2011 Joplin Tornado Path and Destruction on Google Earth

This video gives an overview of the path and destruction caused by the 2011 Joplin Missouri EF5 Tornado. Most of the video uses Google Earth and Google Maps.

Additional footage:

Army Corp of Engineers Path and Destruction:

Safe Deposit Box:
Andy Ringsmuth

St. Johns Regional Medical Center:
Intelati

Rangeline Road Before:

Rangeline Road After:

Thanks for Watching!

#joplintornado #tornadopath #tornadodestruction

[joeroot]

I live on the Kansas side and go into Joplin quite a bit. Aside from a bunch of empty lots and no big trees you would never know the area had been totally destroyed. They have done an awesome job of rebuilding. Great video too, very informative.

[jeremyronald]

Good friend of mine was a trucker durning this time, he said he stopped in Joplin an hour before the storm struck. He said he had this very bad sinking feeling in the bottom of his bowels and decided to break DOT ruling and drive up the road another 30 miles. Less than 20 minutes after leaving, the tornado struck and he said that was the only time he really listened to his gut. He passed away in 2021 to multiple organ cancer. RIP "Grumpy Doug"

[bradley.loveland]

My mother lost her home at 2221 S Kentucky~ We are fortunate she survived in the bathtub as the house came down. It gives me chills to know she was right in the middle of the path and at the most intense stage of the tornado.
Rest in peace for the souls lost on that day.

[heatherhillman]

If you've never seen a video of the birth of this tornado, look it up. It's incredible. I've never seen a tornado go from a rope to a wedge so fast in my life.

[trippmiller]

I live in Joplin and was there it was the loudest sound you will ever hear. The amount of force the wind had on the house and the stuff in the air was horrible. There is a cross there that stood the whole time and I still go to that same school.

[drunkcaribou_]

The amount of warning that Joplin had for this storm was very small. That cell went from just a strong thunderstorm, to an EF5 tornado in literally 20-25 minutes. I remember watching something on a local channel, and all of sudden they cut to a freaking wedge funnel barreling towards the city.

[retrocny]

In terms of looking at tornado before/after damage on google maps, this one and greensburg are the most mind blowing. The path is so clearly visible in this one, but if you look up the greensburg kansas tornado of 2007, it literally looks like someone dropped a nuclear bomb in the center of the town. It's unreal.

[DoggoWillink]

It’s hard to imagine all of those houses being leveled in such a large radius.

[darkomtobia]

We were 24th/Virginia (1 block east of Main).
We were so fortunate.

In all my life I'd never seen such a great example of human goodness. People poured in from everywhere to help. It just touched your soul.

Thank you, to all who rushed in to help us all.

[michaeluk]

I've never seen a tornado go from two rope funnels to a massive wedge in literally 10 seconds. Insane.

[Brend.]

I drove through that area a few years ago and it was weird seeing all of the missing trees. It's also a very hilly area. They didn't just rebuild Joplin. They thrived after the tornado.

[ericarichards]

As a nurse I can not imagine the power going off, realizing you won't have generator power and realizing you have more intubated patients than nurses. They didn't have enough warning to move the patients together. I've read some of them tried to stay and bag them instead of taking cover but they were forced down by debris when the windows blew. I just can't imagine what that would be like.

[muddyanteater]

I'm a survivor it was my graduation day so I will never forget. Definitely had no idea it was happening didn't hear any sirens. Me and girlfriend at the time drove right into it. It was the scariest thing I have ever experienced

[nataliedowning]

Great job on this video. I stayed for around a week afterwards with a group of chasers. I will never forget the destruction & loss of life. You really captured what happened there & I appreciate the hard work.

[kevancole]

Great video. Your work and thought into this shows and Is appreciated. My house and family were lucky enough to be spared by 4 blocks south of the edge where it hit the high school. What I can remember vividly is months after, driving across town to go visit my parents was that you could easily get lost in a place that you have lived your whole life. There were times when I pulled up to an intersection and didn't know exactly where I was because there wasn't a single building or marker, it was total devastation. Your video shows that very well and you did a great job of showing before, after, and rebuild. The lives lost, the homes destroyed, and the hero's that flocked from all over the world to lend us a hand will never be forgotten. We are Joplin Strong!

[BassistKev]

Hey man I've watched all 3 of the videos you've uploaded and they are great videos! Keep up the good work. I'm subscribing!

[CC-rkoc]

The house at 4:15 should have played the lottery that night. I’ve went to Joplin last year and played baseball at the high school. You can just feel the energy it left behind idk maybe I’m crazy but it was a weird feeling. As you said “war zone” that’s a good explanation.

[UnoDos]

Love these videos. Thank you for a clearly narrated and organized description of the path of these tornados.

[Valentinegal]

That’s amazing! Nice how you describe the areas then and now.. glad they are rebuilding! Such a loss!

[sinnedsinister]

My in laws lost their hotel in this tornado. They are still dealing with the lawyers in 2021. It was a total loss