The Joplin tornado, and 9 other deadly U.S. storms: A visual history

The residents of Joplin, Mo. endured a devastating tornado this week, and, as these pictures show, they're not the only survivors of Mother Nature's wrath

Violent storms have wreaked havoc on the U.S. for centuries. And while improved forecasting and communication technologies have reduced the deaths caused by such extreme weather, those advances may seen insignificant to the people of Joplin, Mo., who are grappling with the aftermath of the nation's deadliest tornado since 1953. City officials say they are still in "search-and-rescue mode" after Monday's storm killed at least 122 people, injured 750, and wiped out thousands of buildings. Missouri photographer Aaron Fuhrman captured the devastation with a shocking before-and-after image (see above), juxtaposing Google Maps street view with one of his own shots. Here, a look back at some of the deadliest storms in American history.