As you’ve most likely heard by now, Netflix simply dropped The Tornado: Caught within the Storm, an intense and scary documentary concerning the 2011 Joplin Twister that left a city destroyed and took the lives of 158 individuals. Going into the 2025 Netflix unique, I had a sense it could wreak havoc on my anxiousness and dread of storms, however there’s one thing that occurs close to the tip that unlocked a brand new concern I by no means knew existed.
In case you’ve watched The Tornado along with your Netflix subscription by this level, you most likely already know what I’m speaking about. But when not, include me as I break down the documentary and one half particularly that left unlocked an entire new concern.
The Tornado: Caught In The Storm Is An Intense And Terrifying Expertise From Begin To End
Very like Twisters and its trustworthy depiction of a twister’s devastation, The Tornado: Caught within the Storm makes it painfully clear that these huge, violent, and generally unpredictable storms are nothing to fiddle with. However not like the thrilling 2024 film, the brand new Netflix documentary is an actual story, with actual individuals, and really actual trauma.
From begin to end, this 90-minute documentary is each intense and terrifying because it recounts the occasions of Might 22, 2011, a day that may by no means be forgotten by those that skilled Mom Nature’s wrath on what was a seemingly regular night. That includes interviews with those that survived the EF5 twister with a path of practically 22 miles, The Tornado affords quite a few first-hand accounts of individuals staring into the attention of the storm and dying itself. Nevertheless, there’s one story particularly I haven’t been in a position to get out of my head.
The Man Contracting Some Uncommon Flesh-Consuming Fungus In The Storm Is Straight-Up Out Of A Nightmare
Steven Weersing, who’s launched early on within the documentary and given the nickname “Miracle Boy,” has maybe the craziest, most harrowing, and strangest story advised all through The Tornado: Caught within the Storm. Although he survived being pulled out of his automotive by the twister and flying round contained in the storm, he contracted Apophysomyces trapeziformis, a flesh-eating fungus that contaminated a number of different individuals, in line with the Nationwide Library of Drugs.
Within the documentary, Weersing describes how the uncommon fungus, which was unfold by the storm choosing up contaminated soil and natural matter, resulted in him having to have parts of his pores and skin, ribs, lungs, and even coronary heart eliminated with the intention to save his life. I by no means knew this was a factor, and now it’s truthfully one among my greatest fears. Literal nightmare gasoline. It feels like one thing out of an ideal horror film, however that is actual life.
I’ve Had Some Shut Calls With Tornados, However Now I am Even Extra Terrified
My hometown has been hit by many a twister over time (in faculty I used to be driving via downtown when a tornado ripped off the steeple of the Methodist church and crushed a automotive), so I’ve at all times been scared when a storm comes rolling in. And it’s solely gotten worse over time because of much more shut calls and fortunate breaks. Hell, there have been tornados everywhere simply days earlier than I watched what might be one of many greatest Netflix documentaries in years.
However now, with the entire “a storm can decide up some uncommon fungus” situation, I’m going to be much more on edge at any time when my county is in a twister warning. Not solely do I’ve to fret about my household being injured, or my home being destroyed, I’ve obtained to consider some uncommon fungus (or one thing worse) being kicked up into the air.
Hopefully, I by no means discover my manner within the path of a storm, particularly one with some mysterious sickness being thrown round with particles. I’m all anxious simply enthusiastic about it.