Joplin, Missouri, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, were both devastated by deadly tornadoes in 2011, but have pursued different approaches to recovery. Tuscaloosa followed the new normal path of developing a detailed recovery plan, while Joplin eschewed planning and allowed businesses and homeowners to...

An EF-5 Tornado struck Joplin, MO on May 22, 2011, leaving a twenty mile long path of destruction in its wake. An estimated 7,500 homes and over 500 businesses were damaged or destroyed, with damage estimated at up to $3 billion. Joplin has seen a rapid recovery despite the extensive damage. The...

Spontaneous or emergent orders in human affairs are based upon voluntary interactions among individuals. Yet the physical environment influences the subsequent interactions which occur. While the interactions may be voluntary, the confines of a built environment – physical systems and...