UPDATE MAY 28, 2011: On Sunday, May 22, 2011, the City of Joplin, Missouri was struck by a Tornado of great magnitude which destroyed a large area in the southern part of the city and severely damaged St. John's Hospital.  This tornado is estimated to be a category F4 or F5 by the path of destruction and the latest reports have identified 139 fatalities, over 750 injuries and 156 still unaccounted for as of Saturday, May 28, 2011.

The Kansas City Missouri Fire Department received a Region A Mutual Aid request and deployed all three (3) Rescue Crews with additional equipment and resources from the Rescue Division.  They also sent Command Staff, Equipment and Personnel from the KCFD Medical Bureau on Sunday evening at 21:30 hours.  Fire Suppression Personnel were staged at Bannister Rd. & Hillcrest Rd. prior to being deployed see the photo below (courtesy of Jeff Roberts, KMBC Photographer) prior to leaving the city. 

KCFD Crews were in Joplin until Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at which time they were relieved by other departments from across the state who were assisting authorities in Joplin with continued Search and Rescue efforts.