Worst Tornado in US History

Most Destructive American Storms - Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925

© Maureen K. Fleury

Dec 12, 2007

Great Tri-State Tornado Statistics

At 1:01pm on March 18th 1925, the Great Tri-State tornado started out from the Ozarks in southeastern Missouri, headed eastward through southern Illinois and lifted in southwestern Indiana after a duration of three and a half hours. The tornado traveled at an average speed of 62mph which is approximately double the speed of an average tornado. The wind speeds of the funnel were 261 to 318 mph.

The tornado was rated as a F5 on the Fujita Scale and the criteria for this rating is:

• Wind speeds 261 to 318 miles per hour. (416-510 km/h)
• Strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away
• Automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 109 yards (100 meters)
• Bark ripped off of trees
• Incredible phenomena will occur

In total, there were 652 deaths and over 2000 people injured. The number of deaths was double the number in the 2nd worst tornado in US history. The distance of 219 miles is the longest recorded in history. It destroyed 15,000 homes, and damaged more than 164 square miles (almost 50 times more than the average tornado). Property damage was $16.5 million (at that time) and would be almost $2 billion at today’s prices.

Damage Caused by the Great Tri-State Tornado

Missouri (where the tornado touched down)

• Ellington: 1 person killed.
• Annapolis and Leadanna: 2 people killed and 75 injured. Losses in both towns were around $500,000.
• Altenburg: 1 child killed while attending school.
• Bollinger County: 32 children were injured in two schools.

Illinois: (highest damage and deaths)

• Gorham: 100% of the town was destroyed, 34 people died. Over half of the town's population was either killed or injured. Seven of the deaths were at the school.
• Murphysboro: 234 deaths with at least 25 in three schools and 40% destruction. This was the largest death toll within a single city in US history. Losses totaled about $10,000,000
• Desoto: 30% destruction, 69 people died and the 33 deaths were at one school, the worst in US tornado history.
• Parrish: 22 deaths and 90% destruction.
• West Frankfort: 20% destruction and $800,000 damage (including Parrish).
• Hamilton and White County: death toll of 65 and 3 deaths in rural schools.

Indiana: (death toll 71 people)

• Griffin: 100% destruction and children were killed on their way home from school. Two deaths were in a bus.
• Princeton and Owensville: 85 farms destroyed in the rural areas and 50% destruction in Princeton. Losses totaled $1,800,000. The funnel dissipated about 10 miles northeast of Princeton.

Why the Great Tri-State Tornado Was the Worst

• The path of 219 miles was the longest in history.
• Traveling speed of 50 to 62 mph is double than the average tornado.
• Sustained winds of 261 to 318 miles per hour plus damage made it a F5.
• Destroyed 164 square miles which is 50% more than the average tornado.
• In that era, the US Weather Bureau was not allowed to use the word “tornado” because they did not want to instill fear and panic.
• There was no warning system within the towns.
• Ineffective communication links with other towns because phone and telegraph service was immediately cut off.
• People didn’t even realize a tornado was present until it was literally in front of them.

Sources:

• Tornado Project
• Epic Disasters
• Suburban Emergency Management Project (has pictures and a map)

Related Articles:

• Worst Tornado in Canada's History
• Worst Tornado Outbreak 1974
• Five Most Deadly US Tornadoes
• Tornado Myths Explained

Longview School Destroyed by Tri State Tornado

Baptist Church Murphysboro Illinois

DeSoto Illinois Public School

Board Driven Through Plank by Tornado Winds

Tri_State Tornado Map

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