3 — 11

lornajarrettblanchard May 26, 1973

–11 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1142.
–3 Arkansas
–1 Otwell
–1 Jonesboro
–1 Weiner
–3 Kansas
–5 Oklahoma

Arkansas 3
–3 Assoc. Press. “South, Midwest Twisters Kill 35.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, 5-28-1973, 1.
–3 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1142.

Kansas 3
–3 Associated Press. “3 drown as funnel picks up a boat.” Salina Journal, 5-27-1973, p. 1.
–3 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1142.

Oklahoma 5
–5 Assoc. Press. “Twisters claim 48.” Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, WI. 5-26-1973, p. 1.
–5 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1142.

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “KS. MAY 26, 1973 1525 3k…100y 4m Fl. SEDGWICK–At Cheney Reservoir, a 19-foot boat was picked up and thrown back into the water. Three members of a family drowned. Trees were uprooted on shore.

“OK. MAY 26, 1973 1600 5k 25inj 500y 3m F4. MUSKOGEE–Moved ENE from WSW of Keefeton to town and beyond. Eight frame homes, four trailers, and 15 farm buildings were destroyed. Over 100 other buildings sustained damage ranging from major to minor. A pickup truck was carried and rolled for a half mile, and all four occupants were killed. About 75% of Keefeton was damaged or destroyed. One person died from injuries sustained as his home was destroyed.

AR. MAY 26, 1973 2230 3k 289inj 200y 55m F4. WOODRUFF/ JACKSON/ POINSETT/ CRAIGHEAD—Moved NE from Augusta, leaving a path of twisted trees and destroyed or damaged buildings in Tupelo and Balch, Jackson County. Property damage in that county was estimated at $110,000, and 25 people were injured. Seven people were injured across NW Poinsett County. The tornado killed one person at Otwell, Craighead County, and then the tornado moved into Jonesboro, devastating much of the residential and business district, killing one person and doing $37,000,000 damage. Eyewitnesses report seeing two funnels in Jonesboro. Another person died at Weiner.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes…, 1993, p. 1142.)

Newspaper

May 26: “By Associated Press. A record number of tornadoes dipped to earth from storm systems across the Midwest and South over the Memorial Day weekend, claiming at least 48 lives in multi-million dollar trails of destruction….Deaths were reported in 11 states from Oklahoma to Florida, and at least six other states reeled under heavy rains, high winds and flash floods. The National Weather Service said the number of tornadoes reported between Saturday and Monday eclipsed any previous 72-hour period on record….

“The weekend weather systems caused five deaths in Oklahoma, three in Kansas, seven in Missouri, Three in Arkansas, ten in Tennessee, one in Mississippi, seven in Alabama, two in Georgia, one in Florida, seven in North Carolina and two in Virginia. In addition, six persons in North Carolina and one in Virginia were listed as missing and presumed drowned. The storms began Saturday [May 26] in eastern Oklahoma and continued into Monday night, when a tornado at Athens, Ga., took the life of one person and left more than 60 injured….

“The storms began their weekend of terror in Keefeton, a community of 400 in eastern Oklahoma. officials said a funnel cloud dropped from the sky just west of town on Saturday and proceeded to make a half-mile-wide swath of destruction. Destroyed was 75 per cent of Keefeton, including 150 homes, 125 cars and virtually all of the business district. Five persons, including four members of the same family who were rushing toward a shelter, were killed.

“As the storms crisscrossed the Midwest and South during the weekend, a great many of the deaths resulted from drownings. Flash floods and wind-whipped lakes knocked out power, swept away homes and uprooted trees in state after state as the storms moved first southeast and then up the East Coast.” (AP. “Twisters claim 48.” Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, WI. 5-26-1973, p. 1.)

May 27: “At least three persons were killed Saturday as a wide-ranging line of tornadoes and violent thunderstorms swept through Kansas and Missouri. Three members of a Wichita family drowned on Cheney Reservoir, about 30 miles southeast of Hutchinson, when their large fishing boat was swept into the air and then capsized by an apparent funnel. Only one body had been recovered by late Saturday night and the names of the victims had not been released….” (Associated Press. “3 drown as funnel picks up a boat.” Salina Journal, 5-27-1973, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “3 drown as funnel picks up a boat.” Salina Journal, 5-27-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-6-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salina-journal-may-27-1973-p-1/

Associated Press. “South, Midwest Twisters Kill 35.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, 5-28-1973, 1. Accessed 1-6-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/walla-walla-union-bulletin-may-27-1973-p-53/

Associated Press. “Twisters claim 48.” Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, WI. 5-26-1973, p. 1. Accessed 1-6-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wisconsin-rapids-daily-tribune-may-26-1973-p-7/

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.