Joplin Tornado: Death and Destruction by the Numbers
The town was hit by the single deadliest twister since 1950 on Sunday.
May 25, 2011 — -- The massive twister that leveled 30 percent of Joplin, Mo., has been rated an EF5 -- the highest rating based on inflicted damage -- by the National Weather Service and has been labeled the deadliest single tornado since 1950.
Here is a breakdown of the latest numbers related to the town of approximately 50,000 and the 2011 tornado season.
The statistics represent the official record of the National Weather Service, which covers 1950 to the present day.
Joplin Tornado
People killed: 124.
Survivors rescued: 9.
Buildings destroyed: An estimated 8,000.
Tornado Count
Tornadoes to strike Joplin: 1.
Tornadoes so far in the U.S. in May: More than 100.
Average number of tornadoes in May during the last decade: 298.
Record for tornados in May: 542, in 2003.
Record for most deaths in one month: 361 in April 2011. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Tornadoes so far in 2011: Approximately 1,000.
Average number of tornadoes in a single year during the last decade: 1,274.
Highest recorded number of tornadoes in a single year: 1,817, in 2004.
Death Toll
People killed in Joplin tornado: 124. (courtesy of Joplin's city manager)
People killed in 2011 before the Joplin tornado: 365. (courtesy of the National Weather Service)
People killed in Oklahoma on Tuesday: 8. (courtesy of local emergency agencies)
People killed in Kansas on Tuesday: 2. (courtesy of local emergency agencies)
People killed in Arkansas on Wednesday: 3. (courtesy of local emergency agencies)