Devastating EF5 Joplin Tornado and Aftermath May 22, 2011

On May 22, 2011 an EF-5 Monster Tornado over a mile wide leveled portions of the Southwest side of Joplin, Missouri. Jeff and Kathryn Piotrowski knew that the atmosphere that day was going to be extremely volatile and Jeff mentioned many times in his forecast about storms near Joplin. No truer words were spoken as the day unfolded and a tornadic storm developed near Galena, Kansas which traveled on to Joplin and dropped a horrific wedge tornado. Jeff and Kathryn traveled through the city of Joplin not hearing sirens, Jeff yells at a policeman on Hwy 66 or 7th "To get the sirens going" and it wasn't soon enough. Already the tornado had grown in size massively and was intensifying...Jeff and Kathryn filmed it down 20th St. and afterwards turned on the first street they came to which was Iowa Ava. Jeff and Kathryn had filmed this EF-5 within blocks of from 20th. Iowa Ave. was devastated with many fatalities and some survivors. Jeff and Kathryn immediately went into help mode and did what they could to help, comfort and console. God Bless Joplin.

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[Sierrapup24]

5:15 was the dog OK? able to be returned to it's owners? was it outside or inside when the tornado occurred? What led to the dogs survival through such a destructive event?

[TornadoAlleyVideo]

The dog "Eddie", suffered some head trauma but survived. He survived because he had been placed in a metal cage before his owners had left for the afternoon.

[TornadoAlleyVideo]

Also, yes...he was returned to his owner.

[nasachusetts]

I could tell you were married before I even read the info lol.

[Mike Nunez]

This is the craziest video ive ever seen

[Andra Litton]

Jeff you're one of the few chasers who are actually doing their "job" by reporting to law enforcement/NWS that we can hear on video. I've watched a couple other shots of this storm and no one in that chaser vehicle bothered to call NWS/Law Enforcement. Thanks.

[elementdance1]

This video broke my heart. I never want to go through something like this in my life. 150+ people woke up that morning and went through their normal routines blissfully anaware that day would be their last. And even the survivors couldn't have known that their lives and their town were going to be altered in such a devastating way. Weather has always had this capability but it's so much more shocking in a world where we feel so in control and so beyond the grasp of natures wrath

[Terrence Washington]

And I live in Kansas City mo

[backpacc]

Why would you be curious to something like that? Sounds like you might have an obsession with god.

[tenacious645]

I know right? You can hear all day how many people died and how much was destroyed, and you can even see the aftermath, but it's the little things like one person on the scene's reaction or that dog all wet and matted that really hit home.

[tenacious645]

I'd be willing to say most of them if not all of them. Even non believers will be praying when faced with death.

[matt alford]

417 dude.

[MeLegendFx]

I live about 30 minutes away from joplin. We left to go home after we heard how bad the storm was going to be. Not 10 minutes after we left we heard about the tornado on the radio. Crazy shit.