How to Be Hip

I cannot believe cat died on Lip Service.

Residents of Joplin, Mo, walk west on 26th Street near Maiden Lane. (AP Photo/Mike Gullett

It was one year ago to day that the tornado hit Joplin, MO. I’ve struggled to deal with my emotions from that day over the past year. I was in Joplin when the tornado hit. I had spent the day in Joplin with my girlfriend, H, visiting one of her friends. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We ate tacos at Lalo’s and went mini-golfing before going to see the movie, Bridesmaids. The movie was stopped about halfway through with the instant information of cell phones, we became aware of severe weather in the area. We left the theatre and moved closer to the storm to go back to H’s friend’s apartment. H’s friend was worried about her girlfriend and new baby. The apartment was located about a mile from one edge of the storm around 20th and Connecticut. We thought we were locked out and almost left to go get a spare key, from another friend, J.

I saw the tornado hit, but I had no idea that’s what I was seeing. The sirens had stopped blaring and that gave me a false sense of safety. I knew it was a massive gray cloud and that the winds were blowing the rain in an unnatural direction. But I could not fathom that I was seeing an EF-5 tornado strike the city. I stood fixated at the sliding glass window, while my girlfriend pleaded with me to step away and seek shelter in the bathroom. I was a Kansas girl and I wasn’t afraid of a little tornado warning.

After the storm subsided we received a call from J, she thought we were in the parking lot of her apartment complex. J’s apartment complex was heavily damaged and she thought we were all dead in the parking lot. I believe six people died in that complex. J and her elderly neighbor survived in her basement apartment covered with couch cushions. H and her friend, both medics in the army, immediately left to go help J get out of her apartment. Arriving at the apartment, complex they found one dead man and many people in shock. I’ve heard stories of people walking around almost like zombies, because they were in so much shock. 

After bring J and her neighbor back, H, her friend and the girlfriend left again to help others. I was in charge of the baby and the two tornado survivors. H told me very little about what happened when they left the apartment. I know that they found many people dead, many people seriously injured, and many people in shock. I know from going back during the next week that it look liked a warzone; I can’t imagine the city hours after the storm hit.

So today I’m remembering the experience of that day. The anxiety that plagued me for a weeks after the storm. The guilt I felt for not being strong enough to go volunteer. But more importantly, I’m thinking of people like H who went to help immediately after the storm hit. The nurses, the emergencies workers, and the everyday people. I’m thinking of people like J who survived the storm, but still struggle with the after-effects to this day. I’m thinking of the 161 people who died that day and of those who lost loved ones. The Joplin tornado of May 22, 2011 was a tragic event, but I’m also remembering the outpouring of support that Joplin received nation-wide. I’m remembering the sense of community I felt as everyone joined together to help their fellow neighbors.