Tupelo-Gainesville Outbreak
Encyclopedia
The 1936 Tupelo–Gainesville tornado outbreak was an outbreak of seventeen tornado
es that struck the Southeastern United States
from April 5 to 6th, 1936. Approximately 436 people were killed by these tornadoes. Although the outbreak was centered around Tupelo, Mississippi
and Gainesville, Georgia
, other destructive tornadoes associated with the outbreak struck Columbia, Tennessee
, Anderson, South Carolina
and Acworth, Georgia
. Severe flash floods from the associated storms also produced millions of dollars in damage across the region.
at around 8:30 P.M. It was an F5 on the Fujita scale
, causing total destruction along its path. The tornado missed the downtown business district. The tornado moved through the residential areas of Tupelo, destroying many homes, and killing whole families who had little or no warning. A very young Elvis Presley
and his mother were two of the survivors.
When the death toll of 216 was announced, over 100 people had been hospitalized in three states. The final death toll was set at 233.
overnight and finally reached Gainesville, Georgia
at around 8:30 A.M.
This early morning tornado was a double tornado event. One tornado moved in from the Atlanta
highway, while the other moved in from the Dawsonville
highway. The two merged on Grove Street and destroyed everything in sight, causing wreckage pileups of up to 10 feet in some places. The worst tornado-caused death toll in a single building in U.S. history was at the Cooper Pants Factory. The multiple story building, filled with young workers, collapsed and caught fire, killing 70 people. At the Pacolet Mill, 550 workers averted a tragedy by moving to the northeast side of the building. Many people sought refuge in Newnan's department store; however, it collapsed, killing 20 people.
The final death toll could not be calculated because many of the buildings that were hit collapsed and caught fire. A 203 person death toll was posted, with 40 missing. Letters from Gainesville, Georgia were blown 67 miles away to Anderson, South Carolina
.
The Gainesville tornado was an F4 on the Fujita scale
and was the fifth deadliest tornado in U.S. history. It caused $13 million in damage, equivalent to over $200 million in 2011.
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 that struck 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....
from April 5 to 6th, 1936. Approximately 436 people were killed by these tornadoes. Although the outbreak was centered around Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
and Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
, other destructive tornadoes associated with the outbreak struck Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia is a city in Maury County, Tennessee, United States. The 2008 population was 34,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It is the county seat of Maury County....
, Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
and Acworth, Georgia
Acworth, Georgia
Acworth is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,425. Acworth is located in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains along the southeastern banks of Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona on the Etowah River.Acworth's nickname is "The...
. Severe flash floods from the associated storms also produced millions of dollars in damage across the region.
Tupelo tornado
The Tupelo tornado, the fourth deadliest tornado in United States history, slammed into Tupelo, MississippiTupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
at around 8:30 P.M. It was an F5 on the Fujita scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
, causing total destruction along its path. The tornado missed the downtown business district. The tornado moved through the residential areas of Tupelo, destroying many homes, and killing whole families who had little or no warning. A very young Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and his mother were two of the survivors.
When the death toll of 216 was announced, over 100 people had been hospitalized in three states. The final death toll was set at 233.
Gainesville tornado
After the Tupelo tornado, the storm system moved through AlabamaAlabama
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...
overnight and finally reached Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
at around 8:30 A.M.
This early morning tornado was a double tornado event. One tornado moved in from the Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
highway, while the other moved in from the Dawsonville
Dawsonville, Georgia
Dawsonville is a city in Dawson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 619 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Dawson County...
highway. The two merged on Grove Street and destroyed everything in sight, causing wreckage pileups of up to 10 feet in some places. The worst tornado-caused death toll in a single building in U.S. history was at the Cooper Pants Factory. The multiple story building, filled with young workers, collapsed and caught fire, killing 70 people. At the Pacolet Mill, 550 workers averted a tragedy by moving to the northeast side of the building. Many people sought refuge in Newnan's department store; however, it collapsed, killing 20 people.
The final death toll could not be calculated because many of the buildings that were hit collapsed and caught fire. A 203 person death toll was posted, with 40 missing. Letters from Gainesville, Georgia were blown 67 miles away to Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
.
The Gainesville tornado was an F4 on the Fujita scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
and was the fifth deadliest tornado in U.S. history. It caused $13 million in damage, equivalent to over $200 million in 2011.
Further reading
Historian Martis Ramage, Jr.'s book, "Tupelo, Mississippi, Tornado of 1936", chronicles the devastation of the tornado.External links and references
- The 1936 Gainesville Tornado: Disaster and Recovery Digital Library of Georgia
- Fujita Scale
Oral histories of the Tupelo tornado
- 1 http://www.lib.usm.edu/~spcol/coh/cohmorganab.html
- 2 http://www.lib.usm.edu/~spcol/coh/cohlonghb.html
- 3 http://www.lib.usm.edu/~spcol/coh/coharnolds.html
- 4 http://www.lib.usm.edu/~spcol/coh/cohmccombjb.html