What were the effects of the Joplin tornado of 2011?

The EF5 tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011 killed 158 people, injured over 1,100, and destroyed approximately 7,000 homes, or about 30% of Joplin. Damage totaled $2.8 billion, more than 20 times the city's annual budget. Large amounts of federal and state aid are being delivered, as well as massive payouts from insurance companies. People are already rebuilding, but hundreds if not thousands will likely move away for good.

The Joplin tornado was one of 14 U.S. natural disasters in 2011 (all of them weather related) to cost more than $1 billion dollars, making for an especially destructive year for weather.