Colorful, painted branches of the "Spirit Tee" tree in Joplin, Missouri, one year after the tree was stripped bare by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. Joplin, Missouri, May 20, 2012, 5:34 p.m., Canon 5D, EF 70-200 mm f2.8L IS USM, f/6.3, 1/1000 sec., ISO 250. Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA.
Steel cross of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Joplin, Missouri, one year after the church was destroyed by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. Joplin, Missouri, May 20, 2012, 8:02 p.m., Canon 5D, EF 70-200 mm f2.8L IS USM, f/10.0, 1/800 sec., ISO 1000. Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA.
Devastated home near S. Grand Ave. and E. 22nd St. in Joplin, Missouri, one year after Joplin was struck by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. Joplin, Missouri, May 23, 2012, 5:01 p.m., Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 mm f4.0L IS USM, f/11.0, 1/800 sec., ISO 400. Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA.
Devastated home near S. Grand Ave. and E. 22nd St. in Joplin, Missouri, one year after Joplin was struck by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. Joplin, Missouri, May 23, 2012, 4:58 p.m., Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 mm f4.0L IS USM, f/10.0, 1/640 sec., ISO 400. Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA.
Devastated building near S. Jackson Ave. and W. 26th St. in Joplin, Missouri, one year after Joplin was struck by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. Joplin, Missouri, May 21, 2012, 8:01 p.m., Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 mm f4.0L IS USM, f/8.0, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA.
New home construction near W. 26th St. and St. Wall Ave. in Joplin, Missouri, one year after Joplin was struck by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. Joplin, Missouri, May 21, 2012, 7:52 p.m., Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 mm f4.0L IS USM, f/11.0, 1/250 sec., ISO 400. Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA.
Hand carved ”bird of hope" near the temporarily renamed "Hope High School" in Joplin, Missouri, one year after Joplin was struck by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. Joplin, Missouri, May 20, 2012, 5:40 p.m., Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 mm f4.0L IS USM, f/13.0, 1/500 sec., ISO 800. Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA.
American flag waves in the breeze near new home construction in Joplin, Missouri, one year after Joplin struck by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. Joplin, Missouri, May 21, 2012, 7:50 p.m., Canon 5D Mark II, EF 24-105 mm f4.0L IS USM, f/9.0, 1/400 sec., ISO 400. Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA.
City water tower in Joplin, Missouri, one year after Joplin was struck by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. Joplin, Missouri, May 22, 2012, 7:32 p.m., Canon 5D Mark II, EF 28-300 mm f3.5-5.6L IS USM, f/10.0, 1/800 sec., ISO 400. Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA.