Federation members volunteer in Joplin

B.A.S.S. Federation tournament staff headed to Joplin, Missouri to lend a helping hand.

<p>
	B.A.S.S. Federation Nation tournament staff caravanned in Toyota tournament trucks to the worksite. </p>
B.A.S.S. Federation Nation tournament staff caravanned in Toyota tournament trucks to the worksite. 
<p>
	The widespread devastation was heart-breaking.</p>
The widespread devastation was heart-breaking.
<p>
	The Academy Sports + Outdoors store is unrecognizable.</p>
The Academy Sports + Outdoors store is unrecognizable.
<p>
	A staging area for volunteer clean-up crews.</p>
A staging area for volunteer clean-up crews.
<p>
	Steel beams were twisted as if they were coat hangers.</p>
Steel beams were twisted as if they were coat hangers.
<p>
	Debris piled up in numerous places along the tornado’s path.</p>
Debris piled up in numerous places along the tornado’s path.
<p>
	Raising the American flag was the first order of business.</p>
Raising the American flag was the first order of business.
<p>
	Joplin High School took a beating.</p>
Joplin High School took a beating.
<p>
	Volunteers work to make a house habitable.</p>
Volunteers work to make a house habitable.
<p>
	Street numbers are spray-painted on available surfaces.</p>
Street numbers are spray-painted on available surfaces.
<p>
	Trees, autos and belongings were a jumbled mess.</p>
Trees, autos and belongings were a jumbled mess.
<p>
	This looks like ground zero for a massive bomb.</p>
This looks like ground zero for a massive bomb.
<p>
	Pieces of steel and what appears to be playground equipment were wrapped around tree trunks. </p>
Pieces of steel and what appears to be playground equipment were wrapped around tree trunks. 
<p>
	Lumber became projectiles during the storm . . .</p>
Lumber became projectiles during the storm . . .
<p>
	. . . randomly piercing roofs and other parts of houses.</p>
. . . randomly piercing roofs and other parts of houses.
<p>
	Brett Stewart shows how deep this 2 by 6 was driven into the ground.</p>
Brett Stewart shows how deep this 2 by 6 was driven into the ground.
<p>
	Hiding in a closet or bathroom would not have provided much protection when the tornado struck this home.</p>
Hiding in a closet or bathroom would not have provided much protection when the tornado struck this home.
<p>
	Autos as well as homes were destroyed by the wind.</p>
Autos as well as homes were destroyed by the wind.
<p>
	Imagine the amount of force it took . . . </p>
Imagine the amount of force it took . . . 
<p>
	 . . .  to wrap this truck wrapped around a tree.</p>
 . . .  to wrap this truck wrapped around a tree.
<p>
	You have to get up close to identify this as a Chevy Colorado pickup.</p>
You have to get up close to identify this as a Chevy Colorado pickup.
<p>
	Major buildings remained standing in the path of the storm – but not without sustaining tremendous damage.</p>
Major buildings remained standing in the path of the storm – but not without sustaining tremendous damage.
<p>
	You have to see the devastation up close to truly understand the severity of the Joplin tornado.</p>
You have to see the devastation up close to truly understand the severity of the Joplin tornado.
<p>
	Thanks to the American Red Cross and other organizations and volunteers . . .</p>
Thanks to the American Red Cross and other organizations and volunteers . . .
<p>
	. . . Joplin will eventually rise again from the piles of debris.</p>
. . . Joplin will eventually rise again from the piles of debris.
<p>
	Assisting in the cleanup effort were (Front row, from left) Volunteer coordinator Brandon Chamberlain and B.A.S.S. Federation Nation tournament staffers Eric Nichols and (back row) Brett Stewart, Mike Wall, Jon Stewart and Pee Wee Powers.</p>
Assisting in the cleanup effort were (Front row, from left) Volunteer coordinator Brandon Chamberlain and B.A.S.S. Federation Nation tournament staffers Eric Nichols and (back row) Brett Stewart, Mike Wall, Jon Stewart and Pee Wee Powers.