List of tornado-related deaths at schools
Encyclopedia
These are all known tornado
es resulting in student deaths at primary and secondary
schools in the United States
from 1884 - 2007.
From 1884-2007, there were 45 tornadoes with school fatalities in the United States. These tornadoes killed 271 (not including the 9 from the probable downburst in New York state). Tornado warning
s began being issued in 1950 (and tornado watch
es in late 1952); and there is a very sharp decrease in number of killer tornado events at schools after this time, as well as a large decrease in death tolls from tornadoes overall. There were 39 tornadoes with deaths at schools (219 deaths) before 1953 and 6 events (52 deaths) after that year (not including the probable downburst in New York). Two high fatality events after 1953 occurred in Mississippi (23 in 1955) and Illinois (13 in 1967); accounting for 82% of 1952-2006 deaths, both from violent class tornadoes.
More tornadoes with deaths in schools have occurred in the Southeastern United States
-- 23 events or over half the national total -- than any other region. Four of the top ten death toll events occurred in the Southeast. Relatively few school fatality tornado events have occurred in the area with the highest frequency of strong tornadoes, the Great Plains
(Tornado Alley
); no events have occurred after warnings began being issued. This is probably chiefly due to three reasons: the low population density, greater tornado awareness (and better visibility affording more warning), and the time of year and of day that most tornadoes strike the Great Plains.
The state with the most tornado deaths throughout history is Illinois, with 90. The largest school death toll from a tornado was 69 during the Tri-State Tornado
, which also struck Illinois and significantly raised that state's death toll. The greatest death toll at a single school also occurred during the Tri-State tornado, when it killed 33 at a school in De Soto
, also in Illinois. This tornado also injured hundreds more at schools, and killed many students returning home from schools. Additionally, three of the top ten events by death toll, and four if separate schools of the same tornado are counted (33 in De Soto and 25 in Murphysboro
again from the Tri-State Tornado), have occurred in Illinois.
The state with the highest number of tornadoes with deaths at schools is Alabama at 8 events. Illinois is second with 6 tornadoes. Missouri and Oklahoma rank third both with 4 tornadoes. Fourth is Georgia with 3 tornadoes. Fifth are Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, Nebraska, Mississippi, and Arkansas, each with 2 events. At sixth with one school fatality tornado event each are Ohio, Louisiana, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Florida (the probable downburst in New York is not included).
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es resulting in student deaths at primary and secondary
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
schools in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1884 - 2007.
List
| Date | Location (school) | Local time (touchdown) | Fatalities (school) | Wikipedia Wikipedia Wikipedia is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Its 20 million articles have been written collaboratively by volunteers around the world. Almost all of its articles can be edited by anyone with access to the site,... article |
| June 28, 1865 | Viroqua Viroqua, Wisconsin Viroqua is the county seat of Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,079 at the 2010 census. The city is located within the Town of Viroqua.-History:... , Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... |
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| May 23, 1878 | Mineral Point Mineral Point, Wisconsin Mineral Point is a city in Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,617 at the 2000 census. In 2008 the city's population had taken a decline and is currently only 2,462, but still the second most populous community in Iowa County... , Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is... |
3:00 p.m. | 2 | |
| June 9, 1878 | Augusta Augusta, Georgia Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County... , Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
3:00 p.m. | 3 | |
| February 19, 1884 | Goshen Goshen, Alabama Goshen is a town in Pike County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 300.-Geography:Goshen is located at .According to the U.S... , Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
2:30 p.m. | 1 | Enigma tornado outbreak Enigma tornado outbreak The 1884 Enigma outbreak is thought to be among the largest and most widespread tornado outbreaks in American history, striking on February 19–20, 1884.... |
| May 2, 1887 | Wauseon Wauseon, Ohio As of the census of 2000, there were 7,091 people, 2,706 households, and 1,875 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,437.6 people per square mile . There were 2,851 housing units at an average density of 578.0 per square mile... , Ohio Ohio Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus... |
12:35 p.m. | 1 | |
| June 14, 1888 | Lexington Lexington, Oregon Lexington is a city in Morrow County, Oregon, United States. The population was 263 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pendleton–Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:... , Oregon Oregon Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern... |
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| May 17, 1889 | Forestburg Forestburg, Texas Forestburg is an unincorporated community in Montague County, Texas, United States.The Forestburg Independent School District serves area students. With its K-12 campus serving approx. 210 students, the class sizes are small and allow for one on one attention.-External links:... , Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... |
4:00 p.m. | 2 | |
| June 20, 1890 | Paw Paw Paw Paw, Illinois Paw Paw is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census the village was home to 870 people, up from 852 at the 2000 census. It was settled in the mid 19th century and by 1878 the village had a railroad connection. Paw Paw is home to a house which is listed on the U.S... , Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
2:30 p.m. | 7 | |
| September 7, 1893 | Lockport Lockport, Louisiana Lockport is a town on Bayou Lafourche in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,624 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:... , Louisiana Louisiana Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties... |
9:30 a.m. | 3 | |
| May 3, 1895 | Ireton Ireton, Iowa Ireton is a city in Sioux County, Iowa, United States. The population was 585 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was founded in 1882 as a 12 block lay out. The location was picked around the water stop of a railroad. It was a part of a larger series of settlements of Englishmen in Northwest Iowa... - Hull Hull, Iowa Hull is a city in Sioux County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,960 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hull is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... , Iowa Iowa Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New... |
2:30 p.m. | 7 | Hull, Iowa Tornado Outbreak of 1895 |
| May 27, 1896 | Mexico Mexico, Missouri Mexico is a city in Audrain County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,543 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Audrain County. The Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Audrain County... - Bean, Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
3:15 p.m. | 4 | St. Louis-East St. Louis Tornado St. Louis-East St. Louis Tornado The 1896 St. Louis – East St. Louis tornado is a historic tornado event that occurred on Wednesday, May 27, 1896, as part of a major tornado outbreak across the Central United States on the 27th, continuing across the Eastern United States on the 28th. One of the deadliest and most... / May 1896 tornado outbreak sequence May 1896 tornado outbreak sequence The May 1896 tornado outbreak sequence was a series of violent and deadly tornado outbreaks that struck much of the Central and Southern United States from May 15 to May 27, 1896. It is considered one of the worst tornado outbreak sequences on record. There were four particularly notable tornado... |
| March 22, 1897 | Arlington Arlington, Georgia Arlington is a city in Calhoun County and Early County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,602 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Arlington is located at .... , Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
8:30 a.m. | 8 | |
| January 3, 1906 | Josie - Banks Banks, Alabama Banks is a town in Pike County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 179.-Geography:Banks is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.... , Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
11:30 a.m. | 2 | |
| March 13, 1913 | Lawrenceburg Lawrenceburg, Tennessee Lawrenceburg is a city in Lawrence County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,796 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lawrence County... , Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area... |
1:45 p.m. | 1 | Southeast Tornado Outbreak of March 1913 |
| January 4, 1917 | Vireton, Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state... |
11:00 a.m. | 16 | |
| February 23, 1917 | Hollins, Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
3:30 p.m. | 2 | Southeast Tornado Outbreak of February 1917 |
| March 23, 1917 | New Albany New Albany, Indiana New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of... , Indiana Indiana Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is... |
3:08 p.m. | 5 | Mid-Mississippi Valley Tornado Outbreak of March 1917 |
| January 11, 1918 | Dothan Dothan, Alabama Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County... - Cowarts Cowarts, Alabama Cowarts is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 1,546.-Geography:Cowarts is located at .According to the U.S... , Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
1:40 p.m. | 8 | |
| November 4, 1922 | Holyoke Holyoke, Colorado The City of Holyoke is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Phillips County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,261 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Holyoke is located at .... , Colorado Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains... |
9:30 a.m. | 1 | Great Plains Tornado Outbreak of November 1922 |
| April 27, 1923 | Johnson City Johnson City, Kansas Johnson City is a city in and the county seat of Stanton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,495.-Geography:Johnson City is located at... , Kansas Kansas Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south... |
12:15 p.m. | 1 | |
| April 30, 1924 | Horrell Hill Horrell Hill, South Carolina Horrel Hill is an unincorporated community in Lower Richland County, South Carolina, South Carolina. Situated south of Fort Jackson and northwest of McEntire Joint National Guard Base, it is centered at about the intersection of Garner's Ferry Road and Harmon Road/Horrel Hill Road... , South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... |
11:00 a.m. | 7 | Southeast Outbreak of April 1924 |
| March 18, 1925 | Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... - Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... - Indiana Indiana Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is... (nine schools) |
1:01 p.m. | 69 | Tri-State Tornado Tri-State Tornado The Tri-State Tornado of Wednesday, March 18, 1925, was the deadliest tornado in U.S. history. With 695 confirmed fatalities, the tornado killed more than twice as many as the second deadliest, the 1840 Great Natchez Tornado... |
| November 9, 1926 | La Plata La Plata, Maryland La Plata is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,551 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Charles County.-History:... , Maryland Maryland Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east... |
2:35 p.m. | 14 | La Plata, Maryland Tornado of November 1926 |
| April 19, 1927 | Carrollton Carrollton, Illinois Carrollton is a city in Greene County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,605 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County.-Geography:Carrollton is located at .... , Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
11:45 a.m. | 1 | Southern Plains-Midwest Tornado Outbreak of April 1927 |
| May 9, 1927 | Poplar Bluff Poplar Bluff, Missouri Poplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S... , Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
2:35 p.m. | 2 | 1927 St. Louis Tornado Outbreak |
| September 29, 1927 | St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St... , Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
12:50 p.m. | 3 | |
| December 7, 1927 | Tunnel Springs Tunnel Springs, Alabama Tunnel Springs is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Alabama. It has one site listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, the Old Scotland Presbyterian Church.-Geography:Tunnel Springs is located at and has an elevation of .... , Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
11:30 a.m. | 1 | |
| January 24, 1928 | Smithville Smithville, Tennessee Smithville is a city in DeKalb County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,994 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of De Kalb County.-Geography:... , Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area... |
2:00 p.m. | 4 | |
| September 13, 1928 | Pender Pender, Nebraska Pender is a village in Thurston County, Nebraska, United States, located on the Omaha Indian Reservation. The population was 1,002 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Thurston County... , Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River.... |
3:40 p.m. | 3 | Upper Plains-Midwest Tornado Outbreak of September 1928 |
| January 18, 1929 | Maunie Maunie, Illinois Maunie is a village in White County, Illinois, United States. The population was 177 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Maunie is located at .... , Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
11:20 a.m. | 2 | Middle-Mississippi Valley Tornado Outbreak of January 1929 |
| March 22, 1929 | Merrellton, Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
11:00 a.m. | 5 | |
| April 24, 1929 | Slocum Slocum, Texas Slocum is an unincorporated community in southeast Anderson County, Texas, in the United States. It has a population of approximately 250.-Schools:... , Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... |
12:20 p.m. | 1 | Plains, Midwest, and Southeast Tornado Outbreak of April 1929 |
| May 2, 1929 | Rye Cove, Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
12:25 p.m. | 13 | 1929 Rye Cove, Virginia tornado outbreak |
| November 19, 1930 | Bethany Bethany, Oklahoma Bethany is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 20,307 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bethany is located at .... , Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state... |
9:30 a.m. | 6 | Oklahoma-Kansas Tornado Outbreak of November 1930 |
| January 5, 1931 | Norlina Norlina, North Carolina Norlina is a town in Warren County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,107 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Norlina is located at .... , North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... |
4:45 p.m. | 1 | |
| February 14, 1936 | McRae McRae, Georgia McRae is a town in Telfair County, Georgia, United States. Based on the 2000 census, the town has a total population of 2,682. Between 1990 and 2000, the town experienced a population decrease of 10.8%, compared to the state growth during this period of 26.4%. The town is the county seat of... - Helena Helena, Georgia Helena is a city in Telfair and Wheeler counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 2,307 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Helena is located at .... , Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
4:30 p.m. | 2 | |
| April 26, 1938 | Oshkosh Oshkosh, Nebraska Oshkosh is a city in Garden County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Garden County.-Geography:Oshkosh is located at .... , Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River.... |
2:15 p.m. | 3 | Oshkosh, Nebraska Tornado Outbreak |
| February 6, 1942 | Jasper County Jasper County, Georgia Jasper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 11,426. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,660... , Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
1:30 p.m. | 4 | Southeast Tornado Outbreak of February 1942 |
| March 16, 1942 | O'Tuckalofa, Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi... |
3:00 p.m. | 1 | March 1942 tornado outbreak March 1942 tornado outbreak The March 1942 tornado outbreak was a deadly late-winter season tornado outbreak which struck a large area of the central and southern United States on March 16, 1942... |
| April 27, 1942 | Ortonville Ortonville, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 2,158 people, 923 households, and 594 families residing in the city. The population density was 635.8 people per square mile . There were 1,125 housing units at an average density of 331.4 per square mile... , Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state... |
3:05 p.m. | 2 | Pryor, Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak |
| January 26, 1944 | Granite Granite, Oklahoma Granite is a town in Greer County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,065 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Granite is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.... , Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state... |
8:30 p.m. | 1 | January 1944 Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak |
| March 6, 1944 | Horton Horton, Alabama Horton is an unincorporated town in Marshall County, Alabama, United States. Its ZIP code is 35980. The average income is $250,000. The area has about 1,800 households, with the average home value being $450,000.... , Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
3:00 p.m. | 1 | |
| April 12, 1945 | Muskogee Muskogee, Oklahoma Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma.... , Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state... |
4:50 p.m. | 3 | Southern Plains-Midwest Tornado Outbreak of April 1945 |
| December 31, 1947 | Village, Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River... |
7:35 p.m. | 1 | New Years Eve Tornado Outbreak of 1947 |
| February 1, 1955 | Commerce Landing, Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi... |
2:20 p.m. | 23 | Commerce Landing, Mississippi Tornado Outbreak |
| January 24, 1967 | Orrick Orrick, Missouri Orrick is a town in Ray County, Missouri, United States. The population was 799 at the 2010 census.Orrick now includes what was once the village of Albany Orrick is a town in Ray County, Missouri, United States. The population was 799 at the 2010 census.Orrick now includes what was once the village... , Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
12:40 p.m. | 2 | 1967 St. Louis tornado outbreak 1967 St. Louis Tornado Outbreak The 1967 St. Louis tornado outbreak was the rare winter outbreak that occurred on January 24, 1967. Thirty-two tornadoes broke out from Oklahoma to Wisconsin. Fourteen tornadoes struck Iowa, nine in Missouri, eight in Illinois, and one in Wisconsin.... |
| April 21, 1967 | Belvidere Belvidere, Illinois Belvidere is a city in Boone County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,585 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Boone County. Belvidere is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... , Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
3:50 p.m. | 13 | Belvidere - Oak Lawn tornado outbreak |
| May 4, 1978 | Clearwater Clearwater, Florida Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of... , Florida Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... |
10:47 a.m. | 3 | Sarasota, Florida Tornadoes |
| November 16, 1989 (*) | Newburgh Newburgh (town), New York Newburgh is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The 2010 census determined the population is 29,801. This is the first time ever that the population of the Town of Newburgh officially exceeded that of the adjacent but totally separate municipality known as the city of Newburgh... , New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... |
12:05 p.m. | 9 | November 1989 Tornado Outbreak |
| August 28, 1990 (**) | Plainfield Plainfield, Illinois Plainfield is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2007 special census, the population is 37,334.The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County... , Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,... |
2:30 p.m. | 5 | 1990 Plainfield tornado |
| April 8, 1993 | Grand Isle Grand Isle, Louisiana Grand Isle is a town in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, located on a barrier island of the same name in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the gulf. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,541; during summers, the population sometimes increases to... , Louisiana Louisiana Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties... |
1:20 p.m. | 1 | |
| March 1, 2007 | Enterprise Enterprise, Alabama Enterprise is a city in the southeastern part of Coffee and Dale Counties in the southeastern part of Alabama in the Southern United States. The population was estimated to be 25,909 in the year 2009.... , Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
1:10 p.m. | 8 | February-March 2007 Tornado Outbreak February-March 2007 Tornado Outbreak The February–March 2007 Tornado Outbreak was a tornado outbreak across the southern United States that began in Kansas on February 28, 2007. The severe weather spread eastward on March 1 and left a deadly mark across the southern US, particularly in Alabama and Georgia. Twenty deaths were... |
- *Although officially listed as a tornado, this is a probable downburstDownburstA downburst is created by an area of significantly rain-cooled air that, after reaching ground level, spreads out in all directions producing strong winds. Unlike winds in a tornado, winds in a downburst are directed outwards from the point where it hits land or water...
- **Five staff and faculty at two schools killed the day before classes were to begin
Discussion
Tornado warning
A tornado warning is an alert issued by government weather services to warn that severe thunderstorms with tornadoes may be imminent. It can be issued after a tornado or funnel cloud has been spotted by eye, or more commonly if there are radar indications of tornado formation...
s began being issued in 1950 (and tornado watch
Tornado watch
A tornado watch is issued when conditions are right for a tornado to form. Since any thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is defined as severe, a tornado watch is also automatically a severe thunderstorm watch...
es in late 1952); and there is a very sharp decrease in number of killer tornado events at schools after this time, as well as a large decrease in death tolls from tornadoes overall. There were 39 tornadoes with deaths at schools (219 deaths) before 1953 and 6 events (52 deaths) after that year (not including the probable downburst in New York). Two high fatality events after 1953 occurred in Mississippi (23 in 1955) and Illinois (13 in 1967); accounting for 82% of 1952-2006 deaths, both from violent class tornadoes.
More tornadoes with deaths in schools have occurred in the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
-- 23 events or over half the national total -- than any other region. Four of the top ten death toll events occurred in the Southeast. Relatively few school fatality tornado events have occurred in the area with the highest frequency of strong tornadoes, the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
(Tornado Alley
Tornado Alley
Tornado Alley is a colloquial and popular media term that most often refers to the area of the United States where tornadoes are most frequent. Although an official location is not defined, the area between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains is usually associated with it.The areas...
); no events have occurred after warnings began being issued. This is probably chiefly due to three reasons: the low population density, greater tornado awareness (and better visibility affording more warning), and the time of year and of day that most tornadoes strike the Great Plains.
Tri-State Tornado
The Tri-State Tornado of Wednesday, March 18, 1925, was the deadliest tornado in U.S. history. With 695 confirmed fatalities, the tornado killed more than twice as many as the second deadliest, the 1840 Great Natchez Tornado...
, which also struck Illinois and significantly raised that state's death toll. The greatest death toll at a single school also occurred during the Tri-State tornado, when it killed 33 at a school in De Soto
De Soto, Illinois
De Soto is a village in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,653 at the 2000 census.De Soto was largely destroyed by the Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925. Sixty-nine people died in De Soto when approximately 30% of the town was destroyed, and of this total 33 were children...
, also in Illinois. This tornado also injured hundreds more at schools, and killed many students returning home from schools. Additionally, three of the top ten events by death toll, and four if separate schools of the same tornado are counted (33 in De Soto and 25 in Murphysboro
Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,970 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-Geography:Murphysboro is located at ....
again from the Tri-State Tornado), have occurred in Illinois.
The state with the highest number of tornadoes with deaths at schools is Alabama at 8 events. Illinois is second with 6 tornadoes. Missouri and Oklahoma rank third both with 4 tornadoes. Fourth is Georgia with 3 tornadoes. Fifth are Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, Nebraska, Mississippi, and Arkansas, each with 2 events. At sixth with one school fatality tornado event each are Ohio, Louisiana, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Florida (the probable downburst in New York is not included).
See also
- List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornadoes causing 100 or more deaths
- Tornado Safety in Schools
External links
- Tornado Preparedness Tips for School Administrators (NOAA/SPC)
- The Ten Worst Tornado Related Disasters in Schools (Tornado Project)
- U.S. Tornado Deaths by Physical Location (NOAA/SPC)
- The Tornado Project