Fourteen years after an EF5 tornado tore through Joplin, a new documentary depicts the aftermath through the eyes of residents who witnessed the incident.
“The Twister: Caught in the Storm,” which premieres on Netflix on March 19, follows a group of now-adults as they recall May 22, 2011, the day a deadly tornado killed 161 people and injured over 1,000 others. The day also marked the graduation ceremony for hundreds of Joplin High School students.
The 90-minute film includes never-before-seen tornado footage captured by Emmy-winning storm chasers Jeff and Kat Piotrowski, as well as recordings from residents who witnessed the deadly tornado’s aftermath.
“In the fierce 200 mph winds of the twister, they discover the power of their resilience as they fight for survival — each with transformative stories spurred by their experiences of that day,” Netflix said during its trailer release. “This catastrophic event ravaged Joplin and yet it overcame, rebuilt, and became an enduring symbol of hope.”
“That Sunday, the weather was beautiful,” a resident interviewed by Netflix stated in the trailer.
“To think we were all just celebrating life 24 hours prior to the worst thing that could happen,” a different resident said.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this tornado is the seventh-deadliest in US history. The winds destroyed 17,000 trees and tossed thousands of cars , trucks, fire engines and helicopters.
The tornado also struck Mercy Hospital Joplin (then known as St. John’s Regional Medical Center), one of the area’s two major hospitals.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the tornado caused $2.8 billion in total damage, making it the costliest single tornado in US history.
