60 Powerful Photos Of Joplin Rebuilding

    Today marks the one-year anniversary of the EF-5 tornado that devastated the town of Joplin, Missouri. The tornado left behind is responsible for 161 deaths and hundreds of injuries, but one year later there are signs that the town is beginning to recover. Truly amazing stuff.

    Matt Stopera
    by Matt Stopera

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. The day after the tornado, May 22, 2011:

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    Mark Schiefelbein / AP

    Destroyed vehicles are piled on top of one another in the parking lot of the Joplin Regional Medical Center.

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    Adam Wisneski / AP

    A hand-written note to rescue workers is seen on a house that was damaged by a tornado.

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    Adam Wisneski / AP

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    Adam Wisneski / AP

    Rescue workers in lime-green jackets search for bodies and survivors inside St. John’s hospital.

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    Adam Wisneski / AP

    The St. John's hospital after the tornado.

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    Adam Wisneski / AP

    Maggie Kelley and her husband hug their dog, Saint, after finding him amid the rubble of her home.

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    Flickr: zeitlosimagery

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    Mark Schiefelbein / AP

    A man walks past destroyed vehicles in the parking lot of the Joplin Regional Medical Center.

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    Mike Gullett / AP

    13. One week after the tornado hit:

    The President visits Joplin.

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    Before and after satellite picture of the tornado's path.

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    Another before and after satellite picture of the tornado's path.

    16. 3 months after the tornado hit:

    Reuters

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    20. One year after the tornado:

    ERIC THAYER / Reuters

    St. Johns Regional Medical Center one year later.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    Morgan Osburn, David Hoosier and Kim Hoosier spend a quiet moment together in front of a memorial built for their friend Lance Hare who was killed in the tornado.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    A neighborhood street one year after the tornado struck.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    A bank one year after the tornado struck.

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    ERIC THAYER / Reuters

    A sign is seen on a tornado damaged tree.

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    ERIC THAYER / Reuters

    Artists Emily Frankoski and Dolores Bilke paint a tornado damaged tree.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    The painted tree at dusk.

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    ERIC THAYER / Reuters

    A flower is seen in front of a destroyed home.

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    ERIC THAYER / Reuters

    A mostly cleared neighborhood.

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    ERIC THAYER / Reuters

    A destroyed home still remains a year later.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    A grocery store one year after the tornado struck.

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    ERIC THAYER / Reuters

    Boys stand on an empty lot where a house once stood.

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    ERIC THAYER / Reuters

    Construction work continues in Joplin.

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    ERIC THAYER / Reuters

    A memorial is displayed where a house once stood.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    Scott Hasty places an American flag next to where his house once stood.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    The iron cross is all that is left of St. Mary's church after it was destroyed by the tornado.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    Bob Henke, on vacation from Anchorage, Alaska, stops to take pictures and take in the sights of what was once nothing but debris and destroyed homes.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    Debris still remains almost a year later.

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    AP

    Mark Norton places flowers on the grave of his son Will.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    Camryn Dean plays on a pile of dirt behind her mother's rebuilt home.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    Joplin High School.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    Grace Goebel and Zachary Cook play in a wading pool outside of the new Habitat for Humanity home that was built on the spot of a home that had been destroyed.

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    AP

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    7-year-old Camryn Dean plays in the newly built tornado shelter behind her mother's rebuilt home in the heart of what was once nothing but debris and destroyed homes.

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    Joe Raedle / Getty Images

    A Joplin neighborhood one year after the tornado struck.

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    AP

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    Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

    President Barack Obama delivered the commencement speech at Joplin High School. In this picture he is greeting the mayor.

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    MANDEL NGAN / Getty Images

    The President delivers the commencement address.

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    LARRY DOWNING / Reuters

    Students show emotions at the 2012 Joplin High School commencement ceremony.

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    LARRY DOWNING / Reuters

    The President wears a wristband with the word "Willdabeast" on it during the national anthem at the 2012 Joplin High School commencement ceremony.

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    Pool / Getty Images

    Gov. Jay Nixon, President Barack Obama, and Superintendent of School C.J. Huff lower their head during a moment of silence.

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    MANDEL NGAN / Getty Images

    The President greets graduating seniors.

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    LARRY DOWNING / Reuters

    Student sing the school song for the President.