Human Response to and Consequences of the May 22, 2011, Joplin Tornado

Tornadoes wreak havoc and destruction across the United States every year. One such tornado occurred in Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011. This tornado killed 161 people, damaged nearly 8,000 structures and caused billions of dollars in damage. This chapter discusses the NIST Technical Investigation of the environmental conditions, performance of buildings, emergency communications and human response to the Joplin, MO tornado. As a result of this investigation, recommendations to improve public health and safety are currently being implemented. A discussion of these recommendations concludes this chapter.