Administrators with St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri are working quickly to set up a temporary hospital.  The facility took a direct hit from Sunday’s devastating tornado.

Mercy Health System CEO Lynn Britton says the temporary hospital will be fully operational by Sunday.

Some hospital functions like emergency care are already available at Joplin’s Memorial Hall.  Work also is being done to determine whether the St. John’s facility will have to be totally rebuilt because of the severe tornado damage to the structure.