Inside the world of: tornado survivors Pt. 1 Posted on May 23, 2021 by aroundcarthage JOPLIN, Mo. — On May 22, 2011, everything changed for one Midwest city. The EF5 tornado that struck Joplin was the seventh deadliest tornado in U.S. history, killing 162 people, displacing 9200 residents and destroying 25% of the town.