Tri-State Tornado

The Great Tri-State Tornado of Wednesday, March 18, 1925, crossed from southeastern Missouri, through southern Illinois, and into southwestern Indiana, and was the deadliest tornado in U.S. history. With 695 confirmed deaths, the tornado killed more than twice as many as the second deadliest, the 1840 Great Natchez Tornado. The 219 mile track left by the tornado was the longest ever recorded in the world. It is rated the maximum F5 on the Fujita Scale.

Related Topics:
March 18 - 1925 - Missouri - Illinois - Indiana - Tornado - U.S. history - Great Natchez Tornado - F5

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The tornado was part of a larger tornado outbreak with several other destructive tornadoes in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana. In all, at least 747 were killed and 2298 were injured.

Related Topics:
Tennessee - Kentucky

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The vortex was first sighted around 1:01 p.m., north-northwest of Ellington, Missouri. The tornado sped to the northeast, killing two and causing $500,000 of damage to Annapolis and the mining town of Leadanna. In Bollinger County, 32 children were injured when two schools were damaged. Redford, Cornwall, Biehle, and Frohna. Eleven died altogether in Missouri.

Related Topics:
Ellington, Missouri - Annapolis - Biehle - Frohna

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The tornado crossed the Mississippi River and into southern Illinois, hitting the town of Gorham, at 2:30 p.m., essentially obliterating the entire town, killing 34. Continuing to the northeast at an average speed of 62 miles per hour (and up to 73 miles per hour), the tornado cut a swath almost a mile wide through Murphysboro, De Soto, Hurst-Bush, and West Frankfort. Also afflicted were Zeigler, Eighteen, and Crossville. Within 40 minutes, 541 lives were lost and 1,423 were seriously injured. The village of Parrish was completely destroyed, killing 22. In Murphysboro, 234 were killed, the most in a single city in U.S. history. The tornado proceeded through Hamilton and White Counties, claiming 65 more residents. In southern Illinois, at least 613 were killed.

Related Topics:
Mississippi River - Gorham - Murphysboro - De Soto - Hurst-Bush - West Frankfort - Zeigler - Crossville

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Crossing the Wabash River into Indiana, the tornado struck Griffin, devastated rural areas, impacted Owensville, then roared into Princeton destroying half the town. The tornado traveled ten more miles to the northeast before finally dissipating at about 4:30 p.m. around three miles southwest of Petersburg. In Indiana, at least 71 perished.

Related Topics:
Wabash River - Griffin - Owensville - Princeton - Petersburg

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In all, at least 695 died and 2027 were injured, mostly in Illinois. Three states, thirteen counties, and more than nineteen communities were in the path of the record 3.5 hour duration tornado. Total damage was estimated at $16.5 million; adjusted for wealth and inflation the toll is approximately $1.4 billion (1997 USD), surpassed in history only by two extremely destructive tornadoes in the City of St. Louis http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/users/brooks/public_html/damage/tdam1.html. Over 15,000 homes were destroyed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In addition to the dead and injured, thousands were left without shelter or food. Looting and theft, notably from the dead, were reported. The tornado killed more normally weather wise farm owners than any other in U.S. history. Nine schools were destroyed in which 69 students were killed, more schools destroyed and more students killed than any other tornado (and single school, 33 in Desoto) in U.S. history; in fact, other than bombings and gas explosions, it is the worst school disaster in U.S. history.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~