these things around? it s a scary thought. everyone s watching that map closely, but people here are paying very close attention right now to that storm system and we re seeing now, as you ve been reporting here, piers, what it s already done in oklahoma and you just can t believe that they re going through this two days later, another tornado scare. it s terrifying, t.j. and i think you should go and find somewhere safe too, because, clearly, it s going to be a very long night for the people in joplin. i thank you for joining me, but get somewhere safe. reporter: you got it, piers. coming up, joplin high school s graduating class and their close call with a twister. also ahead, why this tornado season is already the deadliest in more than 50 years.
this thing was absolutely full about ten minutes ago. when we got here it was all emptied out. people are starting to take shelter. some went in the back and you can see some people are trying to make decisions as to where they should go. a lot of people have applications and are getting messages as to where the storm is, but there is heavy lectrystorms. not much in the way of rain right now but the storm is headed in this direction. after what has happened here on sunday night, i guess some people just don t want to take chances. everybody is looking for shelter right now. moments after that the city became deserted as people went for shelter a quarter mile from where i was, casey wian was at the hotel he was based at. casey is with us this morning. the last thing these already traumaizized residents of joplin needed was another tornado scare and that scare became very real late last night. absolutely, ali. folks were on edge all day long because we knew the tornadoes were approaching
been reporting here, piers, what it s already done in oklahoma and you just can t believe that they re going through this two days later, another tornado scare. it s terrifying, t.j. and i think you should go and find somewhere safe too, because, clearly, it s going to be a very long night for the people in joplin. i thank you for joining me, but get somewhere safe. reporter: you got it, piers. coming up, joplin high school s graduating class and their close call with a twister. also ahead, why this tornado season is already the deadliest in more than 50 years.
right now to that storm system and we re seeing now, as you ve been reporting here, piers, what it s already done in oklahoma and you just can t believe that they re going through this two days later, another tornado scare. it s terrifying, t.j. and i think you should go and find somewhere safe too, because, clearly, it s going to be a very long night for the people in joplin. i thank you for joining me, but get somewhere safe. reporter: you got it, piers. coming up, joplin high school s graduating class and their close call with a twister. also ahead, why this tornado season is already the deadliest in more than 50 years. if you ask a parent, they might call it intuitive.
thanks so much for being with us on this wednesday. good to see everybody this morning. you know the pictures are coming in, new pictures, and the devastation, continues for the midwest. that s right. ali velshi in joplin, missouri, where they had a harrowing night. hi, ali. good morning, christine, kiran, it is a better morning here. people counting their blessings. a near miss last night in joplin, missouri. everyone taking shelter and bracing for another twister that thanchgfully never came. this city, as you know, is reeling. 48 hours after the deadliest tornado in recorded u.s. history the death toll stands at 124 people killed. the national weather service upgraded sunday s tornado to an ef-5, the highest possible rating with winds above 200 miles an hour. now in oklahoma, devastating storms carved up canadian county, which is west of oklahoma city. five separate tornadoes touched down and five people are dead. dozens more are hurt. the dallas area got pounded too.