tornadoes

Nearly 100,000 volunteers helped the town rebuild and a spirit of community service continues to this day. Researchers studying human behavior catastrophes can bring out compassion in surprising ways.

The EF5 tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011, became the deadliest in modern history — killing 158 people. Although little damage is now visible to the naked eye, to the survivors, volunteers and healthcare workers, the scars remain.

Area health departments are putting the finishing touches on plans to keep residents and travelers healthy during the FIFA World Cup. Officials are hopeful increased wastewater surveillance and unified messaging will help prevent outbreaks.

Missouri reports about 40 tornadoes in a typical season — but it's surpassed that number all of the last three years. Unusually high temperatures in March and April brought more frequent storms.

Tornado warning sirens have been a frequent sound in the Kansas City area so far this year. This month is likely to be much of the same, according to Zachary Leasor, a state climatologist with the University of Missouri.

FEMA has warned of relief delays due to federal funding. Monday's storm tracked 36.51 miles across the town of Slater, Gilliam and Glasgow, with a max wind speed of 115 mph.

El área metropolitana de Kansas City ha sufrido recientemente una sucesión constante de fenómenos meteorológicos extremos, entre otros la amenaza de tornados y las estridentes alarmas que los acompañan. Los residentes generalmente se confunden con esas sirenas porque otros medios de comunicación no mencionan el peligro.

Relentless rainfall has flooded Kansas City neighborhoods east of I-435 near the 23rd Street exit, as meteorologists note a historically high amount of storms and warnings this year. Several businesses have had to close indefinitely, as they wait for the city to respond and drain the water.

The Kansas City metro has had a steady stream of severe weather recently, including the threat of tornadoes and the piercing sirens that accompany them. Residents are often confused by those sirens, when media reports are not telling them they're at risk.

Much of the Kansas City area is under hazardous weather warnings, including a tornado watch for a handful of counties surrounding the metro. Damaging winds and rain are likely, causing flooding and power outages. Residents are urged to stay alert and informed throughout the night.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Clay and Jackson counties around 9 p.m.

A tornado hit Cass County on Friday night, causing significant damages to homes and other buildings in the early evening. The Friday storms capped off a week of extreme weather, bringing colder temperatures for the weekend and drier conditions next week.