Video image of Sunday's tornado.
Update: May 23 at 9:05 a.m.:
The search continues for survivors of the massive tornado that hit Joplin. Governor Jay Nixon says he fears the death toll will rise but also expects to find survivors in the rubble.
At least 89 people are confirmed dead from the tornado that struck Sunday. Nixon told The Associated Press that people had about 17 minutes of warning before the tornado hit, but he says the wind and rain were so loud that some may not have heard the warning sirens.
Nixon says about 2,000 buildings suffered significant damage, including a hospital. The governor says about 400 people have been treated at another hospital in Joplin and more than 100 spent the night at a shelter.
Update: May 23 at 7:40 a.m.:
Authorities in Joplin have raised the death toll from Sunday's tornado to 89 confirmed deaths.
The news came from City Manager Mark Rohr during a pre-dawn news conference.
He went on to say that the twister left a path a half-mile wide and six miles long through the center of town.
Update: May 22 at 10:10 p.m.:
St. John Regional Medical Center in Joplin is evacuating nearly 100 patients after the hospital took a direct hit from a tornado early Sunday evening.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has activated the National Guard following the deadly storms and tornadoes that have hit the southwest.
The governor also declared a state of emergency Sunday night. His office says that state and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating search and rescue and recovery operations in the stricken areas.
A massive tornado flattened a large area of the city of Joplin and heavily damaged St. John's Regional Medical Center.
Nixon says the National Guard will help local law enforcement with emergency coordination and recovery. He says Missouri's Disaster Medical Assistance Team is also heading to the area.
Original Story:
Severe weather ripped through Missouri Sunday night.
Officials said the southwest Missouri city of Joplin has taken a direct hit from a tornado and there are reports of multiple fatalities.
Damage was widespread across the city's south side.
John Campbell, operations director for the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed fatalities have been reported, but he did not yet have an exact number or specifics.
Phone communications in and out of the city were largely cut off.
Authorities also said the tornado hit a Joplin hospital and caused the roof of two city firestations to collapse.
Jasper County Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer said a tornado hit the St. John’s Regional Medical Center on the city’s south side.
He said there were multiple reports of injuries from the twister that struck around 6p.m.
While Joplin was in a state of emergency, severe weather also went through an area east of Kansas City causing severe damage.
National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Bailey said a weak tornado began to form near Higginsville and dissipated just as it hit the town of Waverly.
Bailey said the twister caused minor damage to trees and removed the roof of a mobile home.
Waverly has about 780 residents and is located about 55 miles east of Kansas City in Lafayette County.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
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