Joplin Tornado

CARTHAGE, Mo.-- Joplin's nearest neighbor is making noise about the need for state of the art tornado warnings.  In Carthage, where they're working to replace storm sirens, some that are about sixty years old.  No one was prepared to see the Joplin tornado's massive destruction.  162 people died.  In neighboring Carthage and all over southwest Missouri, people will definitely be taking sirens seriously. "As our city's grown, we've just not been able to keep up with the coverage of the storm sirens," says Carthage Fire Chief Chris Thompson.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - KY3 News added a couple of Emmys to the trophy case. The news department won Emmys in the categories of Best Daytime Newscast and Best Evening Newscasts for smaller/medium television  sized markets.  The Best Daytime Newscast entry was an Ozarks Today newscast from the continuing coverage of the May 2011 Joplin tornado.  KY3 News at Five was honored for its coverage of the tornado that devastated Branson February 29. ...

A new insurance industry report says last summer's deadly tornadoes in Joplin and Tuscaloosa were among the most expensive losses in US History.  Last year's twisters, high winds and hailstorms nationwide inflicted just over $21 billion in property damage. Two billion dollars of that amount was directly from the Joplin tornado.  Missouri insurance officials say Joplin's losses accounted for most of the statewide losses.

JOPLIN, Mo. - A car company has taken its production techniques to southwest Missouri to help people rebuild from the Joplin tornado of May 2011. A North American division of Toyota announced it has been working with Rebuild Joplin, a nonprofit group helping storm survivors rebuild their homes, for the past six months. The collaboration is an effort to cut the time it takes to build homes and get people out of temporary houses. Toyota also donated $100,000 to rebuilding efforts, according to a news release.

Another need that's clear following the Moore, Oklahoma tornado: more storm shelters, especially in schools. Educators say they cost time and money. "It's just a long process," said Mark Mayo, Superintendent of Marshfield Schools. It's a hurry up and wait situation. Marshfield schools applied for a FEMA safe room grant back in 2009. Due to the grant requirements, they stopped construction.  The grant request was finally approved. "These things are not cheap," said Mayo.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo -- School was out when the Joplin tornado hit and graduation just ended. Had classes been in session, the loss of life and destruction would've been mind-boggling. The school had no shelter on campus. The Joplin School District was approached about constructing a safe room before the storm. They decided not to pursue it. However, other school districts in the Ozarks are moving forward with safe rooms, and a lot more are hoping to build them in the future. "Since the tornado in May. Our phone has been ringing nonstop.

SPRINGFIELD -- It's something many of us do, start the car and then dash inside while it warms up.  The Red Cross's disaster operations manager did just that on early Tuesday morning. "He was warming that vehicle up this morning and had literally stepped right back inside the house whenever he heard it peeling out his driveway," explained Nigel Holderby, the spokeswoman for the American Red Cross, Southern Missouri Region.  In matter of seconds, the vehicle was gone. It's a large silver, 4 door, 2010 Chevy Silverado pickup.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo -- The latest and greatest technologies and trends were on display at the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield's 2012 Home Show. Energy efficiency and "green" technology was a common theme at the Springfield Expo Center. Solar panels are becoming more affordable--as are wind turbines. Geothermal heaters and air conditioners offer an alternative to the standard. The technologies combined can save more than 50% on your utility bill. Innovations in home insulation were on display as well.

JOPLIN, MO-- The controversy continues over diverting FEMA money from Joplin to help those affected by Hurricane Irene. A rising number of disasters, coupled with federal budget shortfalls, has left FEMA coming up short. The agency said it will have to postpone fulfilling new aid requests for tornado-stricken Joplin to free up money for the Irene victims.       Southwest Missouri Congressman Billy Long said he is not too worried yet. "Money delayed is not money denied.  I feel very confident that the money will be there.

JOPLIN, Mo --  The demolition process is underway for St. John's hospital in Joplin. Sunday marks a new beginning. The iconic image of the Joplin tornado is in the process of being torn down. A wrecking ball struck the building a few times to symbolize the start of the demolition.  It was an emotional ceremony with music and stories from the night of May 22nd. The hospital took a direct hit from the E-F5 tornado. Terri Edens is a nurse that worked in the emergency room that night.