Nightly News   |  May 24, 2011

Amid crisis, Joplin residents find ways to reconnect

As traumatized residents picked thru the mess that remains of their worldly possessions, worried relatives flooded social media sites to locate family members. NBC's Kevin Tibbles reports.

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>> in the tornado that has picked up this town and turned it over, transforming joplin , missouri. more on that from nbc's kevin tibbles.

>> reporter: in joplin , the new day reveals what looks like a moonscape as traumatized residents pick through the mess that remains of their worldly possessions. many of the newly homeless now stay in an emergency red cross shelter at missouri southern state university . a friend spotted jane brieson on tv and came to offer shelter.

>> i'm going to take her home with me since she lost her home and everything.

>> reporter: some of the injured are treated in the teaching wing of the university's medical facility. now it's a clinic filled with volunteers.

>> we have had iowa, arkansas, kansas, oklahoma. you know, as far away as california come in.

>> reporter: patients like marcia mccullough all have the same message.

>> i want to let my sister and daughter know that i'm alive and well and only in minor pain.

>> reporter: mary basher was in her apartment when it collapsed. she fell two floors.

>> if you're alive and you got out of this, you had a miracle.

>> reporter: and edna lyons was on the floor below. she was buried.

>> i saw the tornado. you don't ever want to see that. it's the most evil looking thing you have ever seen in your life.

>> this is day two.

>> reporter: a local radio station abandoned its all-talk format to broadcast messages for those seeking the missing.

>> we have been taking thousands of calls nonstop.

>> reporter: social media sites are filled with worried postings from relatives.

>> heart-wrenching not to be in contact with loved ones , especially through such a traumatic event.

>> she's alive. that's all that matters.

>> reporter: all across joplin , so many stories similar to these stories of survival. stories of being reunited with loved ones and, of course, brian, so many other stories with a tragic ending.

>> we have been listening to that. looking for people including those lifted out of cars. kevin, thanks.