Before and after: The photos that show the complete devastation

As the residents of devastated Joplin come to terms with the destruction caused by the deadliest tornado to hit the U.S. in 64 years, shocking photos show how much the storm has changed their city.

The images from before and after the deadly storm show how the working class city of around 50,000 people in Missouri was reduced to a disaster zone in a matter of minutes.

When it struck around dinner time Sunday night, the funnel cloud cut a path nearly six miles long and up to a mile wide.

Some 2,000 houses and many other businesses, schools and other buildings were destroyed.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1390530/Joplin-MO-tornado-Before-photos-complete-devastation.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

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Wow, that is amazing. I was in a Walmart once during a tornado warning and they had us all go into the bedding Aisle and told us if a tornado hit to pull down all the packaged comforters and pillows on top of us. I don't think that would have helped these people.

Except for the apt building and maybe the pic of the school, there were no pools behind those houses.

It should go without saying that those images are horrific, but, as a Marketing type, I wonder at the absence of swimming pools in those pics.

I think maybe I should go sit in the sunlight for a while.

Sonoman

Not every location things swimming pools are essential to everyday life.

But I do like to look at it.

I had no idea that pols are kinda a regional thing. I have always had one, but GF (who is from Milwaukee) set me straight on the subject.

Sonoman

Most of Missouri, including where I live, isn't "pool oriented". Most would consider them to be a waste of money around here, since we have four seasons.

We either use the community pool or for those of us closer to the lake area we drive down for the day.

freezing and thawing. They need to be drained, covered, relined, etc., etc.

And people in those places find other sports during the cold weather. It really is a regional difference.

four season area of the country. And it's not known as the home to really, really wealthy people.

I am amazed that you think everyone can afford a swimming pool in their backyard. These people couldn't even afford BASEMENTS!!!

nt

geologist. There has been mining in the vicinity. Possibly the soil/rocks/whatever doesn't allow for basements.

No basements in FL....

I fly quite a lot and I am not used to seeing an overhead of that many residences with no pools.

Heck, they can have mine - I haven't been in it in at least two years, but I pay Sol to clean it every Tuesday.

Sonoman

Why did you expect to see swimming pools? Have you been to the midwest?

I had no ides that pools are scarce in the midwest.

But she is from Milwaukee and knows different.

And she has terrible tastes when it comes to shoes.

Sonoman

I'm in Kansas City and even in the nice neighborhoods maybe only 1 out of 10 houses have pools. They just aren't nearly as prevalent around here for the other reasons everyone else has mentioned. Lots of lakes nearby so if someone wants to go swimming you just drive 15 minutes to the lake with a case of beer and hang out there all day. :)

And you do have cool summers sometimes. They are more practical in the sun belt.

years - yes, it's expensive to maintain but we do enjoy it during the summer!

They're expensive, require time and effort middle class people don't have in order to properly maintain, and are generally more trouble than they're worth for those of us who work too hard for leisure time.

:argh:

Above ground pools are popular, as well. Wealthier neighborhoods are more likely to have homes with pools.

I think some here jumped to conclusions and thought I was being an ass.

Truly, I was simply curious.

Sonoman

My husband is a pilot and has a small plane. We have flown across country, say in Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, and random pools show up in unexpected places. Farmers work hard and I guess, if they can afford it, they like their pool time, it gets really hot and humid in the midwest. And how else are you going to keep the kids happy and at home down on the farm or in a small town without a pool?

America is a big and diverse place, we can't know every thing about every cultural subset. Women in Wichita may have two lipsticks, period. Women in Dallas may have more than that just in their handbags.

People did get a tad testy. :)

I think people who want a pool mostly have above ground pools. They can be put away or taken care of more reasonably when it snows and freezes.

When you have so many beautiful beaches. That's not snark. I'm curious about that, what's the story?

The world is tearing itself apart -- almost as if it's in protest against the assault by human idiocy.

I hear Al Gore sighing. He's got every right.

Trees gone, houses demolished into bits, cars piled up. First Tuscaloosa, now this -- it's a lot of misery in a few weeks' time.

That must have been a huge tornado.

F5 with a multi-vortex. That's just massive.

An F5 is the biggest a tornado can get yes?

And F5 is the biggest you can get. The scale is from 0-5. An F5 is a destroyer. They are apocalyptic in nature with the sheer level of destruction they do.

those people experienced.

and that was horrible. I never want to imagine what an F5 would be like.

nt

and Joplin is flat.

That's another big problem.

Devastating.