While the sky continues to spit down miserable gray drizzle upon New York, we're faring far better than Joplin, Missouri, which was ravaged yesterday by a tornado that destroyed much of the town and has left at least 89 people dead.
The storm touched down in the center of town, ripping a six-mile path of destruction. Joplin fire chief Mitch Randles estimated that 25% to 30% of the city was damaged, while a spokeswoman for the Red Cross put the number closer to 75%. Jasper County emergency management director Keith Stammer said an estimated 2,000 buildings were damaged, with the area's primary hospital, the St. John's Regional Medical Center, suffering significant structural damage.
BBC News has raw video of the wreckage, and is also reporting that the governor of Missouri has called in the National Guard and declared a state of emergency. Authorities warn that the death toll is likely to rise as rescuers continue searching through the town.
