Crossroads associate editor Kisa Clark (left), ABC’s Diane Sawyer and University of Missouri student Nicole Niziolek take time for a photo after a live broadcast of ABC’s “World News” near St. John’s Regional Medical Center on May 24. — Courtesy photo
A story too close Covering a catastrophic event can be difficult when it’s in your backyard, even when with a national news team.
M
ay 22 started out as a beautiful Sunday that included a fun birthday celebration for a 1-year-old and a friend’s wedding. The thought of bad weather didn’t cross my mind until I learned that my friend was going to push her outdoor wedding from 7 that evening to 3:30 in the afternoon. Fortunately, the bride and groom left at 5:15 p.m. and the rest of the attendees headed out at 5:30, 11 minutes before an EF-5 tornado hit. As I left, dark clouds started to roll in 31 crossroads / fall 2011
from the west. My plan was to head to Missouri Southern to see a friend who was still living in the residence halls. For some reason, I decided to call my mom at our home in Neosho, knowing she would have the news on. It was probably one of the most important calls I’ve ever made. She said the storm was heading toward Joplin and I should go straight home. Although I knew she was probably right, it seriously crossed my mind to ignore her and see my friend instead, which would have turned
me left down Range Line Road minutes before the tornado hit. The 25-minute drive home to Neosho, Missouri, seemed to last much longer as I anxiously waited for more news on the radio, getting goose bumps listening to the announcers speak of a tornado touching down in Joplin. As I pulled into the drive, my dad and brother were waiting outside. They gave me a big hug, and my dad admitted that, although he was telling my mom other-
