1 I am pretty sure most of those 1500 are just unaccounted for. That is just my guess and my hope.

2 Already sent $$$...

One of the saddest stories I heard was when CNN reported on the kid who had just graduated high school...and then was sucked out of the sun roof of the SUV he was riding in.

They cannot find him

3 That number would reflect people "reported" as missing by friends or relatives who may not as yet been able to contact people with phone services down.

4 A comment from a "compassionate liberal" at the NYT (sadly, one of many):  

I spent a couple weeks in Joplin a few years ago... nice simple folks but very, very conservative and religious. Many of these flag waving people will rant for hours receiting the talking point of Rush, Beck, et al. I just wonder how many will be too proud to take a 'handout' from the evil federal government?

5 That's nothing compared to the 10,000 killed by that tornado in Kansas. Suck it up, bitter clingers!

6 I'm not buying the 1500 missing figure.

7 My prayers and thoughts will be added to the mix. 

I hope too that most of these "missing" are just unaccounted for at the moment and that they'll be found okay soon. 

8

Posted by: Jane D'oh at May 24, 2011 05:40 PM (UOM4

Fuckers!

9 Crap more tornadoes coming.  Joplin may be in the path.

10 can i mention teamrubiconusa.org? this being a smart military blog and them being mostly military. They already have team members on the ground in joplin.

11 A comment from a "compassionate liberal" at the NYT (sadly, one of many): I spent a couple weeks in Joplin a few years ago... nice simple folks but very, very conservative and religious. Many of these flag waving people will rant for hours receiting the talking point of Rush, Beck, et al. I just wonder how many will be too proud to take a 'handout' from the evil federal government? Posted by: Jane D'oh at May 24, 2011 05:40 PM (UOM4 Most liberals are some of the meanest and most selfish mother fuckers I ever met

12 I'll admit to waking up every morning since the southern tornadoes, the floods, and now Joplin and feeling depressed. 

OMG.  Weather Channel is showing a huge tornado heading for Piedmont, OK!

13 Most liberals are some of the meanest and most selfish mother fuckers I ever met

Posted by: nevergiveup at May 24, 2011 05:41 PM (i6RpT)

Yeah, but the fucks are mighty generous with other people's money.

14 Apparently Gaia is not happy with the President's rampant use of fossil fuels.

15 Regarding the high school student they're reporting that he's in stable condition in a hospital somewhere but hasn't been identified yet. But holy fuck the comments I'm seeing for some of these news items... like high school student had it coming because his daddy drove a gas guzzling Hummer. WTF?????? Fucking libs, God I hate them.

16 OMG.  You morons who can, turn on the Weather Channel.  It's terrifying.

17 Most liberals are some of the meanest and most selfish mother fuckers I ever met

Posted by: nevergiveup at May 24, 2011 05:41 PM (i6RpT)

On second thought, I don't think meanest fits. All of them I know are scared shitless of me, for some reason.

18 15,000 in a town of 49,000. Unbelievably tragic.

19 Spell check needed in the headline.

20

I'll be there sometime....umm.....maybe next week.  Until then, hang in there...

21 Cool your jets.  We've got 'em.

22

Ace,

I think you mean the Japan tsunami disaster

23 Dear Lord.  WC showing a half-mile wide tornado on the ground in OK.  God help those poor people.

24 On second thought, I don't think meanest fits. All of them I know are scared shitless of me, for some reason. Posted by: maddogg at May 24, 2011 05:44 PM (OlN4e) Well I don't know if they are scared of me, but they sure don't speak to me anymore. I'm a pretty lucky guy

25

 >>> 15,000 in a town of 49,000. Unbelievably tragic.

 

I pray to God that's an error - even the 1500 is blowing my mind.

26 As a Joplin native now living in Minnesota, I hope with all my heart that those are just people who haven't been able to check in because communications are down.  But I cannot stress to you how big and populated an area this tornado went through.  It was probably 6 square miles of dense single family and apartment housing.

My aunt and uncle's house is gone. The duplex I rented as a college student is gone.  My old doctor's office, a sturdy brick building by the hospital, gone. 

I'm scared shitless to see the list of those lost because I'm sure I'm going to see the name of friends and/or family.

On a positive note, TAMKO roofing (owned by libertarian Cato Institute Board Member and Joplin resident, Ethelmae Humphreys) just cut a check for $1m to the local Red Cross.  I urge all of you to help out as you can.

27 Do your blood pressure a favor and don't read the comments at the NYT.  The global warmists are out in droves.

28 Nuke disaster? What are you on about ace? Nobody died or went missing as a result of the nuclear reaction problems.

I think you mean the earthquake and tsunami disaster....

29 NOT RED-CROSS!  Red cross gets all the freaking money because of that text thing and then they're gone.  Salvation Army is national and almost certainly there as well, just helping quietly instead of fund-raising. 

30 Well, if you're going to make your home in Tornado Alley you've pretty much made a choice to live in a high-risk area.  I'm sorry about what happened to these people but I don't want any of my tax dollars going to help them.

31 That's only a typo, Roadking. 

But dear Lord, even 1500...yeah, I'm thinking (hoping) most of them will be found alright.

32

I heard that the winds were 198 mph. We don't design any of our structures [city, state, federal] to be able to withstand that kind of power, and we can't either, because the cost of construction would be too expensive. Your only hope was to be underground.

I don't think I could ever live in that part of the country.......I have a serious long standing fear of Tornadoes and Hurricanes.

33 Ace you idiot. The Raptor got the got them

34 That heat map of OK was unpleasant.

35 Sorry, yes a typo. 1,500. Sorry!

36 "But holy fuck the comments I'm seeing for some of these news items... like high school student had it coming because his daddy drove a gas guzzling Hummer. WTF?????? Fucking libs, God I hate them." Print this shit onto paper and stick it in a binder. Should the leftards succeed in their relentless efforts to destroy civilization, you will be able to read it and remind yourself why your us/them line needs to be drawn very close to you.

37 28 reactor problems...

38 Dammit.  Watching this stuff live makes me want to cry. 

When hurricane season comes, will you morons pray for the coastal morons?  I have a bad feeling.

39 >NOT RED-CROSS!  Red cross gets all the freaking money because of that text thing and then they're gone.  Salvation Army is national and almost certainly there as well, just helping quietly instead of fund-raising.

I'm not going to disparage the Salvation Army at all, but my friends on the ground (I can only text them, not call them) have been working as volunteers with the Red Cross.  One in particular says the local RC group is blowing out the stops on this one and doing good work.

40 Donate blood.

41 Jane,  I pray for everyone in natural disasters.  Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis,  all are horrific in different ways.

I am praying that 1500 number is way high,  and that most will be found.

42 Meanwhile, Obama talks about him being Reagan in fighting the Cold War. He actually thinks the "arab spring.s" is on magnitude with the CW

43 Hey, wingnuts!  Whazzup?  Damn, this is a fine banquet.  And Will is....hot.

44 I spent a couple weeks in Joplin a few years ago... nice simple folks but very, very conservative and religious. Many of these flag waving people will rant for hours receiting the talking point of Rush, Beck, et al. I just wonder how many will be too proud to take a 'handout' from the evil federal government?


These fucks aren't my countrymen.  They're simply enemies.

45

Fuck.

Prayers sent.

And I believe Joe Bastardi is going with 14-16 hurricanes with 6-8 major and 4 or 5 landfalls, IIRC.

46

I'm scared shitless to see the list of those lost because I'm sure I'm going to see the name of friends and/or family.

Dan,  I wish you luck.  I just got the news that my aunt didn't make it. 

I'm so sad for all those poor people.  I'll keep you in my thoughts.

47 Is there really any area of the U.S. that ISN'T prone to a natural disaster? Ya gotta love people living on the coast lines berating homeowners for living next to a river. Jesus.

48 Donation given,  thank you for letting me know I could text my donation..

49 47 Is there really any area of the U.S. that ISN'T prone to a natural disaster? Ya gotta love people living on the coast lines berating homeowners for living next to a river. Jesus.

Which coastal people would those be?  Jeebus.  We stare down hurricanes every summer. 

50

The Red Cross has been unionized and are on strike here in the northeast. I hope those A-Holes don't impact the rescue of these storm victims

 

51

I'm sure some of them will be found, but did you see the piles of rubble that were big buildings? It's very very bad.

And yeh, Jane, I'm scared and it's not like we'd get hit that hard here.

52 *kicks stupid, dumbass sock across floor*

53 Thoughts and prayers for the people of Joplin.

54 The vehicle following the tornado has all kinds of debris flying at his windshield.  Good grief.

55

Posted by: DanInMN at May 24, 2011 05:52 PM (ILTnd)

Local may well be doing good work, but how much of that $10.00 gets to them?  Having been through a tornado clean-up and seeing the different groups in action Red Cross is at the very bottom of my donate list.  A lot of the major denominations have clean-up groups as well but I don't know how to find out which ones are working partiicular disaster areas, and right now they've certainly got more than enough to choose from.

56 i dont know who is driving that car but they are either crazy or have really big balls.....  both i guess.

57 Prayers for all affected.



Liberals have a reckoning coming in this country.

58

 Is there really any area of the U.S. that ISN'T prone to a natural disaster

Somebody was claiming western PA. But, you know, isn't snow, like, a natural disaster??

59 No Red Cross. The UN of charities.

Salvation Army every time.

60 Jane,those were power poles flying at the car .

61 Libtarded family members come to mind, wrinkling their noses at Mississippian hicks from their beach patios.

62 NOT RED-CROSS!  Red cross gets all the freaking money because of that text thing and then they're gone.  Salvation Army is national and almost certainly there as well, just helping quietly instead of fund-raising. 

Posted by: Polliwog at May 24, 2011 05:48 PM (RJHrk)

Amen to that. The Red Cross does some very valuable work - however, the Salvation Army gets more of your donation $ to where it's needed, sooner.

63

Posted by: sonnyspats at May 24, 2011 05:58 PM (oNphh)

Red Cross is unionized?  My God!  There's really nothing else to say is there?

 

64 PA seems like a pretty disastor prone area to me.

65 @46 >Dan,  I wish you luck.  I just got the news that my aunt didn't make it.

You have my since condolences.  I really don't know what else to say.

As for people talking about being afraid of high risk tornado areas...On average, more people die each year slipping in the bathtub than from tornadoes.  Most hit sparsely populated areas.  It just seems like this year their aim is better.  Even after this I would have no problem moving back to Joplin and I'm sure at some point I will.

66 Happy to say that the 1500 missing figure is likely because the vast majority are just unaccounted for due to family members/friends not being able to get in touch with them, with lack of internet, cell service, and landlines. It's similar to the figure of missing originally given in here in Alabama right after April's tornado outbreaks (I think the highest number I heard was almost 1700), and almost all of them were located within days.

67

Somebody was claiming western PA. But, you know, isn't snow, like, a natural disaster??

Yes, that, and even the myriad risks from thunderstorms (even the occasional tornado).  

/Who claimed this?  Was it a joke?

68 No Red Cross. The UN of charities.

Salvation Army every time.

Posted by: sifty, 2008 at May 24, 2011 06:02 PM (2dbd9)

THIS!

Eff the Red Cross.

 

69 I spent a couple weeks in Joplin a few years ago... nice simple folks but very, very conservative and religious. Many of these flag waving people will rant for hours receiting the talking point of Rush, Beck, et al. I just wonder how many will be too proud to take a 'handout' from the evil federal government?

Actual evil on the march. It's comforting to believe in an afterlife where they suffer excruciating and eternal torment.

70 I just got the news that my aunt didn't make it.

So sorry to hear that, eleven.

71 He's like the economist who has predicted 20 of the last three recessions.

Posted by: Downscaled Upscale at May 24, 2011 06:04 PM (IhHdM)

To be fair, Bastardi has gone on record saying that hurricane predictions are completely useless and he hates doing it. He only does it because his employers expect him to.

72 big tornadoes in OK

73 I heard New Mexico is considered the safest state to live in.  Who knows?

74 71:

One can almost hear the sneer and the smug from those soul-less slugs.

75 Condolences eleven and prayers for your family.

76

Dan,  I wish you luck.  I just got the news that my aunt didn't make it. 

I'm so sad for all those poor people.  I'll keep you in my thoughts.
Posted by: eleven at May 24, 2011 05:55 PM (7DB+a)

SO.VERY.SORRY!

77

Dan,  I wish you luck.  I just got the news that my aunt didn't make it. 

I'm so sad for all those poor people.  I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Posted by: eleven at May 24, 2011 05:55 PM (7DB+a)

I'm so terribly sorry.  Prayers for her, and you.

78 Joe Bastardi is an anti-warmist.  He's my go-to guy during hurricane season.

79

The Red Cross has been unionized and are on strike here in the northeast. I hope hose A-Holes don't impact the rescue of these storm victim

Posted by: sonnyspats at May 24, 2011 05:58 PM (oNphh)

Please tell me this is a joke!

80

She was 84 so it wasn't a young life cut short.  That's the best I can make out of it.

I feel so bad for people being cut down in their prime, and of course the kids.

81 >Local may well be doing good work, but how much of that $10.00 gets to them?  Having been through a tornado clean-up and seeing the different groups in action Red Cross is at the very bottom of my donate list.  A lot of the major denominations have clean-up groups as well but I don't know how to find out which ones are working partiicular disaster areas, and right now they've certainly got more than enough to choose from.

No matter who you're donating to giving direct by credit card is the best way to do it. 

I don't know much of the negatives about the Red Cross and I've already given to them but it looks like I might need to match my donation to the Salvation Army. 

82

 Crews busted holes in concrete slabs and sifted through strewn home goods Tuesday as rescuers focused on crumpled big-box stores and apartment complexes in Joplin in a frantic search for survivors

Rescuers found one person alive at the Home Depot on Monday, but they also discovered seven bodies under a concrete slab, officials said. Search-and-rescue team leader Doug Westhoff said team members have searched as much of the store's interior as they can and are now focused on what is under collapsed concrete slabs that once helped hold up the store. After the holes are drilled, dogs will be brought in to try to detect any human scent.

weather.com

83

I know I have only posted once before, dont mean to intrude.

It is absolutely tragic.  I live in a town of 250, and they have 1500 missing.  The path was wider than my whole town and likely 3 times longer.  This perspective really makes my prayers go out to the people of Joplin, such a staggering loss. 

One thing that caught my eye in the story was the fact that Obama plans to visit on Sunday? A week after such a tragedy?  How long did it take him to get down to Tucson to mug it up down there? 4 days?  We can ponder plenty of hypotheticals on what G.W. would have done, but I would bet it wouldnt have been bashing at an Irish kegger and giving phone-in sympathy from another continent.

Sorry, really didnt mean to get all political over a tragedy that politics has no place in.  But O's aloofness in something that is 5-6 times the devestation of my entire town and its inhabitants, well, I find it disrespectful to those poor souls enduring it.

84

She was 84 so it wasn't a young life cut short.  That's the best I can make out of it.

Still very sorry to hear it, eleven.

85 DanInMN, we will certainly pray for your family and friends, as well as the rest of the people in Joplin. It does seem like the earth is shuddering, of late.

86

Posted by: Gicod at May 24, 2011 06:17 PM (V7wiZ)

By all means, comment more and be as political as you'd like. It's the lifeblood here.

87 And yeah, eleven, condolences. I'm sorry.

88

27 Do your blood pressure a favor and don't read the comments at the NYT.  The global warmists are out in droves.

Of couse, it doesn't bother them at all that there hasn't been any actual global warming in 10 years (a fact which also invalidates their models).

89 Eleven, my mom died at 83.  I still miss her terribly.  You're in my prayers, with all the victims.

90 >I spent a couple weeks in Joplin a few years ago... nice simple folks but very, very conservative and religious. Many of these flag waving people will rant for hours receiting the talking point of Rush, Beck, et al. I just wonder how many will be too proud to take a 'handout' from the evil federal government?

This asshole is right to a certain extent. They are nice, straightforward folks for the most part.  They *are* very religious and very conservative. Beyond that, I bet at least 70% of them can spell the word "recite." 

The point he really needs to take is that the people in Joplin aren't sitting on their ass waiting on the Federal Gubmint to come in and save them.  I have friends there who were pulling people out of the rubble less than 30 minutes after the storm cleared the area and haven't stopped working since.  That's just the type of people you find in large numbers in Joplin.  The response really reminds me a lot of the folks in Fargo ND a few years back who banded together during the flood to save their town.  Federal assistance or not, Joplin will recover from this.

91 eleven, prayers for your family as well. I am so sorry about your aunt. God bless you.

92 Sorry, eleven, for your loss. Prayers for those in Joplin and in the path of these tornadoes tonight.

93 To support The Salvation Army’s relief efforts, you can donate: Online at www.salvationarmyusa.org Over the phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY Via text. Send “JOPLIN” to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Confirm when prompted with “yes."

94 Gicod, welcome to the morons! A better group of people you will not find.

95 Here's another link for Salvation Army of Joplin. http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/USC/www_usc_joplin.nsf/

If you donate by credit card they will get more of the money than if you text.  Just sayin'.

96 On average, more people die each year slipping in the bathtub than from tornadoes.

And people have no problem driving to work every day, where the odds of dying in a car wreck are about 5 bajillion times higher than having a tornado find you on the vast plains.

I've lived here for close to 50 years and never actually seen a tornado.

97 Just a FYI about texting donations- no money is contributed until you pay your cell phone bill. I am a BIG believer in Salvation Army- too much of Red Cross donations get lost in the shuffle. Hubby and I donate blood frequently, but to Virginia Blood Services.

98 eleven so sorry to hear of your aunt!

Giving money to Salvation Army right now

99

Posted by: DanInMN at May 24, 2011 06:26 PM (ILTnd)

Thanks for the credit card vs. text tip Dan in MN

I agree about the tornados hitting the towns more this year.  It's rare for a town to be directly in the path and yet it seems like this year they're all running straight through the towns.

100 59 Is there really any area of the U.S. that ISN'T prone to a natural disaster

Somebody was claiming western PA. But, you know, isn't snow, like, a natural disaster??

 

Actually, western NY is probably even better, with Lake Erie moderating the temperature.

Snow is only really a natural disaster when you get a really big blizzard, like back in '77. That happens maybe once in a decade or two. Buffalo itself makes headlines sometimes because it's so "bad" that the national guard has to come in and help out. Really, that's just a scam to get the state to pay for snow removal. Magically, the suburbs that border the city don't need the help. Democrats, of course!

Usually the snow just slows things down for a few hours. In more extreme case, for days. Then it gets cleared away, eventually melting, there's usually little permanent impact, just inconvenient delays (which you learn to plan for).

My running joke when stuff like this goes down in parts of the country that laugh at Buffalo's weather is, "Yeah, but at least it's not snowing!" But this event doesn't leave me in the mood for joking. It's just bad.

101 Is there really any area of the U.S. that ISN'T prone to a natural disaster

Somebody was claiming western PA. But, you know, isn't snow, like, a natural disaster??

 

Actually, western NY is probably even better, with Lake Erie moderating the temperature.

Posted by: Optimizer at May 24, 2011 06:33 PM (F56VB)

But lake effect snow can be a huge problem  - snow in feet.

The other issue you can have in mountainous country is flash flooding due to rainstorms.

102 There's a typo of "Joplin" in the headline, Ace (or cob-logger).

103 I think part of the issue with tornadoes is that they are so random.  Its like being struck by lightning.  A hurricane comes, you can board up, or flee and everyone is in it together.

With a tornado its just one minute you're fine and the next your block is rubble. Or the next house over is, and you are fine.

104 Again, I've heard New Mexico is probably the safest in the U. S.  Except for the hippie drummers.

105 Heartbreaking.
 Prayers lifted.

106 Is anyone still watching Weather Channel?  It's chilling and heartbreaking.

107 Again, I've heard New Mexico is probably the safest in the U. S.  Except for the hippie drummers.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at May 24, 2011 07:04 PM (UOM4

I think they've had some bad brushfires.

108 Awesome, I get home from work to see that tornadoes are hitting El Reno, Norman, OKC and Chickisha, Oklahoma......all of which I have close family in.  On top of that, the one in Minneapolis on Sunday only missed me by a couple of miles.  I'm starting to think that the Great Tornado is trying to go Keyser Soze on my ass personally.

109 Western Pennsylvania had a massive tornado outbreak in 1985, so they are not completely immune to tornadoes. And, as was said above, lake-effect snows in the winter.

110

Posted by: DanInMN at May 24, 2011 07:13 PM (Mif1z)

Sounds like you've got family just about everywhere.

111 @112

Paternal grandmother had 13 children, maternal had 7.  I kinda do....Most are in Oklahoma and Missouri though.

112

I heard New Mexico is considered the safest state to live in.  Who knows?

Eh.. I've been there many times (my oldest daughter lives there)... I wouldn't say safe unless you are packing.  Lots of crime, it's a very poor state.

113

Dan,  I wish you luck.  I just got the news that my aunt didn't make it. 

I am so sorry.. you and your family are in my prayers.

114 I'm keeping an ear open on my local weather.  They are saying we may get pounded later.  High winds, chance of tornadoes, torrential rains... been thru this many times, but with Joplin getting hit so bad, I'm a little skittish right now.

115 Okay, they are saying we are under a watch now.  Usually no biggie...

116

@18

Indeed, but the daytime population is much higher. These are good people, and they will all pull together. I worked in Nashville last year during the floods. Saw the same thing in TN. Local fast food places setting up mobile feeding stations at the busy intersections for the locals, and those who came to lend a hand. People roving around in cars handing out hot meals.

Please keep everybody in your thoughts and prayers.

117 So sorry, Eleven. After what happened here in late April, I can't bring myself to watch weather coverage right now but I catch pieces here and there. My heart hurts for you.

118 Eleven: Our deepest sympathies, and prayers for you and your family. I've also had some negative experiences with Red Cross on disaster scenes, and probably an equal number of really good ones. Their quality of services seem to vary wildly with different teams, seems like a systematic management problem to me. Salvation Army is first rate, as are the Mennonite equivalent, and neither make much, if anything in the way of a splash in the media. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief also does a great job, and their resources are also getting pretty thin lately, as well, so it wouldn't hurt to give them some support. (http://www.namb.net/dr/) Speaking of the Red Cross, though, my dad, a WWII bomber crewman, has nothing but negative things to say about them. You know all those pictures you see of RC girls handing out coffee and donuts to those crewmen? Seems they weren't free, they charged the men, and would run a tab if they hadn't thought to carry any money along on the missions. If they didn't pay up later, the RC had no qualms about complaining to the AAF CO's. HE said that the USO did a sterling service to them, though.