Sat, Jul 05 2008
|
|
Published May 11, 2008 09:09 pm - “We were so overwhelmed and traumatized. There were adults walking around in a daze, crying, with tears running down their cheeks.” — Ruth Noblett, reflecting recently on the May 4, 2003, tornado that ripped through Stockton. “It’s tragic. It’s terrible.” — Ottawa County Sheriff Terry Durborow surveying the damage Saturday night after a tornado damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes in Picher, Okla. Just five years and six days after tornadoes ripped through Southeast Kansas and Southwest Missouri, killing 24, it’s deja vu all over again. In our view: Devestating parallels “We were so overwhelmed and traumatized. There were adults walking around in a daze, crying, with tears running down their cheeks.” — Ruth Noblett, reflecting recently on the May 4, 2003, tornado that ripped through Stockton.
“It’s tragic. It’s terrible.” — Ottawa County Sheriff Terry Durborow surveying the damage Saturday night after a tornado damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes in Picher, Okla. Just five years and six days after tornadoes ripped through Southeast Kansas and Southwest Missouri, killing 24, it’s deja vu all over again. Saturday afternoon’s strong storms that carved a deadly path through Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri and spawned tornadoes, straight-line winds and hail the size of baseballs remind us of the fragile nature of human life. Picher, a community already faced with the decades-old problem of lead contamination, now has a more immediate challenge to overcome. Search-and-rescue efforts began Saturday night as rescuers began searching for anyone who was trapped among the debris. The storm also leveled many homes and was responsible for at least 12 deaths in Newton County, as the tornado continued along its path, striking northeast of Seneca, then hitting Granby and Newtonia before finally dissipating. Now, as in 2003, is a time to open our hearts — if not our wallets — to those who have lost their homes, their possessions and quite possibly all hope. And it’s a time to simply step aside when needed to let emergency responders do their jobs. While the devastating parallels between the storms of 2003 and this past weekend are all too apparent, there will also be similar stories of survival and compassion — of neighbors helping neighbors, of strangers lending a hand to those around them in need. And over the next five years, we will also see similar events play out as despair turns to resolve as those most affected lick their wounds, mourn their losses and find the strength to carry on. The strength to rebuild. And the strength to find silver linings among the darkest of clouds. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Editorial section
Youth Views: Dwindling opportunities |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
The Joplin Globe Publishing Company 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. |
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service 
|