Tornado Tears Through Joplin, Mo.

A tornado tore through downtown Joplin, Mo., Sunday evening around 6 p.m. killing at least 89 people and destroying some 2,000 homes and other buildings, damaging a Flying J truckstop and Con-way Truckload's headquarters.

The tornado moved west to east through Joplin just south of 20th street running through the heart of town. According to reports, the damage path stretched for over 6 miles, decimating neighborhoods. The storm destroyed a hospital in the western part of town, and moved out near I-44 exit 11. At the time of this writing, the death toll was at least 89.

Flying-J #669 at exit 11 was directly hit by the twister, suffering heavy damage and losing its roof. According to the company, nobody at the truckstop was injured, and tractor-trailers that were destroyed are in the process of being removed. At this time, the truckstop is open and a team is being dispatched to fully assess the damage and get repairs under way. It is unclear when it will begin dispensing diesel fuel again.

Truckstops at exit 4 to the south, including Joplin 44 and Pilot #317, were undamaged and are currently open. However, six or so trucks were turned over, at least one in the highway median which was loaded with hazmat cleaners and soaps. Clean-up crews are on their way.

Despite the mess, I-44 and U.S. 71 are open and apparently not experiencing delays. DeAnne Rickabaugh of the Missouri Department of Transportation said destroyed vehicles blocking traffic have been removed from local highways and traffic is moving through safely. Rickabaugh asked truckers and drivers to avoid refueling at area stations due to power issues.

Among several carriers in Joplin, Con-way Truckload appears to be the only one suffering direct damage. According to a company press release, the tornado swept nearby the headquarters, but the building suffered only minor damages including broken windows. However, an adjacent maintenance facility was seriously damaged, and 30 trailers and two tractors were damaged or destroyed. The operations center is operating as normal, dispatching trucks and taking orders.

Other carriers in the area are facing delays due to blocked roads and power outages. Transport Distribution Company, located to the east of town was undamaged, but was without power as of this writing. LandAir Express to the west was north of the damage path, but untouched. However, the nearby devastation is preventing normal operations. Specifically, the company said trucks would be able to exit Joplin, but may have some trouble driving into the battered city.

Area truck dealerships may also be damaged, though it is not entirely clear which ones. The Peterbilt dealership to the south of town was untouched, but there are unconfirmed reports that it was the only unaffected dealership.