Volunteer Liz Devin submitted these photos after her trip to Joplin with her husband Cedric to volunteer at a local animal shelter.

photo by: Photo submitted by Liz Devin

Volunteer Liz Devin said many expressed thanks for the outpouring of volunteers. They met volunteers from Washington, Illinois, Denver, Ohio, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.

photo by: Photo submitted by Liz Devin

Several houses in Joplin had spray-painted messages on them. One house, volunteer Liz Devin said, had, "God Saved Us" spray painted on their house to let family members know they survived.

photo by: Photo submitted by Liz Devin

Volunteer Liz Devin said this structure used to be a three-story apartment building. Several trees in the Joplin tornado had their bark ripped off by flying debris.

photo by: Photo submitted by Liz Devin

Several vehicles, including this pickup truck, were demolished in the Joplin tornado.

photo by: Photo submitted by Liz Devin

The Joplin tornado left a path of destruction more than a mile wide through the city.

photo by: Photo submitted by Liz Devin

Volunteer Liz Devin said mattresses appeared to be in trees nearly everywhere in the path of destruction from the tornado in Joplin.

photo by: Photo submitted by Liz Devin

This vehicle came to rest upside down in the parking lot of a Walgreens pharmacy following the Joplin tornado.