Joplin Tornado Tragedy

JOPLIN, Mo. – Emergency crews drilled through concrete at a ruined Home Depot, making peepholes in the rubble in hopes of finding lost shoppers and employees. A dog clambered through the shattered remains of a house, sniffing for any sign of the woman and infant who lived there.

Across devastated Joplin, searchers moved from one enormous debris pile to another Tuesday, racing to respond to any report of a possible survivor.

The human toll rose to at least 132 dead and 750 people hurt. But just nine had been pulled alive from the aftermath. Searchers fought the clock because anybody still alive after the deadliest single tornado in 60 years was losing precious strength two days after the disaster. And another round of storms was closing in.

Also Tuesday, the National Weather Service announced that the twister that crippled Joplin was an EF-5, the strongest rating assigned to tornadoes, with winds of more than 200 mph. Scientists said it appeared to be a rare "multivortex" tornado, with two or more small and intense centers of rotation orbiting the larger funnel.

It was the deadliest single twister since the weather service began keeping official records in 1950 and the eighth-deadliest in U.S. history.

The tragedy even struck home with our very own YouTube Community.  Popular YouTuber Will Norton (aka willdabeast) went missing after the tornado hit and is feared dead.  His thousands of viewers and fans along with his family continue to pray for his safe recovery..

The YouTube News Network would like to extend our prayers and deepest sympathy towards the victims of the Joplin Tragedy right here in our home state of Missouri.  Please visit the American Red Cross' website to learn how you can help the victims:


The American Red Cross (WEBSITE)


-Or- Call 1(800) RED-CROSS to help