A Missouri healthcare system says it has toughened safety requirements for construction at its hospitals since six people died at its facility in Joplin, according to an article on the U.S. News website.
The EF-5 tornado destroyed Joplin's St. John's Hospital in May 2011, blowing out all the windows and hindering evacuation by knocking out lights and drywall. The tornado killed 161 people.
Mercyhealth has prioritized securing its new hospitals with storm-resistant materials and backup generators.
Mercyhealth recently equipped the new wing at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Festus with safety glass windows that can withstand winds over 100 miles (160 kilometers) an hour. It has installed reinforced stairwells, battery-powered lights and windowless areas where patients can gather before a tornado hits, the article said.
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