Missouri

Joplin, Mo., officials have updated the death toll from Sunday's tornado to 142.

Among those newly found dead was Will Norton, 18, who had just graduated high school the day the tornado hit.

He was found in a pond on Friday, his family announced Saturday in an emotional press conference. He had been sucked out of his car despite his father's efforts to hold onto him. Norton was reciting verses of the Bible when he was sucked out, as reported by PoliticMo. more >>

A mother, whose son sacrificed his own life to save his wife as their house was hit by the powerful Joplin tornado, has asked God, “Why him?”

Beth Lansaw has been left devastated as her son, Don Lansaw, 31, paid the ultimate price to save his wife in the Joplin tornado. Reports indicate that he threw his body over his wife as they sheltered themselves in the bathtub when the 200 mph tornado tore up their house in Joplin, Mo., four days ago.

Lansaw, sobbing outside her son’s flattened house told reporters, “I just don't understand why.” more >>

Joplin, Mo., officials reported that 232 people remain missing since Sunday's tornado.

Four days after the southwestern Missouri city was pulverized by the deadliest twister in more than six decades, emergency workers and relief groups continue to search for the many who are still unaccounted for.

Just after city officials released the latest missing persons number on Thursday, a number of them were found alive and safe. According to The Associated Press, at least a dozen of the 232 listed as missing were found to be fine but just hadn't been able to contact friends or family. more >>

The death toll from the massive Joplin tornado that hit Sunday has now risen to 125. Officials estimate that at least 900 people were injured in the single deadliest tornado since 1950.

As search and rescue teams comb for survivors in the city of 50,000, Christian relief teams are on the ground in Joplin, Mo., ready to provide emergency relief to the area's devastated residents and homeowners.

Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse, appeared in a video Wednesday asking for prayers and donations for the relief effort. more >>

President Obama said Tuesday that he will visit the tornado zone in Missouri on Sunday, the day he returns from his tour in Europe.

"I myself will travel to Missouri to talk with folks who've been affected, to talk to local officials about our response effort and hopefully to pray with folks and give them whatever assurance and comfort I can that the entire country is going to be behind them," said Obama, who is currently in England.

The EF4 massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Mo., Sunday, killing at least 116 people. It was the deadliest tornado in the U.S. in 60 years. Hundreds are injured and an unknown number of people are missing. more >>

The death toll for the tornado that hit Joplin, Mo. has risen to 117 as of Tuesday morning. It is the deadliest tornado recorded in U.S. history, according to the National Weather Service.

The half-mile-wide twister with estimated wind speed of 190-198 mph damaged or destroyed somewhere between 10 percent to 30 percent of Joplin and roughly 2,000 structures, estimates the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency.

"It was dark, and then it felt like something sucked all the air out," recalled survivor Deborah Ballew, who works as a nurse at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., to USA Today. "And there was this tremendous sound, the loudest I've ever heard. I've herd tank fire, but this was <em>loud</em> ... I guess it was the building exploding. You think, 'This is it.'" more >>