2011 Joplin tornado
The 2011 Joplin tornado was a catastrophic EF5-rated multiple-vortex tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, late in the afternoon of Sunday, May 22, 2011. It was part of a larger late-May tornado outbreak and reached a maximum width of nearly during its path through the southern part of the city. This particular tornado was unusual in that it intensified in strength and grew larger in size at a very fast rate. The tornado tracked eastward across the city, and then continued eastward across Interstate 44 into rural portions of Jasper County and Newton County. It was the third tornado to strike Joplin since May 1971.
The Ben Miller Band
In 2010 The Ben Miller Band released a pair of albums. "1 Ton" was released on June 10, 2010, with "2 Ton" released shortly after on August 5, 2010. The albums are each entirely unique; a testament to the band's versatility, despite having similar titles and close release dates. On May 22, 2011 their hometown of Joplin, Missouri was destroyed by a tornado. In response to the tragedy, the band established a charity to help restore the community. They also released a benefit album titled "Record for Joplin". The release of this charity album was followed shortly after by another release titled "Heavy Load" in 2012.