‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' to rebuild seven Joplin, Mo., houses

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Hundreds of people turned out to rally for a plan to rebuild seven Joplin homes in seven days with the help of the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

The show plans to begin rebuilding the homes this month and will also involve reconstruction work at Cunningham Park. The Joplin Globe reported that 21 building contractors are taking part in the "big build." They have been meeting this week with subcontractors and materials suppliers to plan the work.

Sam Clifton of Millstone Homes, a Springfield, Mo., contractor, is leading the reconstruction effort. He said the show is bringing in 18 project managers for the event, which starts Oct. 19.

Joplin was devastated by a May tornado that killed 162 people and destroyed or damaged more than 7,500 dwellings.