The resilience of the human spirit shines the brightest when circumstances are at their most dire. Sometimes, this resilience takes unexpected and miraculous forms. Such was the case of the Butterfly People of Joplin, Missouri.
On the evening of Sunday, May 22, 2011, a category EF5 tornado descended on Joplin, Missouri, cutting a swath of destruction miles wide across the city. Tragically, 158 people lost their lives. 1,100 others were injured, and over 2.8 billion dollars in damage was done. However, in the days following the tragedy, reports began surfacing indicating that the loss of life could have been even more significant if it weren’t for the intervention of mysterious entities that would become known as the Butterfly People.
At first, only a few stories were circulating among rescue workers and volunteers. Then, as the community rallied together in the aftermath, an eerie pattern began to emerge. Many of Joplin’s citizens, particularly the children, described angelic beings coming to their aid during the chaos of the tornado. The accounts varied slightly between encounters. Some reported the direct intervention of angelic beings appearing in their most desperate moment. Others experienced intense feelings of peace and safety, assuring them of their survival. A few heard voices telling them they would be ok.
One account, typical of the phenomenon, describes the experience of a mother and her four-year-old daughter. The storm overtook them as they ran from their car to their house, sending their vehicle tumbling toward them. The mother threw herself to the ground on top of her daughter and braced for an impact that never came. Somehow, the car and tornado harmlessly passed them by.
“Weren’t they beautiful?” said the child.
“Who?” asked the mother.
“The Butterfly People.”
One account, typical of the phenomenon, involves a mother and her four-year-old daughter. According to the story, the two were outside, running from their car to the shelter of their house. The storm overtook them, sending their car tumbling toward them. The mother threw herself to the ground on top of her daughter and braced for an impact that never came. Somehow, the car and tornado harmlessly passed them by.
“Weren’t they beautiful?” said the child.
“Who?” asked the mother.
“The Butterfly People.”
As the days passed and the citizens of Joplin tried to piece their world back together, the Joplin Child Trauma Center, coordinated by the city’s schools, serviced about half of the town’s children. In these meetings, therapists documented dozens of these encounters, mostly from the younger children. Some described them as white lights, Butterfly People, or even large butterflies, while others interpreted them as angels. In each of these sightings, the beings were described as hovering or flying above them.
In cases of extreme trauma, it is not uncommon for children to alter their perceptions of events to understand them better. However, it is highly unusual for so many of them to share the same “altered” experience. Considering the overwhelming message of hope and positivity inspired by these experiences, a rational explanation may not be required.
That summer, an artist, Dave Lawrence, was contracted to design a mural in downtown Joplin. A town meeting was held, in which Lawrence first heard the story of the Butterfly People. Not surprisingly, the council agreed on a butterfly theme. Many volunteers, including twenty children, were selected to assist in painting. The resulting work was called “The Butterfly Effect” and, according to Lawrence, is not about the Butterfly People. However, if you look closely at the contributions of the children, the mural tells a different tale.
Jason Roberts is a Seattle-based author noted for his acclaimed Western Horror series The Dead Wind Trilogy and other works of cosmic horror infused with historical fiction. His web-based series, Dark Distractions, examines paranormal mysteries, unexplained phenomena, and all things strange.
