Joplin tornado, continued

The Joplin, Mo., tornado thread was getting long, so here’s another one to keep track of developments:

• The death toll as of Monday evening stands at 116 people, according to the Joplin Globe, with more then 1,100 injured. Local officials estimate about a third of the city has been destroyed.
• The disaster is the worst to hit Missouri in more than a century and the worst U.S. tornado in more than 60 years.
• City officials are urging people who don’t have property in Joplin to stay away. They don’t want rubberneckers to get in the way of rescue efforts.
• Telephone service has been spotty or strained in Joplin because of power outages or cell towers toppled by the storm.
• The Joplin Tornado Recovery page on Facebook has proven to be an excellent resource.
• Recommended charities to aid victims include the Heart of Missouri United Way (with 100% of donations to Joplin aid), the Greater Ozarks chapter of the American Red Cross (based on Joplin), and the Salvation Army of Kansas and western Missouri.
• Here’s a list of fundraisers for those who live in the region but not in Joplin.

The Joplin Globe is been doing a good job covering the story, in spite that it’s almost certain employees lost their homes in the storm:

UPDATE 5/24/2011: Here’s the latest report from the Joplin Globe. Officials made it clear that the death count will continue to rise, and that an temporary morgue was set up at an undisclosed location.

UPDATE2: The Associated Press on Tuesday afternoon said the death toll in Joplin rose to 122. Also,

• The New York Times reports that 1,500 people remain missing in Joplin.
• The National Weather Service today updated the storm’s strength to the highest level — F5 — with winds of more than 200 mph.

UPDATE 5/25/2011: The death toll had risen to 123 as of early Wednesday, according to the county coroner.

Joplin’s tornado now ranks among the top 10 deadliest in American history. The infamous Tri-State Tornado of 1925 killed almost 700 in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

It’s also estimated that 8,000 structures in Joplin have been destroyed, or about 30 percent of the city.

The city has imposed a 9 p.m.-to-6-a.m. curfew to combat problems with traffic and looting. It also will require permits for vehicle access during the day, starting today, to keep streets clear for aid vehicles.

UPDATE 5/25/2011: This Associated Press story is difficult to read, but worth your time. The death toll now stands at 125, as of Wednesday evening.