March 23, 1913 – The vicious Easter Sunday Tornado of 1913 shredded parts of Omaha, NE. The tornado struck during the late afternoon, and in just twelve minutes wreaked total destruction. The storm destroyed much of the northern end of the city, cutting a path through town more than five blocks wide, with 94 people losing their life.
It was just a piece of a violent tornado outbreak in the Great Plains, killing at least 190 people and injuring hundreds of others. A series of F4 tornadoes also touched down in Iowa, Missouri, and Indiana.
The tornado that hit Omaha was the 13th deadliest in the recorded history of the United States, and the deadliest to hit Nebraska. In addition, the outbreak as a whole remains the most deadly outbreak to strike so early in the year (as of 2014.)
On that same day a tornado at Terre Haute IN kille 21 people, did a million dollars damage, and demolished 300 houses. Accounts afterward said chickens were “defeathered,” and baby was reportedly carried by the wind and set down unharmed a block away.
March 23, 1917 – One of Indiana’s deadliest tornadoes killed 45 people in New Albany, did $1.5 million in damage, and left 350 families homeless. A smaller tornado roared by Carlisle, Indiana and killed one person. A tornado touched down northeast of Swayzee, Indiana. Another twister moved from near Preble to just outside Monmouth, Indiana. Six students were hurt when the tornado hit a school.
March 23, 2007 – A trailer is thrown through a bowling alley as a tornado moves through Clovis, NM. About 100 homes and businesses are destroyed, at least three schools are damaged and telephone poles are snapped. Thirteen tornadoes struck a dozen communities along the New Mexico/Texas border. Two people were critically injured.
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