JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) -- Rescue crews worked through the rain-soaked chill of night, ignoring lightning and strong winds to dig through splintered homes, crumpled businesses and crushed cars in this Missouri city walloped by the deadliest single tornado in nearly six decades. Even more ominous: More storms, possibly strong ones, were on the horizon.
The death toll in Joplin reached 116 on Monday and was expected to climb. But there were glimmers of hope: Rescuers pulled 17 survivors from the rubble, and Gov. Jay Nixon vowed that crews would keep searching until everyone is accounted for.(43 images)
The death toll in Joplin reached 116 on Monday and was expected to climb. But there were glimmers of hope: Rescuers pulled 17 survivors from the rubble, and Gov. Jay Nixon vowed that crews would keep searching until everyone is accounted for.(43 images)
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A torn American flag stands in the wreckage of a church in Joplin, Mo., Tuesday, May 24, 2011. Rescue crews worked through the rain-soaked chill of night, ignoring lightning and strong winds to dig through splintered homes, crumpled businesses and crushed cars in Joplin. Robert Ray / AP
This frame grab from video shows lightning inside a massive tornado on Sunday, May 22, 2011, outside Joplin, Mo. tornadovideos.net / AP
Residents of Joplin, Mo, walk west on 26th Street near Maiden Lane after a tornado hit the southwest Missouri city on Sunday evening, May 22, 2011. Mike Gullett / AP
An emergency worker carries a girl to safety from the remains of Academy Sports in Joplin, Mo. after a tornado struck the city on Sunday evening, May 22, 2011. Roger Nomer / The Joplin Globe
Two rescuers try to pull free a woman from a destroyed building in Joplin, Mo. after a tornado struck the city on Sunday evening, May 22, 2011. Roger Nomer / The Joplin Globe
Residents of Joplin, Mo, help a woman who survived in her basement after a tornado hit the city on Sunday, May 22, 2011. Mike Gullett / AP
A man carries a young girl who was rescued after being trapped with her mother in their home after a tornado hit Joplin, Mo. on Sunday evening, May 22, 2011. Mike Gullett / AP
A destroyed helicopter lies on its side in the parking lot of the Joplin Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., Sunday, May 22, 2011. Mark Schiefelbein / AP
Emergency personnel walk through a neighborhood severely damaged by a tornado near the Joplin Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., Sunday, May 22, 2011. Mark Schiefelbein / AP
A commercial neighborhood in Joplin, Mo., is seen Monday, May 23, 2011, after it was leveled by a tornado that caused heavy damage on Sunday afternoon. The twister cut a six-mile path through the city. Adam Wisneski / Tulsa World
Emergency workers wait for a medical team after finding a body in a tornado ravaged car in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Charlie Riedel / AP
An emergency vehicle drives through a severely damaged neighborhood in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Charlie Riedel / AP
On this Sunday, May 22, 2011 photo, two young Joplin, Mo., residents carry their dog and head to a rescue center after their home was destroyed by a tornado that hit the southwest Missouri city on Sunday evening. The tornado tore a path a mile wide and four miles long destroying homes and businesses. Mike Gullett / AP
Traffic passes tornado damage in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Valerie Mosley / The Springfield News-Leader
Co-workers Cindy Albers, left, and Kim Hoosier hug on 20th Street near New Hampshire Ave in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Valerie Mosley / The Springfield News-Leader
Meghan Miller stands in the middle of a destroyed neighborhood as she checks on her sister-in-law's home Monday, May 23, 2011, in Joplin , Mo. Jeff Roberson / AP
A broken bike and what remains of a destroyed neighborhood are seen Monday, May 23, 2011, in Joplin, Mo. Jeff Roberson / AP
A car sits among rubble from a tornado Monday, May 23, 2011, in Joplin , Mo. Jeff Roberson / AP
Damaged cars remain in the parking lot of a destroyed grocery store on Monday, May 23, 2011, the day after a tornado swept through Joplin, Mo. Mark Schiefelbein / AP
James Miller tosses aside a door as he searches through what remains of his sister's house Monday, May 23, 2011, in Joplin , Mo. Jeff Roberson / AP
Carolyn Hall tries to gather clothes from her home in Joplin, MO., Monday, May 23, 2011. Valerie Mosley / The Springfield News-Leader
Deputy Eddy Mathews of the Mayes County, Okla., Sheriff's Department hands off a dog to volunteer Mike Hughey of Ozark, Mo., after rescuers found a pair of dogs in the rubble of a destroyed home near the St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Mark Schiefelbein / AP
Maggie Kelley and her husband, Trey Adams hug their dog, Saint, after finding him amid the rubble of her home in Joplin, Mo. Monday, May 23, 2011. Adam Wisneski / Tulsa World
Ashley Stephens holds a ferret she rescued from the home of a missing woman while helping a friend collect belongings Monday, May 23, 2011, in Joplin, Mo. Charlie Riedel / AP
Cars are strewn about in the parking lot at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Charlie Riedel / AP
A woman looks at the damage to St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011, a day after it was hit by a tornado. Jaime Green / The Wichita Eagle
Rescue workers in lime-green jackets search for bodies and survivors inside St. John's hospital in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Wisneski Tulsa World / Tulsa World
Tornado damage is seen Monday, May 23, 2011, in Joplin, Mo. Jeff Roberson / AP
A man carries a box out of a house damaged by a tornado Monday, May 23, 2011, in Joplin , Mo. Jeff Roberson / AP
Tornado damage in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Valerie Mosley / The Springfield News-Leader
Firefighters from Oklahoma move a dresser while searching for victims in the wreckage of a public housing complex in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Mark Schiefelbein / AP
Kathleen Kelsey, a canine rescue specialist with the Missouri Task Force One search-and-rescue team, guides a live-find dog named ChicoDog through the wreckage of a public housing complex in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Mark Schiefelbein / AP
Emergency responders survey a mangled neighborhood in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Charlie Riedel / AP
Mary Womack, in white top at the right, reacts to the news that the renter that lived in her house had been found and taken to the hospital on Monday, May 23, 2011. Mike Gullett / AP
Residents of Joplin, Mo, survey the damage of their homes and city on Monday, May 23, 2011. Mike Gullett / AP
Josh Ramsey looks through the rubble of what is left of his mother-in-law's home following a tornado Monday, May 23, 2011, in Joplin , Mo. Jeff Roberson / AP
A firefighter searches a home Monday, May 23, 2011, that was destroyed by a tornado in Joplin, Mo. Charlie Riedel / AP
Laura Vanzant looks for her dog Monday, May 23, 2011 in her home that was destroyed by a tornado in Joplin, Mo. Charlie Riedel / AP
Alexia Neal carries a pot and a bottle of syrup out of the rubble that used to be her home in Joplin, Mo. Monday, May 23, 2011. Jaime Green / The Wichita Eagle
People climb over wreckage in a neighborhood near St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo. Monday, May 23, 2011, a day after it was hit by a tornado. Jaime Green / The Wichita Eagle
Home owners, family and friends sort through the rubble of a residential neighborhood in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23 2011 after it was leveled by a tornado that destroyed nearly 30 percent of the town on Sunday afternoon. Adam Wisneski / Tulsa World
Jean Logan reacts as she sees the damage to her home in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011 after it was damaged by a tornado that destroyed nearly 30 percent of the town on Sunday afternoon. Adam Wisneski / Tulsa World
A shelf cloud containing a thunderstorm approaches a tornado-ravaged neighborhood in Joplin, Mo., Monday, May 23, 2011. Charlie Riedel / AP
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