Joplin before and after tornado cleanup

This two-photo combo shows a scene taken on May 28, top, and again on July 21, showing progress made in Joplin, Mo., nearly two months after a tornado destroyed a large swath of the city and killed 160 people. It was the deadliest tornado in the United States in more than 60 years. Left photo: Patrick O'Banion salvages items from his devastated home in a neighborhood now mostly cleared of debris.

This two-photo combo shows a scene taken on May 28, top, and again on July 21, showing progress made in Joplin, Mo., nearly two months after a tornado destroyed a large swath of the city and killed 160 people. It was the deadliest tornado in the United States in more than 60 years. Left photo: Patrick O'Banion salvages items from his devastated home in a neighborhood now mostly cleared of debris.

The tornado destroyed about 30 percent of the homes and businesses in the a city of about 50,000 residents.
•Tornado 'helps' Joplin resident downsize

The tornado destroyed about 30 percent of the homes and businesses in the a city of about 50,000 residents.
•Tornado 'helps' Joplin resident downsize

Left image: Jim Goff carries salvaged items to his car as he helps a friend retrieve items from a destroyed home in a neighborhood now mostly cleared of debris.

Left image: Jim Goff carries salvaged items to his car as he helps a friend retrieve items from a destroyed home in a neighborhood now mostly cleared of debris.

Left photo: David Turner, from Waco, Texas, sorts through belongings in a house occupied by his two sisters in a neighborhood now mostly cleared of debris.

Left photo: David Turner, from Waco, Texas, sorts through belongings in a house occupied by his two sisters in a neighborhood now mostly cleared of debris.

Left photo: Beverly Winans hugs her daughter, Debbie Surlin, while salvaging items from Winans' devastated home that today stands cleared of debris.

Left photo: Beverly Winans hugs her daughter, Debbie Surlin, while salvaging items from Winans' devastated home that today stands cleared of debris.

Left photo: Laura Vanzant looks for her dog at her home that was destroyed by the tornado and is today cleared of debris.

Left photo: Laura Vanzant looks for her dog at her home that was destroyed by the tornado and is today cleared of debris.

This two-photo combo shows a scene taken on May 23, top, and again on July 21, showing progress made in Joplin nearly two months after the tornado.

This two-photo combo shows a scene taken on May 23, top, and again on July 21, showing progress made in Joplin nearly two months after the tornado.

Left photo: Anita Stokes salvages items from her home, which today stands cleared of much of the tornado debris.

Left photo: Anita Stokes salvages items from her home, which today stands cleared of much of the tornado debris.

Left photo: Don Atteberry, 89, surveys damage at his tornado-ravaged home that today is cleared with just a sign as a reminder of the past residents.

Left photo: Don Atteberry, 89, surveys damage at his tornado-ravaged home that today is cleared with just a sign as a reminder of the past residents.