As of this writing the outbreak of tornadoes that occurred on Feb. 5th
killed more than 55 people from Arkansas to Kentucky. There were 56 confirmed tornadoes. Hundreds were injured and homes, business, churches, and schools destroyed. This was a terrible day, but far from the worst outbreak in history.
In 1925 the so called Tri-State tornado outbreak produced killer tornadoes from Missouri to Indiana. 695 were killed from the March outbreak making it the deadliest outbreak in history. There were no watches, or warnings, and the hope is something like this could never happen again.
I remember seeing the black and white images on television of the
incredible devastation in Zenia, Ohio in the Super Tornado Outbreak in April, 1974. There were 148 tornadoes in thirteen states. Six of the tornadoes were rated F-5 with winds over 260 mph. 330 were killed.
The 1965 Palm Sunday Outbreak created more than $500 million in damages.
There were 66 tornadoes recorded and 256 were killed. Early in my career I used a worn out copy of a film made about the event at my school weather talks. I stopped after an elementary school teacher told me I was causing trauma to the 1st graders. I am a bit more sensitive now about what I show or say to smaller children.
The largest tornado I have ever been near occurred on April 10th, 1979.
That outbreak started in Wichita Falls, Texas and moved north into Lawton.
I was a disc jockey in Lawton and left work to drive home to make sure my wife
was safe in our 2nd floor apartment just as the F5 tornado was tearing through
downtown Lawton. I can still remember the sounds of the destruction.
53 were killed in Texas and 3 in Oklahoma.
Not the deadliest, but the costliest was our outbreak on May 3, 1999.
It killed 44 and cost more than $1.1 billion dollars in damage. Lives,
towns, and business were changed forever that terrible day. In my career, I
hope to never have another day of broadcasting as horrific as the hours we
spent broadcasting the destruction of May 3rd.
It doesn’t matter what the size, strength, or rating is of a tornado. Please
make sure you and your family are ready for this season. Tuesday’s outbreak
is a reminder that we all need a plan of action. Do you have one?
If you have a weather question for Dan, send it to: askdan@kjrh.com
