Netflix Documentary Explores Joplin Tornado, Deadliest in Recent US History
The new film arrives as Joplin reflects on recovery efforts over the past 14 years, underscoring the resilience of a town that saw a third of its buildings destroyed. With extensive footage and firsthand accounts, the documentary explores not just the force of nature, but the human stories behind the headlines.
The 2011 Joplin tornado reshaped how emergency managers across the country issue tornado warnings because it revealed critical gaps in both public communication and behavioral response.
According to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) study cited by Weather.com, despite a 17-minute lead time from the National Weather Service's warning, many residents delayed taking shelter because the tornado was rain-wrapped and did not resemble the classic funnel shape. This visual ambiguity, combined with public confusion over warning messages, led to what experts later identified as "confirmation delay"-a dangerous tendency to wait for additional cues before taking action.
"Warnings aren't enough when it comes to violent tornadoes," Greg Forbes, former severe weather expert at The Weather Channel, told Weather.com. "Homes are no match for a violent tornado."
In response to these failures, emergency managers nationwide began reassessing how warnings are disseminated, placing more focus on behavioral science to ensure that alerts not only reach people but also spur immediate, life-saving action.
Netflix's The Twister: Caught in the Storm uses both archival footage and new interviews to document the tornado's path and its impact.
The storm carved a path nearly a mile wide and six miles long through Joplin. According to TheGuardian, it destroyed 4,000 homes and more than 500 businesses. The documentary revisits these numbers with visual evidence and survivor accounts, giving fresh gravity to statistics that once stunned the nation.
In the aftermath, federal and state agencies coordinated the delivery of more than $2 billion in aid and recovery funds. The response became a benchmark for subsequent disaster planning across the Midwest.
Joplin remains one of the largest cities in southwest Missouri, although its size is modest compared to other urban centers.
It is located in the southwestern corner of Missouri and serves as a regional hub for commerce and healthcare. At the time of the tornado, Joplin's population was around 50,000. As of 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that the town has grown by 6 percent or to 53,095 at last estimates. Despite the population rebound, scars from the storm remain visible both physically and emotionally across the city.
What Time Did the 2011 Joplin Tornado Hit?
The tornado touched down around 5:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, May 22, 2011. It formed just outside of Joplin and quickly intensified as it entered the city limits. According to reports cited by USA Today, the tornado reached its peak intensity within minutes and continued for about 48 minutes before dissipating.
According to the NOAA, the tornado directly killed 158 people, but USA Today reports that it also caused "indirect deaths" that bring the total number of fatalities to around 162.
It was the deadliest single tornado in U.S. history since modern record-keeping began, according to the National Weather Service. The death toll was exacerbated by the tornado's path through densely populated neighborhoods and a busy commercial corridor. According to the Associated Press (AP), emergency workers and local volunteers pulled victims from the wreckage for days, with some of the dead found far from where they had last been seen.
Just before the tornado touched down, 445 graduates of Joplin High School had just completed their graduation ceremony and had to scurry to find cover. The celebratory day was cut short as many students were impacted by the tornado.
Will Norton, 18, had just left his high school graduation when it struck. As he rode in his family's SUV, he was pulled out through the sunroof despite his father's attempts to hold on. His body was found five days later in a pond nearby, reported the AP.
More than 1,000 people were injured, and entire families were affected.
The 2011 tornado was also one of just a few rated E-5 ever recorded, with winds estimated at over 200 miles per hour, reported the AP.
The event reshaped how emergency managers across the country issue tornado warnings, as the Joplin tornado highlighted failures in public communication systems and the public's response to warnings.
Then-principal of Joplin High School Kerry Sachetta told AP on the evening of May 22, 2011: "You see pictures of World War II, the devastation and all that with the bombing-that's really what it looked like."
Director of 'The Twister: Caught in the Storm' Alexandra Lacey posted to Instagram: "Thank you again to the community of Joplin and the young contributors who have shared their stories with such authenticity and bravery."
As the anniversary of the tornado approaches, the film is expected to serve both as historical documentation and a call to continued vigilance in communities vulnerable to extreme weather.
Related Articles
Peering Into the Deadliest, Most Destructive Tornadoes with SupercomputersPictures of Hurricane Ian Aftermath Show Damage and Flooding in FloridaWhat Caused Deadly L.A. Wildfires? Faulty Electrical Equipment In Spotlight
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Pet Owners Issued Drinking Water Warning
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Dogs could be the first to show signs of dangerous water contamination in American homes relying on private wells, a veterinary professor has told Newsweek. "We tested the drinking water from the homes of dog owners who rely on private wells and found that every sample contained detectable minerals or metals—some at levels above health-based guidelines set by the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency]," veterinary informatics professor at Virginia Tech, Audrey Ruple, told Newsweek. "Since dogs often drink from the same water sources as their human families, they may be the first to show signs of long-term exposure to contaminants like lead or arsenic," she continued. "This makes them important early warning systems—or sentinels—for environmental risks that people are also exposed to." Ruple recently co-authored a study with other researchers from Virginia Tech and the University of Washington, which found that the majority of sampled well water contained excessive levels of heavy metals, raising health concerns for both pets and their human families. Why It Matters Roughly 15 million U.S. households rely on private wells, which fall outside of EPA oversight and are not subject to federal testing regulations. The study highlights that these homeowners may be unaware of health risks lurking in their drinking water, especially for pets that often consume more water per pound of body weight than humans. What To Know Marc Edwards, a distinguished professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, said in an interview with Newsweek: "The lead and copper source is almost always the plumbing infrastructure, whereas arsenic and other constituents are often naturally occurring in the ground water. Consumers can often have their water tested through college extension programs, or by contacting local water testing laboratories. There are filters or treatment devices that can remove every type of contaminant." Published in PLOS Water and conducted across 10 U.S. states, the research found elevated levels of toxic metals in two-thirds of homes tested. According to SciTechDaily, 13 of the homes exceeded EPA health guidance levels for arsenic, lead, or copper. The findings suggest that dogs are exposed to similar environmental hazards as humans, yet their quicker metabolisms and shorter life spans may reveal symptoms earlier. Environmental conditions influenced contamination levels. Researchers noted that homes near fracking sites showed higher sodium and sulfur levels, while proximity to railroads correlated with increased manganese. According to DVM360, water treated using reverse osmosis showed the lowest health risks to dogs. The study analyzed water samples from 178 dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project, a national health study. Researchers discovered that 64 percent of private well samples exceeded health guidelines for at least one heavy metal, including arsenic, lead, or copper. All 178 samples contained detectable levels of at least some of 28 different metals tested. Co-author Leigh-Anne Krometis, associate professor of biological systems engineering at Virginia Tech, stressed to Newsweek that "this study examined private well water samples." "These are all maintained by individual homeowners and not subject to federal regulations on testing, treatment, etc. So these were not 'city' water samples," he said. File photo of a dog drinking water, taken in Saxony-Anhalt, Wernigerode, taken in August 2022. File photo of a dog drinking water, taken in Saxony-Anhalt, Wernigerode, taken in August 2022. AP What People Are Saying Co-author Leigh-Anne Krometis said: "In this small study, 59 percent of the samples returned had more than 20 ppm sodium... Salt sometimes is actually high in well water because of the presence of a treatment system that relies on ion exchange to remove nuisance elements like iron and manganese. So it's not that the groundwater is 'polluted' per se, it's actually a management decision to make water more palatable." Co-author Audrey Ruple said: "If their household uses a private well, a practical action they can take is to have their water tested through a certified lab that can check for metals like lead, arsenic, and copper. Testing is relatively inexpensive and easy to do. If contaminants are detected, installing a treatment or filtration system can reduce the risk of negative health impacts." What Happens Next The researchers plan to expand their work by analyzing the long-term health outcomes in dogs exposed to heavy metals. They believe that identifying links between environmental contamination and chronic conditions could improve both veterinary care and public health guidance. Until then, they stress annual water testing as a simple but essential step for well owners. Krometis told Newsweek: "Water is a utility we often take for granted, and many (if not most) private well owners do not realize that it is their sole responsibility to manage their system. Testing is the first step to understand whether there are things in the water that might pose a risk to themselves and their family members, furry or otherwise."
Business Wire
5 hours ago
- Business Wire
ClearStrand-ASD, First-of-Its-Kind Autism Screening Tool, Now Available in Japan
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- LinusBio, a leader in precision exposome medicine, announced today that ClearStrand-ASD™, its biochemical autism screening test, is now available to patients and providers in Japan for research use through its partnership with YAC Bio. This milestone marks LinusBio's first international expansion and represents a significant step in the company's mission to enable earlier identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) globally. Today marks a transformational moment in our mission to make early autism screening accessible worldwide. Share ClearStrand-ASD requires only a strand of hair to detect molecular signatures associated with autism spectrum disorder. This innovative, non-invasive approach provides healthcare providers with an objective screening method that can help identify ASD risk as early as one month of age, allowing families to pursue intervention during the most crucial period of early development. "Today marks a transformational moment in our mission to make early autism screening accessible worldwide," said Dr. Manish Arora, Founder and CEO of LinusBio. "Japan represents our first step beyond U.S. borders, and we chose this market because of its sophisticated healthcare infrastructure and commitment to pediatric developmental care. Japanese families dealing with autism concerns will now have access to the same cutting-edge screening technology that has already helped multiple American families get answers earlier than ever before." The Japanese launch builds on ClearStrand-ASD's successful rollout across the United States, where it is now available in 49 states. YAC Bio will partner with hospital systems in Japan to facilitate the implementation of this first-of-its-kind biomarker test for autism. LinusBio's expansion into Japan is facilitated through its existing partnership with YAC Bio (part of Y.A.C. Holdings), the Japanese multinational that invested over 1 billion yen in the company. Beyond providing market access, Y.A.C. Holdings contributes manufacturing expertise and automation capabilities that support LinusBio's scaling efforts globally. "By combining the world's only hair-cutting robotics technology with the innovative hair exposome analysis developed by LinusBio in the United States, we have contributed to the development of the world's first biomarker screening test for autism spectrum disorder. Following its launch in the U.S., we are now offering this test in Japan through our group company, YAC Bio," said Takefumi Momose, President and CEO, Y.A.C. Holdings Co., Ltd. "We sincerely hope that this test will support individuals, families, and communities in Japan who are concerned about autism." The Japan availability of ClearStrand-ASD represents the first phase of LinusBio's international expansion strategy, with the company evaluating additional markets where ClearStrand-ASD could address unmet needs in early autism detection. About ClearStrand-ASD ClearStrand-ASD is a biochemical test intended to help health care providers rule out autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children 1 to 48 months. The test analyzes a strand of hair to map the dynamic patterns of an individual's unique biological responses at a molecular level to environmental exposures over time and uses an algorithm to assess the likelihood of autism. It is not a genetic test and must be ordered by a licensed health care provider (Rx only). ClearStrand-ASD is performed at LinusBio's CLIA-certified laboratory (CLIA #31d2307499). For more information visit: About LinusBio LinusBio (Linus Biotechnology Inc.) is a patient-centric, breakthrough science precision exposome medicine company headquartered in New Jersey. The Company's program pipeline comprises precision exposome medicine biomarkers and target discovery across disease domains for which historically no molecular endpoints have been available in medical practice or for clinical trials, including CNS (autism spectrum disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), gastroenterology (inflammatory bowel disease), renal disease and oncology. LinusBio is actively exploring additional international partnerships to expand global access to its innovative diagnostic solutions. For more information, visit About Y.A.C. Holdings Y.A.C. Holdings is a Japan-based company specializing in developing, designing, and manufacturing mechatronics-related products. The company collaborates with LinusBio on hardware innovations to scale testing capacity, driving breakthroughs in robotics and laboratory automation.
Washington Post
6 hours ago
- Washington Post
The future of home-building is here. And we're behind.
Andrés Clarens is a professor of engineering at the University of Virginia and a former assistant director for industrial decarbonization in the White House Office of Science and Technology. Every home starts with basic components: concrete for foundations, steel or wood for framing, glass for windows and chemicals for insulation and finishes. These can account for half of total construction cost, making them a major driver of housing affordability and availability. And just as the United States needs to build millions of new homes, we are leaving it to Chinese laboratories to design the materials for them. These core ingredients are an often overlooked aspect of our housing shortage. They are expensive, energy-intensive and traded internationally much more than they were a generation ago. We need better, faster and cheaper domestic production of construction materials. A collection of 24 projects supported by the Energy Department's Industrial Demonstrations Program were developing technologies to enable that. In May, the Trump administration revoked funding for them, citing a lack of alignment with its priorities. The U.S. materials innovation ecosystem is among the best in the world, but it lags at commercializing discoveries. Two years ago, the demonstrations program was expanded to recover that gap by giving companies grant support to deploy and scale its first-of-a-kind technology. The canceled grants supported projects that were on track to reshape their respective industries, including Sublime Systems, which is developing cement production methods that circumvent the sector's reliance on coal, reducing costs while eliminating cement's carbon pollution problem. Chemical company Eastman's molecular recycling facility is transforming plastic waste into resins for siding, insulation and piping at lower costs. American Ductile Iron Pipe was developing cheaper ways to make ductile iron pipe to address aging water infrastructure in American homes. Technip and LanzaTech are focused on producing ethylene from industrial waste gas, enabling production of coatings, insulation and plumbing components. The reversal of grant funding for these innovations strikes at an inopportune time. Demand remains high: By some estimates, a single family home requires 50 tons of concrete, 10 tons of steel and 2 tons of chemical products. But in the past two decades, the United States has lost much of its domestic production capacity. Almost all domestic aluminum production has migrated to China's subsidized electricity. Cement, which used to be produced near most American cities, is increasingly imported. Glass production has consolidated around lower-cost international competitors. This exodus leaves American home builders dependent on imported materials subject to price volatility, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions. While American policymakers implement shortsighted funding cuts, China focuses on technological leadership in new materials through its $300 billion 'Made in China 2025' industrial plan. Chinese companies already produce over half of the world's cement and are set to become the leading producer of bio-based chemicals. The country controls over half of global aluminum production, most rare earth elements used in advanced materials and growing market shares in specialized construction chemicals. Meanwhile, American alternatives remain trapped in laboratory settings without the ability to demonstrate their viability at scale. The productivity crisis in construction labor compounds these material challenges. Construction worker productivity has been steadily dropping for nearly 50 years while other industries have seen dramatic gains through automation and improved processes. The construction industry's resistance to technological adoption, fragmented structure and reliance on traditional methods has put us well behind China and the European Union in construction labor productivity. That's why our housing shortage cannot be solved with incremental improvement to existing materials and methods. Advanced materials that simplify assembly processes and reduce the specialized skills required for installation could help reverse this productivity decline. Imagine concrete that can also store energy and eliminates your power bill. Structural materials that are stronger than steel but lighter than aluminum, enabling faster assembly with smaller crews. Building systems that integrate recycled insulation, structure and finish materials into single components that dramatically reduce construction complexity. These innovations are emerging from research laboratories around the world, including many American institutions. While some might succeed without government support, the retreat in Industrial Demonstrations Program funding makes it less likely that homegrown ideas will make it to market. Supporting basic research only to allow the technology to be commercialized overseas is a poor investment of taxpayer dollars. Despite the loss of grant funding, the window to establish American leadership in materials development has not closed. Congress, for instance, could redirect canceled demonstration funding toward a comprehensive materials innovation initiative focused on housing construction. To be most effective, investments should prioritize technologies that can simultaneously achieve three objectives: reduce construction costs and pollution, accelerate building timelines, and improve housing quality. This moment represents a strategic inflection point. Global materials markets are already shifting away from traditional materials. America can either lead this transformation, or we could license the technologies from China.
