Mission
To conduct basic research on hazard vulnerability and resilience; train the
next generation of hazard scientists and practitioners; and through its outreach
efforts, assist in the improvement of emergency preparedness, planning, response,
and recovery at local, state, national, and international scales.
This Month in Disaster History
The Joplin, MO Tornado, 2011
Source: Reuters
Late in the afternoon of May 22nd, an EF2 tornado touched down near the Kansas state line. As it moved along
its track, the tornado would begin to intensify rapidly as it entered the city of Joplin, Missouri.
The storm would continue to get worse, destroying a hospital, a high school, and several businesses
as it plowed through the city and beyond. Surveyors would later rate the tornado as an EF5, with
peak winds of 250 miles per hour. In total, 160 people were killed by the event and nearly 1000
were injured. Damages from the event were staggering: over 75 percent of the city reported damage
related to the storm, with nearly 7000 homes destroyed. All told, the city saw over $2 billion
dollars worth of damage.