Tornado recovery: Flying J truck stop I-44 at Joplin, Missouri

Rob's truck under the trailer - Credit Rob Bolduc

You’ve probably seen the pictures from the horrific tornado that tore through Joplin, Mo., hitting the Pilot Flying J off I-44 at U.S. 71. Despite all the property damage, there were no reports of very serious injuries among the drivers parked there or the Flying J staff.

I did happen to interview a survivor of that tornado, driver Rob Bolduc in Indianapolis, while getting my truck repaired at Freightliner. Tornado warning sirens sounded in the background and rain clouds gathered, still in the throws of the tornado season. Rob was in his Western Star semi-truck at the Flying J Truck-stop when the tornado struck. (It is the black one in the picture) As we look at the dark clouds overhead in Indiana, he joked that we could take refuge in his truck because it had already survived 200 mph winds in Joplin.

Flying J repairs

When I asked him about his experience he reported, “The refer trailer right next to me was lifted up, spun around, over turned and dropped on top of me…. right on the smoke stacks on the top of my truck.” Then we toured the damage together, it was thrilling to talk to him and so glad that I was not the one who lived through it.

Flying J fuel pumps damaged but open

Recently, I drove through Joplin and went to check out how the clean up was going there at the Flying J. The restaurant and store were closed and being repaired but the pumps were open and drivers were fueling their trucks. At the welcome center at the Missouri border they were signing up volunteers to help but there did not seem to be many on that list.

I have also driven through tornado aftermath in Alabama recently with miles of debris still to clean up. I imagine that the process will be long and hard for the many towns that were hit by tornados this year. After the news blitz is over, everyone gets back to their busy lives and the troubles of the day and forget about the communities that need help. It is the same story after the gulf oil spill and in New Orleans after Katrina, a long recovery that isn’t over yet.

There is a report that the Army Corps of Engineers has moved more than a million cubic yards of debris out of Joplin. Volunteers will be needed in Joplin for a long time. News reports are that it will take years, one news report estimated only two years to rebuild. I guess that is one idea for a summer vacation…volunteer work.

26th street in Joplin after the tornado

On the bright side, recovery efforts will pump millions of dollars into the local economies, reports USA Today. “There are going to be people working to clean up. There’ll be people working in new construction,” says Rob O’Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. “There are jobs created.” In fact, says O’Brian, 90% of the city was untouched.

Truck drivers get to see first hand changes across the country including tornados, hurricanes and oil spills as we deliver what American needs. Some have the opportunity to help the depressed areas and places that need drivers. OTR drivers feel like a citizen of the earth and connected to the whole country as they live their life on the road. I am sure we all are grateful when we are spared in a disaster, help when we can, and pray for those who have been affected by tragedy.

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