Top Five Tornadoes In American History

Spring officially arrives on March 20th. I look forward to flowers poking up through the thawing soil, birds singing, and the warmer days after a brutally cold winter. But, with the Spring, comes the threat of one of nature's most devastating natural disasters, tornadoes. No Country on the planet is immune to this natural phenomenon. According to weatherwizkids.com, "A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of up to 300 mph. They can destroy large buildings, uproot trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of yards. They can also drive straw into trees." In other words, even though there is a great temptation to run outdoors and gawk at the skies when the tornado siren wails, the wise move is to take cover.

The United States has seen its fair share of devastating storms. Let's take a moment to learn more about the top five tornadoes in American history.

Number Five: Gainesville, Georgia, April 6th, 1936

On this day, two tornadoes converged in Georgia, forming an F5 storm, the most powerful designation. This tornado reeked havoc along with 17 others that formed in the state. This tornado devastating Gainesville was the worst storm ever to strike in the state of Georgia. The tornado killed 203 people.

Number Four: Tupelo, Mississippi, April 5th, 1936

The line of destructive tornadoes to strike in Georgia, originated in Mississippi. The one that struck Tupelo bypassed the business district and leveled 48 blocks of residential neighborhoods. Two-hundred sixteen people perished in this storm. Interestingly enough, one-year-old Elvis Presley survived.

Number Three: St. Louis, Missouri, May 27th, 1896

On this date, the Midwest suffered an outbreak of 18 tornadoes. The one inflicting the worst damage, touched down in St. Louis, considered one of the largest and most influential cities of the day. This tornado killed at least 255 people, injured thousands, and caused more than 10 million dollars in damage. (That converts to almost 320 million today.) The number of lives lost might be significantly higher. Some speculate several people perished on boats as the storm swept through the area, their bodies being lost in the Mississippi River.

Number Two: Natchez, Mississippi, May 6th, 1840

In 1840, the National Weather Service did not exist, and therefore the people of Natchez had no warning. Many of the people that died were out on the water that day, no one expecting a tornado to strike there. This tornado holds the distinction of killing more people that it injured. Three hundred seventeen people perished in this storm.

Number One: Tri-State Tornado (MO, IL, IN) May 18, 1925

This storm carved a path of destruction over three states, hence the name. Six towns in Illinois and Indiana were completely destroyed. Sadly, during this period of history, weather men were forbidden from using the word "tornado" for fear of striking panic in the general public. On that day, the citizens of the state may have heard the term "severe local storm," and went about their business as usual. The Tri-State Tornado lasted about 3.5 hours and cut a 291 mile path of destruction. A total of 695 people died.

Since the tornado season is upon us, there are some key things to remember to protect yourself and your loved ones from these storms.

1. Go to a basement or an inside room with windows on the lowest floor. If the lowest floor is not underground, seek safety in the bathroom, a closet, or an interior central hallway.

2. Avoid Windows

3. For added protection, get under something sturdy like a table or workbench. If you choose to seek safety in your bathtub, cover up with a mattress or thick sleeping bag.

4. If living in a mobile home, know that there is no safe place in this type of dwelling. Prior to tornado season, seek out a place of shelter to take refuge in case of tornadoes. Some mobile home parks provide tornado shelters on the property. Designate this as your safe place.

Roger Edwards, American meteorologist said, “Tornadoes were, for most, dark and mysterious menaces of unfathomable power, fast-striking monsters from the sky capable of sudden and unpredictable acts of death and devastation.” These "monsters" of the Spring mean business. Purchase a weather radio or install a weather alert system on your phone or tablet. Be weather aware and have a plan for cover. Stay safe out there.