Brian Williams In Joplin (VIDEO)

Many top news anchors raced to Joplin, Missouri in the wake of the devastating tornado that ripped through the town and caused hundreds of deaths. Brian Williams was one of these, but he had a more personal relationship to the story. Joplin's KOAM was where Williams began his television career.

On Monday night, Williams appeared on the Weather Channel. Speaking to Jim Cantore, Williams talked about what it was like to return to Joplin after so many years during a time of such pain.

"The first thing I did today was go back and check on my old apartment," he said. "...I can't believe this is the city where I lived. I can't believe this is my old home. And no community should have to endure this. This is insult to injury. This is relentless rain."

He said that the tornado in Alabama had been his "new benchmark" for ferocity, but added that "this breaks that to me."

"This didn't used to happen," he said. "This never happened when I lived here...cars looking like they're from Baghdad, covered in shrapnel, hospitals looking like the ones I've seen in Baghdad and Afghanistan--this is out of hand."

Williams said that the damage to the local hospital--where he used to go to events and dinners when he lived in Joplin--was what was sticking in his mind the most.

WATCH:

Comments

[big tom]

07:13 PM on 05/26/2011

how is this year working out for the climate change deniers?

[smurrayesq]

08:47 PM on 05/26/2011

They will still deny. Claim it has something to do with God.

[RobJames]

04:45 AM on 05/27/2011

Yes, Jesus is punishing us for electing a muslim.

[Ohioliberal]

10:47 AM on 05/26/2011

What's up with the lack of basements in Tornado Alley? Not even a spiderhole to duck in?

[Justin Hamby]

09:46 PM on 05/27/2011

The reason there few if any basements in the Ozarks is because the bedrock level is too close to the surface. If you want a home with a lower level, you have to build on a slope with no seepage.

-Justin, local real estate broker in Northwest Arkansas.

[MichaelAKD]

04:44 PM on 05/25/2011

and by this time next week i'd be willing to bet not a single national news outlet will be focusing on this tragedy as they will have moved on to another and those hurt most will be left alone to deal and cope. i appreciate how this affected mr. williams on a personal level and imho he did absolutely nothing wrong he simply experience a news story at a personal level. empathy comes from within and sadly not everyone is capable of being empathetic towards their fellow man/woman. people complain about the right and how cold and heartless they are and then when someone attempts to interject a personal side yet another camp is ready to pounce and criticize on that. these days you really are damned if you do and damned if you don't. now is the the time not to criticize for right or wrong but to help, to give aid to those in need. so forget about these side line stories and if you can reach out. every little bit helps even if it is only $5 or $10 bucks it all adds up. should you want or be able to pitch in here is a link to the red cross, we can make a difference.

http://www.redcross.org/

[BlackTom]

11:17 AM on 05/25/2011

Wow Brian, you mean horrible things can happen in America ?
Maybe this will help you to understand that we are no more "exceptional" than any oter place or people.

[okjoel]

03:36 PM on 05/25/2011

Brian Williams is a good man so zip your pie hole.

[BobQueuePublic]

12:30 AM on 05/26/2011

I kind of like what okjoel wrote! But with a less sarcastic edge, I have to say that it is good to see a usually stiff public personality open up and be human. Williams isn't, however, one of those typical stiffs in suits... he really does come off in his non-news appearances as a smart, good guy.

[unclecrackre]

10:53 AM on 05/25/2011

These storms seems to be getting worse every year. I read that weather experts said we are in for a bad hurricane season as well. I have a feeling this is just the tip of the ice berg.

[big tom]

07:15 PM on 05/26/2011

that may be the only way i can get rid of my 2 florida houses...sure cant sell them..

[smurrayesq]

08:53 PM on 05/26/2011

Soon there will not be any icebergs left to be the tip of, which is part of the problem.

[zest]

10:39 AM on 05/25/2011

The majority of the folks that live in these communities in this part of the country do not subscribe to the theory of climate change.

[MichaelAKD]

05:15 PM on 05/25/2011

i agree with your statement but i don't agree with the timing. all this is too fresh, we haven't even finished digging up all the bodies yet. i don't believe your intent was anything negative rather just to point out something a lot of us recognized, just in a manner of speaking did not want to rub salt in a wound, especially one so terrible and recent. there is nothing any of us can do to change what has happened and my heart goes out to all but this could be an opportunity if used wisely to win the debate over climate change for many of the "hardcore" climate naysayers. or we could say i told you so and have no chance whatsoever of ever winning over any of those who believe like beck et al. in a few days it will be june, pray, hope for calmer weather for everyones sake skeptics and believers alike.

[big tom]

07:17 PM on 05/26/2011

a few may be changing their opinion this year.. this isnt workin out well for senator inhof ..

[editor]

07:05 AM on 05/25/2011

Of course; long ago; serious scientists; soberly predicted more severe tornadic activity due to Man-made Global Heating. Its a simple concept; a "chemical blanket" so to speak; trapping the suns heat radiation on the Earth; not letting it escape back to space sufficiently. Maybe a tragedy like this will drive home the point; that the scientists weren't joking.....

[DeanWormer]

08:26 AM on 05/25/2011

They also predicted many more events that are not happening. Pick the one that matches your narrative.

[Yellowstonedemocrat]

08:56 PM on 05/26/2011

Let me guess...yo ur favorite network is Fox.

[montessoriteacher]

10:00 PM on 05/24/2011

Greenburg, Kansas, not Missouri was devastated a few years ago. If you live in KCMO you know what is in Mo. and what is in KS. Anyway, yes Greenburg did come back. Brian is great! Love him! Obama will help Joplin get through this. He will do everything he can. He is not a dictator, nor is he superman, but he has been very effective in many ways and will do as much as possible, as he has pledged to do.

[himaui]

01:02 AM on 05/25/2011

most optimistic thing i've read today. thanks.

[AZterritory]

06:58 PM on 05/24/2011

Brian, it's not about you. Give them some of your big bucks, but the first rule of journalism USED to be don't make yourself part of the story.

[shirleyfeeney]

04:16 AM on 05/25/2011

A friend of mine lives in the area, and her reaction is exactly the same as his. He may be a journalist, but he's human too. Give him a break.

[ex-pat]

07:44 AM on 05/25/2011

Perhaps your comment was written after your 6th Bud Lite...

[chaz]

04:00 PM on 05/24/2011

Believe it and the Republican/teabaggers are going to deny any Federal Funding Joplin until and unless the Democrats agree to liquidating social security and medicare.

Turn off fox and Rush

[DeanWormer]

08:28 AM on 05/25/2011

The Dems won't fund Joplin until all the terrorists are freed and given medals. Just as true.

[chaz]

12:03 PM on 05/25/2011

Dean,

DEMOCRATIC President Clinton made Osama Bin Laden his highest priority and he was made fun of by the Republican media and the Republican/teabagger party.
"wag the dog"
DEMOCRATIC President Clinton was right. The Republican media and the Republican/teabagger party was wrong.

Bush's highs priority was giving trillions to millionaires and billionaires,deregulating Wall Street,ending social security and medicare and invading Iraq for oil.
DEMOCRATIC President Obama first priority keep us safe and saving the absolutely destroyed economy left behind by Bush and the republican media and the republican/teabagger party.

By the way DEMOCRATIC President Obama killed Bin Laden. Bush let him go in Torabora 10 years ago.

Fact!

Do yourself a favor and turn off fox. Ignorance isn't bliss.

[corsair1917]

02:58 PM on 05/24/2011

But there is no such thing as global warming and/or climate change.....

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MAKING THESE STORMS SO MUCH WORSE?!?!?!?

Mother Nature is mad as he_l and she is not going to take it anymore.

[shirleyfeeney]

04:20 AM on 05/25/2011

The weather is also cyclical. I'm not denying climate change, but I was listening to a meteorologist or whatever he was the other day who pointed out that if you look back, before the era of climate change, there is a pattern of heavy tornadoes in this area about every 70 years or so. It just seems that in this instance it may not be solely due to climate change, but to established weather patterns in the region. He cited similar events prior to this week, prior to 1950 and some in the 19th and early 20th centuries that were nearly identical. Obviously the area wasn't as populated as it is currently, but I think we need to really take many factors into account before we just blame every single thing on climate change.

[knightoftheroundtable]

02:04 PM on 05/24/2011

Brian you were lucky, you moved on. Most of these folks are just poor and middle class who may never recover. You may of had some great times at the hospital but now how about donating enough money to rebuild? Show your gratitude. You lost me as a viewer and my respect when you would not stand up for the unions in WI on Letterman show. You a rich union member.

[DixieMelody]

01:01 PM on 05/24/2011

Joplin will probably be relegated to the back burner (like New Orleans) when it comes to federal help . . .

While we continue to sink billions into the money pit called nation building in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[Montana 123]

03:04 PM on 05/24/2011

I don't think so.

[xlntcat]

02:28 AM on 05/25/2011

Louisiana's received more federal dollars than any other state in the history of nation in the aftermath of Katrina most of which remains unaccounted for.  It is Louisiana's fault that funds never make it out of Baton Rouge to NOLA.

[Rangergirl]

12:21 PM on 05/24/2011

I forgot to add that Greenberg Mo was wiped off the map 4 yrs ago. They rebuilt GREEN. Wind mills, solar, I think that they could be pretty much off grid...They recovered and are reborn

[cphunt]

12:41 PM on 05/24/2011

I think you're talking about Greensburg, and it is in Kansas, actually. But yes, they've really lead in recovering "greenly".

[Rangergirl]

01:06 PM on 05/24/2011

OOPs they are a real benchmark for rebuilding...

[Rhonda Carder Halliday]

01:06 PM on 05/24/2011

Thats Kansas-- Greenberg, Kansas --- not Missouri

[Rangergirl]

12:19 PM on 05/24/2011

Sad horrible disaster. Hopefully Alabama, and Joplin can take a page out of Greenberg Mo. did 4 years ago.. God bless them...