In the spring of 2011 the city of Joplin, Missouri was devastated by the single most costly tornado in US history. The storm - which at its peak was a mile wide -destroyed between 20-25% of the city’s buildings, including Joplin High School and its athletic facilities. This necessitated a total rebuild, whilst the student body was forced to relocate to neighbouring school facilities, and even take classes in the local mall whilst the comprehensive reconstruction works took place. This included the construction of four new artificial turf pitches, which were outfitted with Hydraway to ensure optimal drainage performance for years to come.

Following the tragedy of the tornado, and the overwhelming tide of support that followed in its wake - from huge donations from Hollywood actors, to rival schools’ football teams helping to dig through rubble for people’s valuables, to a nine-year-old boy who raised $360 by washing cars - Joplin has come to stand as a beacon for community spirit and resolve, defined not by the destruction of the storm, but by how people came together to rebuild both their facilities and their community in the aftermath.