US / Joplin tornado Joplin Records 156th Tornado Death Grace Sanders passed away after being injured in storm By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Jun 23, 2011 9:32 AM CDT Copied In this photo taken June 14, 2011, a heavily-damaged Irving Elementary School is seen beyond a trashed playground in Joplin, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) The death toll from the May 22 tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., has risen to 156. The city's public information office says it was notified yesterday of the death of Grace Sanders, who was injured in the tornado. No other information about the victim or the death was released. It ranks as the deadliest single US twister in more than six decades. (Click to read more about Joplin's continuing recovery process.) Report an error