The scope of the Joplin tornado's destruction is mind-boggling. It's still unclear exactly how many people lost their lives in the disaster. Time magazine reports this morning that while the official death toll stands at 117, that number is expected to climb. Joplin city manager Mark Rohr told Time roughly 750 people were injured in the twister, and some 1500 residents are still missing.
The economic cost of the tornado could end up between $1 and $3 billion dollars, according to the Wall Street Journal. But there is a little bit of good news to come out of the tragedy. United States military veterans who live in tornado-ravaged areas like Joplin, Missiouri or Tuscaloosa, Alabama may be able to obtain special disaster relief from the federal government. To qualify, these tornado survivors must have VA-Guaranteed home loans, according to the Department of Defense.
Here's more from the Pentagon Channel:
