A Special Report By The Joplin Globe                   

Photos Globe/T. Rob Brown

An ambulance heads south on the west side of Carl Junction on JJ Highway Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, with a police escort after a tornado ripped through the city, tearing down utility poles, lines, trees and destroying numerous homes, businesses, schools and other structures.
Pat Fitzgerald, a member of the Methodist church choir which was about to start practice Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, calls relatives to let them know he and his 5-year-old daughter Kennedy were safe even though they were inside the church which was ripped apart by a tornado that went through Carl Junction, tearing down utility poles, lines, trees and destroying numerous homes, businesses, schools and other structures

Webb City Police Officer Pachlhofer directs traffic on JJ Highway on the west side of Carl Junction Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, after a tornado ripped through the city, tearing down utility poles, lines, trees and destroying numerous homes, businesses, schools and other structures.
This brick structure in downtown Carl Junction was totally destroyed Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, after a tornado ripped through the city, tearing down utility poles, lines, trees and destroying numerous homes, businesses, schools and other structures.


The Snyder family on the porch of their devastated home Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, after a tornado ripped through Carl Junction, tearing down utility poles, lines, trees and destroying numerous homes, businesses, schools and other structures. Pictured are Tina Snyder and Lora Synder, daughters of Leona Snyder who said "We leaned over and prayed in the bathroom."
Christy Richardson of Gailsburg, Mo., looks up at the sky as she embraces Jindy Hight of Carl Junction after the two survived a tornado Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, that ripped apart the Methodist church they were in after just finishing praise band practice.
A police car heads north on the west side of Carl Junction on JJ Highway Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, after a tornado ripped through the city, tearing down utility poles, lines, trees and destroying numerous homes, businesses, schools and other structures.
This pickup truck on the west side of Carl Junction, near Carl Junction High School, was struck by a tree Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, after a tornado ripped through the city, tearing down utility poles, lines, trees and destroying numerous homes, businesses, schools and other structures.
This brick building in downtown Carl Junction was totally destroyed Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, after a tornado ripped through the city, tearing down utility poles, lines, trees and destroying numerous homes, businesses, schools and other structures.
Two unidentified people look around the destroyed portions of Carl Junction's middle school and junior high Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, after a tornado ripped through the city, tearing down utility poles, lines, trees and destroying numerous homes, businesses, schools and other structures.
This Speed Limit 30 mph sign on the west side of Carl Junction was unable to stop the tornado that ripped through the city Sunday evening, May 4, 2003.