85 years ago today, the Tri-State Tornado struck the American Midwest.

[ColesCountyDem]

The most devastating tornado in American history struck on March 18th, 1925. It began near Ellington, MO and traveled for 219 miles to just east of Princeton, IN. In its wake, 695 people were confirmed dead, thousands were seriously injured and required surgery and/or hospitalization and property damage ran into the tens of millions ( in 1925 dollars ).

As a kid growing up in Southern Illinois, I heard many, many personal accounts of the tornado, including many from my own grandparents. My maternal grandfather was injured in the tornado when it picked him up, carried him 300 yards and deposited him in an elm tree with a broken shoulder. He managed to extricate himself and walked 8 miles up the ICRR tracks to Benton, where he and my grandmother lived; rather than try and seek help in devastated West Frankfort, he chose to walk home because he knew my grandmother would be in a near-panic, wondering if he were alive or dead, injured or OK, etc. .

Rather than ramble on, just check out the link below to this horrifying episode in Illinois' history.

Thanks!

:hi:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/?n=1925tor

[Journeyman]

1. Just saw mention of this in one of my daily news letters - the tornado's base was 1 mile wide. . .

Unimaginable.

[pipi_k]

2. Too young to remember that one, but I do

remember the big tornado outbreak of April 3 - 4 in 1974.

Was living in Smyrna, TN at the time with first hubby and two small kids. He was at work...I was alone with the kids. No basement to hide in. I seriously thought we were going to die, but the funnel cloud I saw out my front window went towards La Vergne, in the other direction.

Went out the next day to see the damages in various spots.

To this day I still have nightmares involving tornadoes.


IMO, they're the most frightening of all possible storm systems. I can't even begin to imagine the terror of people who have actually been involved in one of them.

[ColesCountyDem]

4. I remember them well.

Good point about terror; my grandpa was never again able to sleep on any night when we had severe thunderstorm or tornado watches; he and Grandma would come to our house on those nights and Grandpa would stay up all night long in the rocking chair, chain-smoking and watching out our south-facing sliding glass doors. His doing that was very comforting to me; I always felt safe when he did that, as though I had my own persona guardian angel watching over me while I slept.

:)

[Cirque du So-What]

3. A timely reminder that tornado season is upon us once again N/T

[uppityperson]

5. as a toddler in an F5, winds still make me anxious. Thanks for the link. eom

[ColesCountyDem]

6. You're most welcome!

:hi:

[ColesCountyDem]

7. An 'unreccomend'?

Good lord!

:eyes:

[anigbrowl]

14. You didn't blame the tornado on anybody

Since Calvin Coolidge was president then, and a Republican, you missed a golden opportunity to strike a blow for justice, or something.

[ColesCountyDem]

15. Oh....

;)

[ColesCountyDem]

8. The storm's track...

[ColesCountyDem]

9. kick n/t

[ColesCountyDem]

10. Kick for the evening crowd. n/t

[pleah]

11. K&R I grew up in Southern Illinois, too. I remember

the tornado that went by our house. We lived in a house on a hill with no basement.


ps: Franklin County.

[ColesCountyDem]

13. Franklin County also. n/t

[LostInAnomie]

12. I grew up in Princeton and used to hear stories from my grandfather about it.

He was only 5 and he could still remember it. His family survived by hiding in a big ditch near their house.