to Franklin County, Tennessee, 72 were killed, and 145 were injured. On its 132-mile rampage from Marion County, Ala. This tornado, packing peak winds over 200 mph, tossed vehicles 150-200 yards and leveled a well-built four-sided brick home, tossing its debris 40 yards downwind, according to the official damage survey from the National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama. One of two billion-dollar tornadoes from the Ap"Superoutbreak" took aim on the town of Hackleburg, Alabama (population: 1430). This death toll may be forever underestimated, as fatalities from slaves were not counted in that era. Reportedly a fragment of a steamboat's window was carried 30 miles away. Of the 317 official deaths, reliable reports suggest 269 of those perished as flatboats were sunk. The tornado first touched down about 20 miles southwest of Natchez, then hugged the river, hit Natchez Landing, then came ashore tearing through the city itself. Now, picture a massive wedge tornado, most likely of F5 intensity, bearing down on the city. Then, picture Natchez as a bustling river port city, with flatboats galore. No television, radio, internet, or sirens, either. Electricity wouldn't be invented for another 39 years. tornado (317 killed)įirst consider what wasn't in place in 1840. Forbes' calculations, we place Natchez ahead of the Texas tornadoes based on the death toll. While the "Great Natchez Tornado" tied both Waco (1953) and Wichita Falls (1979) in Dr. Almost 3100 homes were destroyed.ĭespite the issuance of severe warnings, coverage by local television stations, and multiple soundings of sirens, 42 were killed, many of which tried to flee in their vehicles. This over one mile-wide beast carved through the heart of this city of roughly 100,000. The Wichita Falls tornado of Apwas one of thirteen tornadoes which rampaged across parts of north Texas and Oklahoma that "Terrible Tuesday." Some survivors had to wait up to 14 hours to be rescued from the rubble. Over 600 businesses, 850 homes and 2,000 cars were either destroyed or damaged. The Waco tornado carved a path up to 1/3 mile wide through the heart of the city's downtown, reaching F5 intensity the day after Mother's Day, 1953. Waco: Deadliest tornado on record in Texas (114 deaths)Īt the time, Wichita Falls tornado: Costliest in U.S. for Disaster Research at Texas Tech Univ.) FAST FACTS A total of 3,095 homes were destroyed and 42 people were killed. Damaged cars at Sikes Senter Mall in Wichita Falls, Texas on Apr.
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