Tornadoes Collect Casualties in Path of Destruction
Tornadoes come in all different shapes and sizes, are measured based on the Fujita scale. The scale rates from F0-F5, F0 being light damage and F5 being incredible damage. So what makes a tornado so deadly, to the point where they cause historical amounts of casualties? Are there any ways that the death toll could have been reduced? According to the Storm Prediction Center, there have been fifteen tornadoes in U.S. history that have killed one hundred or more people. Here, we look at the top five deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history, and examine ways to mitigate future disaster.
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A Look Back through Iconic Tornado History
Combined, the top five tornadoes in United States history accumulated over sixteen hundred deaths. Most of the unfortunate cities only encountered one destructive tornado, but Gainesville, Georgia experienced two tornadoes back in 1936. One from the west, and the other from the southwest, these two tornadoes merged over Gainesville, Georgia the morning of April 6th, 1936 and left a four-block wide path of destruction. Tornadoes are extremely costly in damage repair. The city of Tupelo, Mississippi had over three million dollars’ worth of damages after the tornado traveled a mere fifteen miles. The tornado that struck St. Louis in 1896 destroyed over eight thousand buildings and structures, and partially destroyed the east side of the Eads Bridge, which was supposed to be “tornado proof.” The tornado that occurred in Natchez, Mississippi (May 7th, 1840) and the Tri-State (Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana) tornado, that occurred March 18th, 1925, were measured at F5 intensity. According to Dr. Greg Forbes, severe weather expert with The Weather Channel, The Tri-State tornado ranks as the worst in U.S. history, as it traveled over three and a half hours at an average speed of sixty-two miles per hour. As a result, 15,000 homes were destroyed, 19 communities were effected and towns were demolished.
Top Five Deadliest Tornadoes in United States History
- #1: Tri-State Tornado – March 18th, 1925 (695 Deaths)
- #2: Natchez, Mississippi – May 7th, 1840 (317 Deaths)
- #3: St. Louis, Missouri – May 27th, 1896 (255 Deaths)
- #4: Tupelo, Mississippi – April 5th, 1936 (216 Deaths)
- #5: Gainesville, Georgia – April 6th, 1936 (203 Deaths)
We never know how destructive a tornado will be till it’s over. We can predict how powerful it can be but we never know how much damage it will cause. The safety of your family depends on your preparation for an extreme natural disaster. US Safe Room® is the most reliable and best option for severe storms. We offer storm shelters in the form of outdoor safe rooms, underground bunkers, and built-in modular safe rooms, any of which are secure enough to endure the destruction caused by severe storms. As a first class company, we at U.S. Safe Room® pride ourselves on producing and delivering the best life-saving products and information available. Please call us at (828) 355-7155, and like our Facebook for more information, stories, and helpful survival information.
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Now Playing at Sci-Port: “Tornado Alley” IMAX Film
