This is Lee Habib, and this is our American Stories.

The May 22nd, 2011 Joplin tornado remains one of the costliest tornadoes in American history. Despite this, the disaster brought out the best in many people wanting to help in any way they could.

One of those people was Thad Beeler, who found a unique way to lend a hand to his fellow neighbor

by founding the National Disaster Photo Rescue Organization,

a group which seeks to reunite people with their

lost photographs after disasters like Joplin. Take it away, Thad.

Well, I am Thad Beeler. I live in Carthage, Missouri, and am from Joplin, Missouri. I grew up

there. I have multiple generations of family that have grown up in Joplin.

I spent a great deal of time in the church. I grew up in the church, loved the church.

I have spent time as a pastor and ministered to people there of all generations.

It's been a wonderful part of my life and it's what brought us here today to talk about

the photo work we've done.

It was a Sunday night. It was 6 o'clock and we had Bible study at the church in Carthage.

And my parents live in Joplin.

I knew the weather was getting bad, and I was on the phone with my dad.

And he was describing how the clouds and the atmosphere looked.

And I looked outside and began to see some of it in Carthage,

which was kind of a green look to the clouds and to the sky.

And come to find out that was ground being churned up.

While I was talking to my dad, I lost connection with him on his cell phone.

And I tried several times to get a hold of him and I was concerned but not terribly concerned because tornado sirens are something that we're very used to here. We

don't necessarily react in a frantic manner but we are always elevated during that

...