Joplin 5:41 - When a Monster Storm Shattered a Missouri Town but Didn't Break Its Spirit

by The Kansas City Star

Kansas City Star Books presents the incredible story of tragedy and courage in the face of one of nature's mightiest storms in its new book, Joplin 5:41 - When a Monster Storm Shattered a Missouri Town but Didn't Break Its Spirit. This hard-cover book collects the detailed coverage by The Kansas City Star of the storm, its cruel effect, the city's courageous response and the recovery that now goes on. Featuring extraordinary images, compelling graphics and the detailed work of The Star's reporting staff, the book seeks not just to chronicle the destruction but to celebrate the heroic efforts of Joplin's citizenry and the thousands of volunteers who rushed in to begin the healing. All royalties from the book go to the Joplin Recovery Fund managed by the Community Fund of the Ozarks and the Community Fund of Southwest Missouri.

Genres: History

222 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2011

Reviews

[Walt Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a resident of the Joplin area for several years. Ironically, the reason I moved here (I believe the year was 1988) was because I was recruited to serve in a senior management position (one of 4 VPs at the time) at St. John's Regional Medical Center which was destroyed in just a few short minutes about 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 22, 2001. I was actually home alone that night, but fortunately, I lived at the time in a home in the northern outskirts which was not one of the places the tornado touched down. Of course, I will remember that night and the few days immediately following for as long as I live. Strangely, during the few short minutes the tornado occurred, I was at home working on my computer (with no radio playing) and was not even aware it was happening. It was pouring rain outside my home with some strong winds but otherwise, I saw nothing to cause me any alarm. Soon however I began receiving calls from friends and family everywhere. Was I okay? And that's how I learned about it. Next morning I drove into some of the areas that were most badly damaged and witnessed first-hand what this book, in picture form, so accurately depicts. In the days and weeks that followed, I spent many hours as a part of the well-organized volunteer crews, made up of literally hundreds of folks from all over the U.S. with the clean-up and restoration of the devastated areas. Now every year on the anniversary of this event I break out this book (as well as the other published by the Joplin Globe) to reflect once again on these most memorable events. Nothing compares to actually having been there, but this book certainly does a marvelous job of documenting what it was like, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Check it out at your local library. I believe you will find your time and effort in doing so well worth it.

[JessicaPeterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

On May 22 2011, an EF-5 tornado struck the heart of Joplin, Missouri and devastated it. A tornado so strong that it left visible damage on google maps known as “The Joplin Scar” as it went through the town. 161 people were lost, others left with injuries. Throughout it all, the people of Joplin never gave up hope. One of my favorite quotes from this book,

“Although the storm physically cleaved our town in two and devastated a sizable portion of Joplin, it has actually served to unleash a force more powerful than the storm itself in the ‘miracle of the human spirit.’”

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, though I have to admit some bias. My parents' home (or what was left of it) is on pg. 17.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pictures and a good book about the storm.