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N0KFQ > TODAY 23.03.14 16:30l 51 Lines 2201 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 16007_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST IV3JER
Subj: Today in History - Mar 23
Path: IZ3LSV<IR1UAW<IQ5KG<I0OJJ<N6RME<CX2SA<VE3UIL<N0KFQ
Sent: 140323/1426Z 16007@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.58
Mar 23, 1913:
Tornadoes devastate Nebraska
A horrible month for weather-related disasters in the United
States culminates with a devastating tornado ripping through
Nebraska, near Omaha, on this day in 1913. It was the worst of
five twisters that struck that day in Nebraska and Iowa, killing
115 people in total.
The week prior to this disaster saw all types of calamitous
weather strike throughout the country. Blizzards hit the
Northeast while hurricane-strength winds were battering Alabama
and Georgia. In Florida, a late freeze devastated much of the
citrus crop. But the worst weather came in Nebraska on the
afternoon of March 23.
Rain began falling at 5 p.m., southwest of Omaha. Twenty minutes
later, the first tornado touched down in Craig, Nebraska. At
5:30, another twister hit the town of Ithaca and began a 70-mile
run through the countryside. In Yutan, a woman was reported to
have been carried a full quarter-mile in her home before coming
down unharmed.
It was the third tornado that did the most damage. It began near
Ashland, 65 miles from Omaha. The people of Omaha believed that
due to the location of the city, separated from the flatlands of
the Nebraska plains, they were protected from tornadoes. On March
23, this belief was proven to be mistaken. The tornado roared and
cut through the city for 12 minutes. Witnesses reported seeing
houses explode or collapse in seconds. Seven people at the
Idlewild Pool Hall were killed when they were struck by a pool
table thrown violently into the air. Fires broke out all over the
city, forcing the delivery of electricity to be discontinued.
Lanterns were needed to guide rescue workers. Fortunately, the
heavy rains put out most of the fires.
Meanwhile, another twister traveled from Berlin, Nebraska, into
Iowa, killing 26 people total in both states. Within two days,
heavy snow hit the area, complicating clean-up efforts. Overall,
115 people were killed, hundreds of homes were demolished and
millions of dollars in damages were incurred by the tornadoes.
The next deadly tornado in Omaha did not strike until 1975.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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