On May 22, 2011, a tornado ripped through the town of Joplin, Missouri. The Category 5 tornado killed 161 people, displaced 9,000 residents, and destroyed more than 4,000 structures while damaging another 3,000.

The town united to begin the recovery planning. At the public meeting, more than 300 citizens representing a cross-section of the community began to list the recovery actions. Basic priorities, like removing debris and laying down new pavement, combined with a vision of what Joplin could become as it rebuilt.

Joplin residents formed the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team to create a plan that represented the enthusiasm, ideas, and vision of a new Joplin. Team leaders elicited everyone’s input and persuaded more people to get involved. The goal was to ensure no one felt left out.