Mike Bettes's Emotional Response to Tornado Devastation in Joplin

Mike Bettes was one of the first on the scene after an EF5 tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri. Hear his story on our new show 'Top 10' that premieres tonight at 9:00pET.

[P_RO_]

If you can see such devastation without tears you are not human. It takes a stronger man to cry than to hold it in as if it isn't happening. You're a winner Mike Bettes and we appreciate you.

[treygantzler]

Mike Bettes brought a touch of humanity to a profession where keeping one’s emotions in check is supposedly required. His was such a raw and spontaneous reaction to a tragedy that had just occurred, and I get choked up every time I see this clip. Even if this is the career you choose, it must be really, really hard to witness that type of hell on earth without being scarred with PTSD. Thanks for allowing us to see a normal emotional reaction to death and destruction, Mike.

[xswgcc]

Off camera he said he broke up because he turned around and realized there were bodies just 20 feet from him while other people were walking up the street looking for family members.

[matts.]

According to Keith Stammer, Emergency Management Director for Joplin, what you didn't see is that Mike Bettes got choked up especially because he looked over and saw some deceased individuals near him in the rubble. 🙏💔

[kushantaiidan]

The Weather Channel guys a fricking epic, entertaining, adventurous educational, and they provide science, and warnings that save lives. Joplin, El Rena, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria... Big props to them. Inspires me to want to be a storm chaser to help save lives.

[SilverPwns]

Let it out, man. There is no shame in crying after a tornado. :(

[phill]

this man has seen everything. if this made him shocked, that means the destruction was bigger than anyone could imagine. if i remember correctly, Mike was almost gonna die on May 31 2013 after his crew got hit by the infamous El Reno tornado

[kershaw]

I remember driving through Joplin after this happened, felt bad for all those people. So much damage was done, and lives lost.

[passiveobserver]

I sat glued to my computer, watching this stream (when it didn't cut out.) I cried with Mike Bettes.

[VinnyKW]

Heartbreaking. Just heartbreaking. The whole thing, but the moment you can tell he noticed a body. Just awful for those poor people of Joplin. Minutes is all it took. Rough...

[MagnusFabrication]

What's terrifies me are the Fungal infections people died of weeks after due to their deep wounds getting blasted with soil and organic matter. RIP

[andrewh]

I used to work at Enterprise as an area driver in the Northwest Arkansas area and Joplin used to be part of our corporate region. I remember going up there to pick up a car at our office on Range Line Road and even though they had rebuilt by that time, you could still see the path that tornado took. It was bizarre.

[briandye]

God bless Joplin happy to see that they have had made huge progress since the storm

[ACWX_twistedgang]

13 years ago today... I still remember how destructive it caused. Also yesterday we got a large tornado impacted Greenfield, IA.

[brianpeck]

omg this was heartbreaking to see and hearing him crying

[pajamamar]

It's a disturbing image seeing the hospital in the background amongst the damage here.😢

[rattlesnake]

I was about 8 or 9 at the time and didnt get to see this level of destruction my family was lucky enough to not get hit but at thr time my dad was on call with newton county ambulance service so we had no idea if he was even alive and that wss pretty scary nit knowing if i was ever going to see my dad again

[pidgeydoodles]

Good lord...
i know I'm late but he's been through WAY too much.

[michaelguerrero]

Very concerning about 2021 tornado that could end up being like 2011 or worse. The setup this year what I am seeing is similar to 2011.

[derrickrr]

Definitely need to see more crying in instances like these. It’s not natural to report on tragedies with a stoic demeanor.