This Day in History June 22, 1919

What a chilling picture, eh?  And this was reality on this date in 1919 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

The second deadliest tornado in Minnesota history was responsible for this damage.  It struck at 4:46 P.M., killed 57, injured 200, and destroyed about 400 buildings--including 228 homes.  Some curious things happened as a result of this F5 tornado.  Lumber was carried ten miles away.  A blank check was found 60 miles away, and Lake Alice was filled with lumber and storm debris.

The Great Northern Oriental Limited passenger train was coming through Fergus Falls at just this time, and it was thrown off the tracks.  Amazingly, none of the 250 passengers were injured!  Thirty-five of the casualties were in the Grand Hotel, a 3-story structure.  And as a side note, although there was no such thing as an "F5" tornado at this point in history, it is clear from the descriptions that it must have been.

For more information, check out:
http://www.examiner.com/article/weather-history-june-22-record-temps-storms-tornadoes-flooding-tropics
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fgf/?n=fergusfallsf5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919_Fergus_Falls_tornado

This Day in History June 12, 1899

Yes, another weather disaster for today's feature.  This date in 1899 was the day of a great circus for the inhabitants of New Richmond, Wisconsin.  You can imagine the excitement as hundreds of visitors as well as lots of visitors were drawn to this town to view the entertainment.  The circus ended late that afternoon just about the time when the circus was over.  There was some rain and hail, but by 6 P.M., things seemed to have cleared up.

The tornado had already touched down and was heading towards New Richmond, destroying farm buildings and killing three people as it moved across the open country. There was little warning.  People were caught in the streets, and even some of those in storm cellars were pelted to death with flying bricks.

Fires broke out, and more than 500 buildings were destroyed due to the tornado and fires afterwards.  A total of 117 people were killed (114 in the village proper), and the town basically had to be rebuilt.  The storms caused anywhere from $300,000 to $600,000 in damages (but remember this was 1899). 

When I read about things like this, I am again reminded of my many blessings.  God has been good to keep me safe all these years.  But I also know that if something bad does happen, I will continue to trust Him.

For more information, please check out:

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=10466&term_type_id=3&term_type_text=Things&letter=N

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=newrichmond-tornado

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1899_New_Richmond_tornado

This Day in History May 5, 1933

Yes, I know I could be writing about "Cinco de Mayo," but I thought I would go down a different road.  On this date in 1933, an F4 tornado went through Shelby County in Alabama.  In Helena, Alabama, fourteen people died, 150 were injured, and most of the town were left homeless.  Because it happened so early in the morning, many people were asleep and even found themselves covered by the debris of their homes.

I have never been through a tornado that affected me adversely.  There was a tornado years ago that hit near me--devastated downtown Fort Worth, Texas.  I have had a bad storm cause a tree to fall through the roof of my mobile home (that was crazy!).

For more information, check out:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/?n=event_05051933
http://www.tornadoproject.com/past/othralts.htm
http://www.examiner.com/article/today-weather-history-may-5
http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/alabama/counties/shelby.jpg

This Day in History April 26, 1989

On this date in 1989, the deadliest tornado in history struck central Bangladesh killing nearly 13,000 people, injuring around 12,000,  and leaving around 80,000 homeless.  It is known as the Daulatpur-Saturia Tornado because of the main cities it targeted.  

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find myself complaining about what is happening in my life and how I don't have enough money for whatever I want.  Then I am reminded about what really matters when I read about stories like this.

Here is more information:

http://worldnews.about.com/od/disasters/tp/Worlds-Worst-Tornadoes.htm 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daulatpur-Salturia_Tornado 

http://www.tutorgig.info/ed/Daultipur-Salturia_Tornado 

http://www.komindia.com/komkids/26th-april-today-in-history 

This Day in History April 5, 1936

As we see the tornadoes that happened in Dallas/Fort Worth area yesterday, I am now drawn to another date when terrible tornadoes occurred.  It was on this date in 1936 that the nightmare began in Mississippi.

In all, 17 tornadoes ripped through the Gainseville/Tupelo, Mississippi area beginning on April 5 and ending on April 6.  The fourth deadliest tornado tore through Tupelo on April 5, 1936 about 8:30 P.M.  Ten were killed and many more injured as the F5 tornado ripped through Tupelo.  By the time this destructive system ended, about 216 people were killed, and more than 700 were injured (African Americans were not included in these totals).  The property damage was estimated at three million dollars.

This was a horrific time, and if you would like to read more, I will list the links:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tornadoes-devastate-tupelo-and-gainesville
http://ngeorgia.com/ang/FDR_in_Gainesville,_1936
http://ngeorgia.com/ang/1936_Gainesville_Tornado
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupelo-Gainesville_tornado_outbreak