Top 12 Most Powerful Tornadoes in the World: A Force of Nature's Fury

3. The Joplin Tornado of 2011: A City Forever Changed

Among the most catastrophic tornadoes in American history, Joplin, Missouri, suffered one on May 22, 2011. With wind speeds estimated at more than 200 mph, an EF5 tornado tore over the centre of the city, creating a 22-mile long path of devastation up to a mile wide. With 158 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and losses estimated at $2.8 billion, the tornado claimed The fact that this tornado directly struck a highly populated region made it especially catastrophic. More than 7,500 homes, 553 businesses, and important infrastructure including a large hospital were wrecked or damaged by the tornado. The Joplin tornado made clear in tornado-prone regions the need of strong building rules and emergency readiness. Following the disaster, the city's attempts at recovery set an example for disaster response, with creative reconstruction plans and community resilience projects under analysis and emulation all around.