1936 — Jan 18, Tornadoes, AL (6 deaths), FL (7 deaths), GA (7 deaths) — 20

lornajarrettblanchard January 18, 1936

–20 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 500.

–4 AL, Dekalb County, 0300, F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 500.

–2 Fyffe; couple in farm house.[1] Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–2 Morgan’s Crossroads; man, granddaughter in home.[2] Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–0 AL, Shelby County, 10:00 a.m. F2. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–1 AL, Dale County, Skipperville, 6:00 p.m. F2. Woman Grazulis 1993, p. 500.

–1 AL, Houston County, Grangeburg, 9:00 p.m. F3. Boy, 2. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–7 FL, Washington County, 6:00 p.m. F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 500.

–6 Vernon vicinity; farmhouse “obliterated.”[3] Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–1 Wausau vicinity; home damaged. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–0 GA, Early County, 10:30 p.m. F2. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–7 GA, Calhoun County, 11:00 p.m. F3. A child.[4] Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–17 AP. “Furious Storms in South States Claim 17 Lives.” Charleston Gazette, WV, 1-20-1936, 1.

Alabama (6)

–4 Dekalb County. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–1 Dale County. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–1 Houston County. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

Florida (7)

–6 Washington County. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

–1 Washington County. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

Georgia (7)

–7 Calhoun County. Grazulis 1993, p. 864.

Narrative Information

Grazulis on Dekalb County, AL 3:00 a.m. F3 tornado: “Dekalb — Moved ENE [3 a.m.] from south of Oak Grove, passing 3m W of Fyffe, and ending near Rainsville. Farm homes were destroyed near Fyffe, and a couple was killed in one of them. A man and his granddaughter died in a home at ‘Morgan’s Crossroads.’ Four homes and many other buildings were destroyed on the slopes of Sand Mountain….” (Grazulis 1993, p. 864.)

Grazulis on Dale County, AL, 6:00 p.m. F2 tornado: “”One person died as five homes were destroyed in a brief touchdown at Skipperville. A woman was pulled from the wreckage but died in the hospital, and her son may also have died.” (Grazulis 1993, p. 864.)

Grazulis on Washington County, FL, 7:00 p.m. F3 tornado: “Moved NC from south of Vernon to north and NE of Wausau. Six homes were destroyed near Vernon, and eight were destroyed near Wausau. Six people were killed when a farm house was ‘obliterated’ south of Vernon….One person died in a home north of Wausau….” (Grazulis 1993, p. 864.)

Grazulis on Houston County, AL, 9:00 p.m. F3 tornado: “….In Alabama, six homes were destroyed and 15 more were damaged between Cottonwood and Grangeburg. A two-year-old boy was killed in a home near Ashford.” (Grazulis 1993, p. 864.)

Grazulis on Calhoun County, GA, 11:00 F3 tornado: “Moved ENE near Edison, destroying six barns and sweeping a dozen tenant homes. Bodies were carried up to 200 yards…” (Grazulis 1993, p. 864.)

Newspaper

Associated Press, Jan 19: “Chipley, Fla., Jan. 19 — (AP)–A weekend toll of 17 deaths was caused by a series of off-season tornadoes which struck three southern states, leaving extensive property damage and scores of rural residents injured.

“Simultaneous with the arrival of bitter cold in the deep south, the tornadic winds dipped first into north Alabama, killing four persons yesterday, and shifted to the southeast causing 13 deaths in the vicinity of the Georgia-Alabama-Florida state lines last night.

“A family of six was wiped out by the terrific winds which roared into the northern Florida near here, two were killed in nearby Alabama and five lives were taken in southwest Georgia.

“After skipping from the extreme northern part of Alabama to the extreme southern part, the winds cut a wide path near here and passed on into Georgia, where the victims included five Negroes whose tenant homes were blown away. The dead were Dan Dykes, 25 year old farmer; Mrs. Dykes, 23, their four children, Johnnie, 10, Evelyn, 6, Willie, 4, and Kelly, 16 months; an unidentified child near Ashford, Ala.; and an unidentified woman near Skipperville, Ala.

“Thousands of dollars damage was left by the sand mountain storm. Red Cross officials estimated the loss in this vicinity at $50,000. Those killed on Sand mountain were Claude Portwood, 36, farmer; his 32 year old wife; Randolph Rowell, 87; and Janet Rowell. A number were injured in the Sand mountain storm and 25 were hurt, some critically, by the winds which tore a path of destruction near here.

“Two visitors at the Dykes home, Frank McDade, 14, and Bruce McDade, 10, escaped death with the family by running through a hole left in the wall as a gust of wind snatched away the chimney. They were injured seriously, however.

“Russ Davis, chairman of the local Red Cross, said bodies of the Dykes family were found a quarter mile from the home. The baby was found a mile and a half away, the body dashed against a tree. Searchers were directed to the bodies of the Dykes by the family dog which kept running back and forth between the leveled home and the spot where the bodies were deposited by the wind.” (Associated Press. “Furious Storms in South States Claim 17 Lives.” Charleston Gazette, WV, 1-20-1936, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Furious Storms in South States Claim 17 Lives.” Charleston Gazette, WV, 1-20-1936, p. 1. Accessed 8-31-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/charleston-gazette-jan-20-1936-p-1/

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes Update 1992-1995. St. Johnsbury, VE: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films, January 1997, 128 pages.

[1] According to Associated Press, this would be Claude Portwood, 36, a farmer, and his 32-year-old wife.

[2] According to Associated Press, this would be Randolph Rowell, 87, and Janet Rowell, age not noted.

[3] From Associated Press reporting this appears to be reference to the Dykes family — Dan Dykes, 25, his wife, 23, Johnnie/10, Evelyn/6, Willie/4, and Kelly/16-months.

[4] Associated Press. “Furious Storms in South States Claim 17 Lives.” Charleston Gazette, WV, 1-20-1936, p. 1.