lots will need to be cleared by city action.” Joplin is also starting a program that will help replant the trees that have been lost in the city. (Woodin).
On July 19th Jay Nixon, the governor of Missouri, announced that a $122 million initiative was to take place to address the housing needs for the families who lost their houses due to the Joplin tornado on May 22nd. Jumpstart Joplin, the name of the initiative, has two main objectives, one a short-term solution and the other a long-term solution. Both objectives aim to construct and fix single-family homes, as well as multi-family homes, and will provide housing to those who were affected by the tornado. The short-term objective is to recover damaged houses and create temporary housing, while the long-term objective is to create permanent housing for residents.
The near-term housing recovery will deploy state resources to support new construction and rehabilitation of single-family homes in crucial areas majorly affected by the tornado’s path. As stated by the Department of Economic Development, the two main purposes are“[to] provide rapid deployment of targeted resources to support new construction and rehabilitation of single-family, owner-occupied homes in critical areas within the tornado’s path and within other designated and approved areas, [and to] provide construction financing to support the development of new single-family owner-occupied homes in acceptable styles and at price points accessible by homeowners at 140% of Area Median Income (AMI) ($83,860, regardless of family size) impacted by the tornado.” This will cost approximately $22 million, which includes: $10 million in construction financing through the Missouri Housing Development Commission, $7 million for the Neighborhood Preservation Program, $3.5 million in Community Development, $1 million in down-payment assistance, and $600,000 for home repairs. Right now, this is the main focus since the need for some type of housing is the most critical.
According to Jumpstart Joplin, the long-term permanent housing development will address the long-term community housing needs and will direct
about $90 million in state and federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits to the Joplin area to support the long-term housing developments. Not only will this create permanent housing, it will also create thousands of new jobs.
The physical damage was not the only thing that the tornado created; it also destroyed many memories and created emotional damage. The strong winds tore down houses and blew belongings away from their owners. Joplin Rescued photos is an extension of the Operation Photo Rescue Organization, which is where volunteers find photos and take digital pictures of those photos and post them on different websites to help find the rightful owners. All of this is available for free.
The Joplin website explains how to use Flickr to upload and claim pictures. They have Flickr divided into locations for a more efficient way to find owners. There is also a list of drop-off sites for the photos as well as yearbooks, personal documents, diplomas and IDs. They are also on Facebook with a few pages full of pictures and information.
Immediately following the Joplin disaster, the city received much press coverage and assistance from kind people across the country and even the world. However, this city is just one of many cities to have been affected by a disaster, and it is important to keep in mind that help is still needed, even five months later. The initial shock has been eliminated, but now it is key for everyone to step up and help out the community and help the residents get their lives back together. Even as the physical damage is repaired, the emotional scars will take awhile to heal, but with time and support, the victims will be able to restore their lives somewhat.
Page created by the "Damage in Joplin Research Group" at Illinois State University, Geology 207 Honors Section
Click here to take a look at a map pointing out the locations of the schools in Joplin, Missouri. One of the most devastating losses caused by the tornado was the destruction to these schools.
References:
The Associated Press. "Joplin Backs Plan to Rebuild Five Schools by 2014." Stltoday.com. 28 Sept. 2011. Web. 11 Oct. 2011.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_e180e760-e9ed-11e0-bf74-0019bb30f31a.html
Calvert, Wayne. "About Joplin, Missouri." Keller Williams Realty of Southwest Missouri. 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. http://www.waynecalvert.com/silver_custom.aspJoplin Damage. 2011. Photograph. Joplin, Missouri. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.
http://uploads.static.vosizneias.com/2011/05/jos3-725x482.jpgJoplin House Damage. 2011. Photograph. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.
http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2011/05/23/102164-knoblauch-surveys-the-damage-of-her-childrens-home-after-it-was-destro.jpgJoplin Neighborhood Damage. 2011. Photograph. 17 Oct. 2011. Web.http://4.bp.blogspot.com/bJCqhEOUyCs/Td3JrLX23TI/AAAAAAAAH0c/QAqHK-AWf68/s640/ap_joplin_tornado_damage_ll_110523_wg.jpg
"Joplin Rescued Photos." Joplin Rescued Photos| Preserving Joplin's Photographs. Operation Photo Rescue, Inc., 2011. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.http://joplinrescuedphotos.org
“Jumpstart Joplin - Housing." Department of Economic Development. Missouri Government – Department of Economic Development, 2011. Web. 11 Oct. 2011.
http://ded.mo.gov/Ded/JumpstartJoplin.aspx
Woodin, Debby. "Demolition Debris Removal to Begin » Local News » The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO." Home » The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO. 27 Sept. 2011. Web. 7 Oct. 2011.http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x914920282/Demolition-debris-removal-to-begin
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_e180e760-e9ed-11e0-bf74-0019bb30f31a.html
Calvert, Wayne. "About Joplin, Missouri." Keller Williams Realty of Southwest Missouri. 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. http://www.waynecalvert.com/silver_custom.aspJoplin Damage. 2011. Photograph. Joplin, Missouri. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.
http://uploads.static.vosizneias.com/2011/05/jos3-725x482.jpgJoplin House Damage. 2011. Photograph. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.
http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2011/05/23/102164-knoblauch-surveys-the-damage-of-her-childrens-home-after-it-was-destro.jpgJoplin Neighborhood Damage. 2011. Photograph. 17 Oct. 2011. Web.http://4.bp.blogspot.com/bJCqhEOUyCs/Td3JrLX23TI/AAAAAAAAH0c/QAqHK-AWf68/s640/ap_joplin_tornado_damage_ll_110523_wg.jpg
"Joplin Rescued Photos." Joplin Rescued Photos| Preserving Joplin's Photographs. Operation Photo Rescue, Inc., 2011. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.http://joplinrescuedphotos.org
“Jumpstart Joplin - Housing." Department of Economic Development. Missouri Government – Department of Economic Development, 2011. Web. 11 Oct. 2011.
http://ded.mo.gov/Ded/JumpstartJoplin.aspx
Woodin, Debby. "Demolition Debris Removal to Begin » Local News » The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO." Home » The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO. 27 Sept. 2011. Web. 7 Oct. 2011.http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x914920282/Demolition-debris-removal-to-begin