JOPLIN, Mo. -- After a devastating EF5 tornado destroyed 30 percent of Joplin, Mo., an outpouring of assistance and grief swept through the battered city. Many residents are asking why the tornado had to hit their city. Others are grateful they have their lives even if all of their possessions are lost. Most of us with ties to the city are simply stunned. We will likely continue to be in a state of shock for weeks, if not months.
As with any situation, there are plenty of lessons to be learned from the tornado that are both on a personal and societal level.
Preparedness
Missourians know they live in an area prone to tornadoes. Especially in southwest Missouri, where most of the tornadoes occur in the state, heeding sirens and knowing where to seek shelter are key to surviving a tornado.
Officials state the best thing to do in a tornado is to get below ground level and cover yourself. The reason is because debris, like the tornado, stays above the ground. Your chances of getting hit by debris are less if you are below the level of the debris field. Being below ground also reduces your chances of being crushed by huge chunks of debris that may fall.
Covering yourself is important in case smaller objects fall on you. Even wearing a bicycle helmet while taking cover is a prudent course of action. The most important things to do are to pay attention to what's going on around you and heed warnings immediately. Joplin may have learned this lesson the hard way.
Home Construction
Structures made of concrete are the safest places to take shelter. St. John's Regional Medical Center is nine stories tall. It had all of its windows blown out but the structure remained intact. The only fatalities were related to the loss of power and not structural failure.
If all buildings were made of steel-reinforced concrete, houses wouldn't collapse on those inside. Unfortunately, building houses out of concrete is more expensive than wood and siding. Another thing to consider is the energy savings over the life of a home made of concrete--the extra expenses incurred now would be made up by better energy usage.
The vast majority of houses destroyed in Joplin were older, built before new construction methods. There were few, if any, brick or concrete homes in the damage area. The wood and siding houses were simply ripped to shreds by 200 mph winds.
Emergency Response
Emergency responders knew immediately they were in over their heads. The call went out, radio stations relayed messages and necessary help arrived very soon after the tornado struck. Our men and women in uniform who protect ordinary citizens on a daily basis are true heroes.
Doctors and nurses are also everyday heroes who show care and compassion for their community and for complete strangers. These men and women truly show why America is the greatest nation on earth.
Sense of Community
Tragedy is full of dichotomy. On the one side, the Joplin tornado killed more than 100 friends, family members and neighbors. They can never be replaced. Somehow, those struggling with loss will move on by seeking the comfort of others to help them through the grieving process.
Those left behind will no doubt treasure the moments they have with one another even more. The community spirit of Joplin can never be extinguished. We will learn to treat one another better and come out as better human beings because of the tragedy that turned our lives upside down in an instant.
Always hug your kids. Never go to bed angry. Always kiss your spouse as you go out the door to work or run errands. These simple things mean the world to your family even when the world seems to fall apart around you.
William Browning lives in Branson, Mo.
