The news staffs of the Miami (Okla.) News-Record and Grove (Okla.) Sun were busy Sunday night covering the storm. There was also slight damage in Grove. Miami and Grove are located 30 and 40 miles to the southwest of Joplin.
Breaking news: Miami assists with disaster
By Jim Ellis
Miaminewsrecord.com
INTEGRIS Baptist Regional Health Center has seen eight patients who suffered injuries in Sunday afternoon’s tornado that pounded Joplin, Mo.
“So far, it’s eight,” BRHC spokeswoman Jennifer Hessee said Sunday night. “We have a total of 45 beds available and the word we are getting from Joplin is those 45 probably will be filled.”
Hessee said the injuries that have been treated at BRHC are “the typical ones that you see in a tornado: lacerations and broken bones.” She said two ambulances were sent to Joplin to assist with transporting the injured.
Hessee said BRHC is on Code Yellow, meaning all available staff has been called it.
The Miami Fire Department has sent six firefighters, an engine and the city’s emergency command trailer to assist with rescue efforts, according to MFD Captain Ronnie Ross.
“We’re kinda limited on the number we can send at one time,” Ross said. “We are going to rotate so we can keep fresh guys up there. We will do that until it’s not needed.”
According to The Associated Press, John Campbell, operations director for the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed fatalities have been reported, but he did not yet have an exact number or specifics.
St. John Regional Medical Center evacuated nearly 100 patients after the hospital took a direct hit from the tornado, said Cora Scott, a spokeswoman at the hospital's sister facility. The patients were being taken to other hospitals.
Witnesses said windows were blown out on the top floors of the hospital.
Scott said she did not yet have any confirmation of deaths or injuries at the hospital. A Springfield hospital was sending ambulances and other resources to Joplin to help the response.
Damage was reported from an area extending from 12th to 24th streets in Joplin. Among the businesses suffering catastrophic damage were Walmart, Home Depot and Academy Sports.
The storm was part of a series that battered the Midwest on Sunday night. Tornado warnings and watches were posted from Texas to Michigan.
Jeff Lehr, a reporter for the Joplin Globe, told The AP he was upstairs in his home when the storm hit but was able to make his way to a basement closet.
"There was a loud huffing noise, my windows started popping. I had to get downstairs, glass was flying. I opened a closet and pulled myself into it," he said. "Then you could hear everything go. It tore the roof off my house, everybody's house. I came outside and there was nothing left."
He said people were walking around the streets outside trying to check on neighbors, but in many cases there were no homes to check.
"There were people wandering the streets, all mud covered," he said. "I'm talking to them, asking if they knew where their family is. Some of them didn't know, and weren't sure where they were. All the street markers were gone."
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon activated the National Guard and declared a state of emergency. Nixon said the state and low law enforcement agencies were coordinating search and rescue and recovery operations.
“So far, it’s eight,” BRHC spokeswoman Jennifer Hessee said Sunday night. “We have a total of 45 beds available and the word we are getting from Joplin is those 45 probably will be filled.”
Hessee said the injuries that have been treated at BRHC are “the typical ones that you see in a tornado: lacerations and broken bones.” She said two ambulances were sent to Joplin to assist with transporting the injured.
Hessee said BRHC is on Code Yellow, meaning all available staff has been called it.
The Miami Fire Department has sent six firefighters, an engine and the city’s emergency command trailer to assist with rescue efforts, according to MFD Captain Ronnie Ross.
“We’re kinda limited on the number we can send at one time,” Ross said. “We are going to rotate so we can keep fresh guys up there. We will do that until it’s not needed.”
According to The Associated Press, John Campbell, operations director for the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed fatalities have been reported, but he did not yet have an exact number or specifics.
St. John Regional Medical Center evacuated nearly 100 patients after the hospital took a direct hit from the tornado, said Cora Scott, a spokeswoman at the hospital's sister facility. The patients were being taken to other hospitals.
Witnesses said windows were blown out on the top floors of the hospital.
Scott said she did not yet have any confirmation of deaths or injuries at the hospital. A Springfield hospital was sending ambulances and other resources to Joplin to help the response.
Damage was reported from an area extending from 12th to 24th streets in Joplin. Among the businesses suffering catastrophic damage were Walmart, Home Depot and Academy Sports.
The storm was part of a series that battered the Midwest on Sunday night. Tornado warnings and watches were posted from Texas to Michigan.
Jeff Lehr, a reporter for the Joplin Globe, told The AP he was upstairs in his home when the storm hit but was able to make his way to a basement closet.
"There was a loud huffing noise, my windows started popping. I had to get downstairs, glass was flying. I opened a closet and pulled myself into it," he said. "Then you could hear everything go. It tore the roof off my house, everybody's house. I came outside and there was nothing left."
He said people were walking around the streets outside trying to check on neighbors, but in many cases there were no homes to check.
"There were people wandering the streets, all mud covered," he said. "I'm talking to them, asking if they knew where their family is. Some of them didn't know, and weren't sure where they were. All the street markers were gone."
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon activated the National Guard and declared a state of emergency. Nixon said the state and low law enforcement agencies were coordinating search and rescue and recovery operations.
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