05/22/2019
Eight years later, we remember and reflect on Joplin's recovery.
May 22, 2011 alternates between seeming a distant past and feeling like yesterday. Eight years ago, residents living in Joplin and Duquesne had their DNA altered by an EF-5 tornado. We have been forever changed by the devastation, the loss, the survival and the recovery of our communities. Today, first-time visitors see new buildings and only tell-tale signs of the tornado’s path. We remember where a hospital stood and the locations of school buildings. We recall missing businesses, neighborhoods and homes. Most of all, we recall lost family members, friends and neighbors.
Eight years later we can take pride in how far our community has come. We started school on time despite losing almost half of our school facilities. We were buoyed by the support of St. John’s/Mercy with their announcement that they would continue to pay employees and rebuild a hospital. We weathered a patient care shortage when Freeman built out the remaining floors of their new wing. Volunteers came from around the world to help us clear debris and rebuild our homes. Business recovery was phenomenal to watch. We regained our pre-tornado population in a little over three years. Recovery has not been without its struggles, but they pale compared to our progress.
We continue to remember, but more important, to be Joplin Proud. God bless Joplin and everyone who came to help.
