Sun Mar 23 03:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Joplin Tornado: Documentary Recounts Devastation of 2011 EF5 Twister
**Joplin, MO** – A new documentary, “The Twister: Caught in the Storm,” revisits the catastrophic EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011. The film, written and directed by Alexandra Lacey, uses firsthand accounts and dramatic footage to chronicle the devastating event, which followed a failed end-of-the-world prediction by Christian fundamentalist Harold Camping.
While some Joplin residents celebrated the passing of Camping’s May 21st doomsday prediction, the following day brought unimaginable horror. A supercell thunderstorm developed, rapidly intensifying into a mile-wide tornado with winds exceeding 200 mph. The twister tore through the city, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
The documentary features interviews with survivors, storm chasers, meteorologists, and first responders, offering a harrowing account of the storm’s impact. The film highlights the unpreparedness of some, juxtaposing the initial celebrations with the sudden, brutal reality of the tornado’s ferocity. The EF5 tornado resulted in 158 fatalities, over a thousand injuries, and widespread devastation, making it one of the deadliest tornadoes in US history.
“The Twister: Caught in the Storm” provides a gripping and sobering look at the resilience of the Joplin community in the face of unimaginable loss and offers a stark reminder of the power of nature.
First Piper 