JOPLIN, Mo.-- The death toll in Sunday's tornado rose to 122 today, and two more survivors were pulled from the rubble, bringing the total to nine.
In earlier reports, Gov. Jay Nixon had said 17 people had been rescued. Those reports were incorrect.
At a news conference this afternoon, Joplin officials also updated the number of injured, saying 750 people had been treated at hospitals.
Search and rescue crews today took advantage of the first sunny day since the tornado hit, combing through debris and crumbled buildings and residences.
Eleven of those killed Sunday died in the Greenbriar nursing home. Bill Mitchell, a senior vice president of Health Facilities Management Corp. in Sikeston, which operates Greenbriar, said that 10 patients and a staff member were killed by the tornado.
Joplin authorities wouldn't estimate how many residents are still missing. Because of poor cell phone service, some family members haven't been able to contact their loved ones who survived the storm. Also, some residents just left the area and haven't come back.
In the past two days there have been reports of cries for help coming from piles of rubble. But Rohr said those were not confirmed once those areas were searched.
FEMA officials have started making contact with storm victims and the agency's deputy director said FEMA is here for the long haul.
"We are not looking at dollars we are looking at search and rescue," said Rich Serino, FEMA's deputy director.
In earlier reports, Gov. Jay Nixon had said 17 people had been rescued. Those reports were incorrect.
At a news conference this afternoon, Joplin officials also updated the number of injured, saying 750 people had been treated at hospitals.
Search and rescue crews today took advantage of the first sunny day since the tornado hit, combing through debris and crumbled buildings and residences.
Eleven of those killed Sunday died in the Greenbriar nursing home. Bill Mitchell, a senior vice president of Health Facilities Management Corp. in Sikeston, which operates Greenbriar, said that 10 patients and a staff member were killed by the tornado.
Joplin authorities wouldn't estimate how many residents are still missing. Because of poor cell phone service, some family members haven't been able to contact their loved ones who survived the storm. Also, some residents just left the area and haven't come back.
In the past two days there have been reports of cries for help coming from piles of rubble. But Rohr said those were not confirmed once those areas were searched.
FEMA officials have started making contact with storm victims and the agency's deputy director said FEMA is here for the long haul.
"We are not looking at dollars we are looking at search and rescue," said Rich Serino, FEMA's deputy director.
