I don’t want to spend any time talking about gruesome details or tell you every single story that happened, I just wanted to highlight a couple stories and leave you feeling inspired just as I felt when leaving Joplin.
May 22, 2011 Joplin was hit with a category EF-5 tornado with winds circulating at over 200mph. It carved a path a mile wide and 6 miles long, taking the lives of over 130 people. I heard about it as I was watching the NBA playoffs in Hollywood. I immediately felt a strong urge to go so I went the next day. I didn’t really have a plan or anything, I just knew I would go and figure it out when I got there. A brief history. My first film internship was at CIY in Joplin, Mo. Since then I have continued to stay close with some of the staff and even work on occasion together. It is just 2 hrs from my home town Muskogee, Ok.
I flew into Tulsa through one of the worst plane rides of my life. I will save that story for another day. My buddy Blake picked me up in Tulsa and we headed straight to The Bridge in Joplin. There I met my friend Tony who put me in contact with two guys named Parker and Josh.
With the sun coming up I met Parker and we headed into the disaster area. My initial reaction was complete awe of the debris and devastation. I really don’t remember anything other than calmly repeating, “oh my God” on occasion. I was rendered speechless. We pulled over in Parker’s old neighborhood and went house to house. We checked some unmarked homes and helped any people we came across with whatever they needed. Later that day, we met up with Josh and Mick. Over the next week we did everything from Search and Rescue, cutting up trees, helping families find lost possessions, etc… There was a call about two women unaccounted for down the street. We ran to this home lugging chainsaws and crowbars, along with local law enforcement and volunteers. Adrenaline was high as everyone completely removed this home piece by piece. As each piece of debris was moved I just prayed and prayed we would find them alive. An intense 20 minutes passed as the house was now completely flat to the foundation. We found nothing. My heart has never beat that fast or hard before. Though we were upset, this story does have a happy ending. They were found alive the next day! They had survived the twister and were at a friends.
This is their house after we took it apart. The back side and right side are piles of the house we were throwing to the side.
We helped another family remove their remaining possessions from their destroyed home. While helping she told us her incredible story. They were huddled in the kitchen when the tornado struck their home. Their entire roof was lifted off as it were just a band-aid. While in the tornado, they ran through their home to a bathroom shower a couple rooms over. While running, she was struck in the head by a wooden beam. Her and 3 others made it into a ’single person’ stand up shower and took cover til the tornado had passed. When we finished we thanked her for letting us help, told her she was loved, and that God loved her. I leaned forward and hugged her. Just as I did, she burst into tears. I hugged her for a good minute before heading to the next home. I am not a very emotional person on the outside but I was weeping on the inside. My eyes watered up as we walked to the next house. Another stop we made, a man was trapped in his home by a fallen wall. The wall was resting on his head. Luckily he came out with only minor cuts and bleeding. We helped his wife find her medication and we also found his wallet. When you see some of the homes and what is left of them, it makes me wonder how anyone could have survived.
House from the 1st story. Woman who was struck in the head while running from the twister.
Man from the 2nd story standing in front his home. Photos below are what some other homes looked like.
This car is literally bent and wrapped around the tree. Just think how much force and power it would take to bend a car frame backwards….
Everyone we met and spoke with were just truly thankful to be alive. It made me think about my travels abroad. It is always empowering to see people in 3rd world countries smile and be happy for life. Not in the least to take from them, but most of them have only known poverty and hunger, a devastating life in contrast to ours. We live in the land of unlimited option, despite what you say. We “have it all” right here in front of us. Well I saw a city in a western world take an absolute beating. People having everything now having nothing. What was the result of this beating? Joplin didn’t go to the corner bitching and moaning about themselves or what wasn’t being done. I saw Joplin jump back in the ring and fight with everything its got. I saw neighbors helping neighbors and strangers helping strangers. Giving food, water, clothing, assistance, time, energy….Helping not out off self worth or obligation but out of the sincerity and compassion of their hearts. Color, language, religion, age, sex….None of it mattered. It was love at its truest form, unconditional. It was remarkable. I will never forget it.
The last day I was there, I had just finished working and was heading home when I saw two soldiers putting up a flag at St. Mary’s church. I parked and ran across the street to try and capture this beautiful and inspiring moment. I snapped about 8 photos with my 35mm before he climbed down and stood facing the flag. They had found the American flag in the rubble and decided to post it on a broken tree outside the church. It gave me the chills watching them do this. A small little moral boost like that can go a long way. I saw several acts of patriotism during my short trip in Joplin. We are all in this together. As a great nation, we will rise together and help each other through anything. I was and still am so proud.
I went and developed 2 rolls previous to the soldiers putting up the flag and came across this photo. I had shot a photo of the same soldier riding on this truck.
Next are a couple people who just in my brief time have inspired me here.
Parker Williams drove from a couple hours away bringing his truck and a trailer full of supplies. At the end of the first week, he coordinated and set up an event that filled two 18 wheelers full of supplies for Joplin. Amazing guy.
Eric Epperson and I go back a while. He was once my youth minister and also played a huge role in getting my first internship in film. His home was in the path of the tornado. Luckily him and his family were unharmed. I love reading his posts and hearing his take on things. He is always positive and a great influence on others. Check out his
blog.
Josh and Mick drove down from Indiana together. Josh is ex-military and was team leader for our Search and Rescue team. Mick came down with chain-saws
which were very much needed. They were both very eager to help others and get things done. They both plan on going back soon. You can visit Josh’s site HERE for a list of local orgs that need help.
Tad Agoglia started the organization “First Response.” He was a CNN Hero in 2008. Please go check them out and read up on everything they do. I spent a day with them as they brought in an extremely powerful generator to run the new 60 room make shift hospital. They also brought some heavy machinery and started clearing way for a new heli-pad. They will be there for weeks, maybe months, doing work. These are people that truly use money and resources to help people. They are definitely a great non-profit to consider donating to.
Keep positive, keep praying, keep loving.
I am collaborating with my great friend Jeremy Cowart on an art piece that is coming out tomorrow. He is drawing a piece that will use some of my photos and video I captured in Joplin. Proceeds going to relief. Be on the look out.
I may be selling some 35mm prints here soon to help with relief as well.
“Only after disaster can we be ressurected.”
- Chuck Palahniuk