Senator McCaskill tells her fellow senators in Washington that Joplin has displayed great strength in the aftermath of Sunday’s tornado and that the nation must help residents recover.

McCaskill takes to the Senate floor in Washington, noting that it is a place that runs on words.

“Every once in a while there’s something that comes along in life when words are so completely inadequate,” McCaskill says.

McCaskill tells fellow senators words fail her in describing what she has seen in Joplin, a natural disaster unlike any she has ever witnessed.

“The loss of life is staggering,” McCaskill states, “an F-5 tornado we now know, the strongest tornado classification. In fact, this is the most devastating and damaging tornado that we’ve had in this country in almost 60 years.”

The latest death count stands at 125. The tornado damaged more than 8,000 buildings. Two thousand homes are gone.

No one saw this coming. Forecasters spotted the tornado on radar, warning of its pending destruction 20 minutes before it hit Joplin.

 “I can’t imagine the loss of life we would have had, if it hadn’t been for that 20 minute warning,” McCaskill says.

McCaskill calls on the country to respond to a city’s crying need.

“We all must stand with Joplin. All of America must stand with Joplin. And we will,” according to McCaskill. “My heart goes out to the families for their losses. I want to congratulate the people of Joplin for their response. I want to say bless you to all those first responders. And I want to say that through the greatest tragedy sometimes comes the greatest strength.”

 AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [1:10 MP3]

AUDIO: Sen. McCaskill speech from the Senate floor [15 min MP]