Photos: Midwest Tornado Devastate Town in Missouri

Tornado destroys communities in Missouri and Minnesota.

Natural Disaster Hits Midwest, Hard - Officials in Missouri raised the death toll from the weekend’s deadly tornado to 117. In the town of Joplin alone, more than 100 people were killed. The twister waged a path of destruction across the Midwest, causing damage from Wisconsin to Texas. Though currently on a six-day Europe trip, President Obama plans to visit Missouri on Sunday. He may have more Midwest cities to visit, however, as more tornados are expected to hit today.  (Photo: AP Photo/The Star Tribune, David Brewster)

1 / 22

Natural Disaster Hits Midwest, Hard - Officials in Missouri raised the death toll from the weekend’s deadly tornado to 117. In the town of Joplin alone, more than 100 people were killed. The twister waged a path of destruction across the Midwest, causing damage from Wisconsin to Texas. Though currently on a six-day Europe trip, President Obama plans to visit Missouri on Sunday. He may have more Midwest cities to visit, however, as more tornados are expected to hit today.  (Photo: AP Photo/The Star Tribune, David Brewster)

The President Calls - President Obama called Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to personally extend his condolences and to tell all of the families of Joplin affected by the severe tornadoes that they are in his thoughts and prayers. (Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

2 / 22

The President Calls - President Obama called Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to personally extend his condolences and to tell all of the families of Joplin affected by the severe tornadoes that they are in his thoughts and prayers. (Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Photo By Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

The Search Continues  - Canine search dogs with the Missouri Task Force continue to hunt through the wreckage hoping to find bodies, dead or alive. Though the death toll in Joplin has reached 117 bodies, 17 survivors were rescued.(Photo: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

3 / 22

The Search Continues - Canine search dogs with the Missouri Task Force continue to hunt through the wreckage hoping to find bodies, dead or alive. Though the death toll in Joplin has reached 117 bodies, 17 survivors were rescued.(Photo: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Homes Destroyed - A destroyed apartment complex in Joplin.(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

4 / 22

Homes Destroyed - A destroyed apartment complex in Joplin.(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Lives Changed Forever - In the blue-collar, southwest Missouri city, Joplin, that housed 50,000 residents, officials say thousands of buildings were destroyed and damaged, including the St. John's Regional Medical Center where five patients died and one hospital visitor.(Photo: AP Photo/Mike Gullett)

5 / 22

Lives Changed Forever - In the blue-collar, southwest Missouri city, Joplin, that housed 50,000 residents, officials say thousands of buildings were destroyed and damaged, including the St. John's Regional Medical Center where five patients died and one hospital visitor.(Photo: AP Photo/Mike Gullett)

ADVERTISEMENT
A Neighborhood Wiped Out - This aerial photograph shows a neighborhood destroyed by a powerful tornado in Joplin. (Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

6 / 22

A Neighborhood Wiped Out - This aerial photograph shows a neighborhood destroyed by a powerful tornado in Joplin. (Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

More Storms to Come - The tornado has been named the deadliest, single tornado in six decades. Tornados and severe weather are expected to hit Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri today.(Photo: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

7 / 22

More Storms to Come - The tornado has been named the deadliest, single tornado in six decades. Tornados and severe weather are expected to hit Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri today.(Photo: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Community Meal - Family and friends share food at a community barbecue for residents of tornado-ravaged north Minneapolis was held Monday evening in the parking lot of the Cub Foods store. The event will be held again Tuesday night in the same location. (Photo: AP Photo/Star Tribune, Jeff Wheeler) 

8 / 22

Community Meal - Family and friends share food at a community barbecue for residents of tornado-ravaged north Minneapolis was held Monday evening in the parking lot of the Cub Foods store. The event will be held again Tuesday night in the same location. (Photo: AP Photo/Star Tribune, Jeff Wheeler) 

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Star Tribune

A Reassuring Hug - Dianne Peaches hugs Beatrice Montgomery at a community barbecue in north Minneapolis on Monday. (Photo: AP Photo/Star Tribune, Jeff Wheeler)

9 / 22

A Reassuring Hug - Dianne Peaches hugs Beatrice Montgomery at a community barbecue in north Minneapolis on Monday. (Photo: AP Photo/Star Tribune, Jeff Wheeler)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Star Tribune

/content/dam/betcom/images/2011/04/National/052411_national_tornado_4.jpg

10 / 22

Whirling Winds - The coming-severe-weather extending from south-central Oklahoma to south-central Kansas could include wind gusts of 55 to 75 mph and baseball-sized hail.(Photo: AP Photo/tornadovideo.net)

Photo By AP Photo/tornadovideo.net

ADVERTISEMENT
Businesses Will Have to Start from Scratch - In Joplin, the Pepsi Cola Bottling Plant was among hundreds of businesses destroyed.(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

11 / 22

Businesses Will Have to Start from Scratch - In Joplin, the Pepsi Cola Bottling Plant was among hundreds of businesses destroyed.(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Map of Destruction - Several cities in Missouri were affected by the tornado, with Joplin, Missouri reporting the most damage.(Photo: Associated Press)  

12 / 22

Map of Destruction - Several cities in Missouri were affected by the tornado, with Joplin, Missouri reporting the most damage.(Photo: Associated Press)  

Nature Hits Homes Hard, Literally - A fallen tree damaged the home of Tony Sanchez’s cousin in Minneapolis on Sunday. (Photo: AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

13 / 22

Nature Hits Homes Hard, Literally - A fallen tree damaged the home of Tony Sanchez’s cousin in Minneapolis on Sunday. (Photo: AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Neighborhoods Severely Damaged - Experts are estimating that the damages in the South alone will cost up to $5 billion dollars. The damages from the weekend’s Midwest storm will now have to be added to calculate a new tornado-damage total.(Photo: (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

14 / 22

Neighborhoods Severely Damaged - Experts are estimating that the damages in the South alone will cost up to $5 billion dollars. The damages from the weekend’s Midwest storm will now have to be added to calculate a new tornado-damage total.(Photo: (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Twister Cuts Trees in Half - Jay Chaney stands in the aftermath of the storm in which a tree was cut in half, right next to his home. At least two people were killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota when a tornado hit on Sunday. Over 100 homes were damaged and over 29 people injured.(Photo: AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

15 / 22

Twister Cuts Trees in Half - Jay Chaney stands in the aftermath of the storm in which a tree was cut in half, right next to his home. At least two people were killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota when a tornado hit on Sunday. Over 100 homes were damaged and over 29 people injured.(Photo: AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

ADVERTISEMENT
Minutes to Evacuate  - The tornado followed a nearly five-mile path from St. Louis Park in north Minneapolis to the suburb of Fridley, Minnesota.In nearby Joplin, Missouri residents had just a 20-minute warning to evacuate before the twister touched down.(Photo: AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Jerry Holt)

16 / 22

Minutes to Evacuate - The tornado followed a nearly five-mile path from St. Louis Park in north Minneapolis to the suburb of Fridley, Minnesota.In nearby Joplin, Missouri residents had just a 20-minute warning to evacuate before the twister touched down.(Photo: AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Jerry Holt)

Thousands of Buildings Destroyed - Emergency managers are estimating that 2,000 buildings were damaged. Trees and power lines now clutter the streets in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo: AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

17 / 22

Thousands of Buildings Destroyed - Emergency managers are estimating that 2,000 buildings were damaged. Trees and power lines now clutter the streets in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo: AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Take Shelter! - Dwayne Riley fled to the basement when the storm hit his home in Minneapolis on Sunday.(Photo: AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Richard Tsong-Taatarii)

18 / 22

Take Shelter! - Dwayne Riley fled to the basement when the storm hit his home in Minneapolis on Sunday.(Photo: AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Richard Tsong-Taatarii)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/The Star Tribune

Personal Items Everywhere in the Streets - Police enforced a mandatory curfew in the north side of Minneapolis that began at 9 p.m., Sunday and ended at 10a.m., Monday. Rachel Hurst now has to pick through to find her belongings thrown and scattered across her street.(Photo: AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Marlin Levison)

19 / 22

Personal Items Everywhere in the Streets - Police enforced a mandatory curfew in the north side of Minneapolis that began at 9 p.m., Sunday and ended at 10a.m., Monday. Rachel Hurst now has to pick through to find her belongings thrown and scattered across her street.(Photo: AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Marlin Levison)

One of the Deadliest in History - The tornado in Joplin, Missouri was named the deadliest single U.S. twister since 1953. Named a F3 category storm, winds were estimated to have reached 198 miles per hour.(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) 

20 / 22

One of the Deadliest in History - The tornado in Joplin, Missouri was named the deadliest single U.S. twister since 1953. Named a F3 category storm, winds were estimated to have reached 198 miles per hour.(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) 

ADVERTISEMENT
Purple Skies  - Those needing shelter in Joplin, Missouri can go to: Junge Stadium on 13th Street; Forest Park Baptist Church, 7th & Rangeline; Lowe’s 24th & Rangeline; or Vintage Stock, 32nd & Main.(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

21 / 22

Purple Skies - Those needing shelter in Joplin, Missouri can go to: Junge Stadium on 13th Street; Forest Park Baptist Church, 7th & Rangeline; Lowe’s 24th & Rangeline; or Vintage Stock, 32nd & Main.(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Lend a Hand - For those who want to help but cannot volunteer, the Red Cross encourages financial donationa through American Red Cross Disaster Relief.  If you are in the affected areas, you can also register as "Safe and Well" to let your friends and family know you are OK.(Photo: AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Jaime Green)

22 / 22

Lend a Hand - For those who want to help but cannot volunteer, the Red Cross encourages financial donationa through American Red Cross Disaster Relief.  If you are in the affected areas, you can also register as "Safe and Well" to let your friends and family know you are OK.(Photo: AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Jaime Green)