1978 — June 17, Tornado, Showboat Whippoorwill capsized, Pomona Lake, KS — 16

–16  Fitzgerald. Sound and Fury: A History of Kansas Tornadoes, 1854-2008. 2008/09, p. 265.

–16  Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 310 and 1204.

–16  National Weather Service WFO, Topeka, KS. “1978 Whippoorwill Tornado Disaster.”

–16  Wikipedia. “1978 Whippoorwill tornado.” 3-7-2012 modification.

–15  Drabek, Thomas E. The Human Side of Disaster. Boca Raton, FL:  CRC Press, 2010.

—  2  Hutchinson News, KS.  “Twister flips boat.” 6-18-1978, 1.

 

Narrative Information

 

Grazulis: “KS  Jun 17, 1978  1815  16k  3inj  150y  8m  F2  Osage – Moved ESE from 4m NNE of Lyndon, on the west edge of Pomona Lake, to south of Michigan Lake.  What should have been a marginally significant tornado became a major killer when it encountered the showboat ‘Whippoorwill,’ causing it to capsize.  Sixteen of the 58 passengers and crew on board were drowned…” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1204.”  (Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1204.)

 

NWS WFO Topeka: “On June 17th 1978, a tornado struck very near the Whippoorwill Showboat on Lake Pomona in Osage county causing it to capsize. This very unusual and unique disaster resulted in 16 deaths and 3 injuries among the 58 passengers and crew aboard. Although the deaths were due to drowning when the vessel overturned, they were attributed to the tornado; making it one of the worst tornado death tolls in Kansas history. Nationwide media coverage was focused on Kansas and this tornado for many days after the tragic event. People who boarded the Whippoorwill for an evening of fun and entertainment, likely never imagined what a historical catastrophe they were in for.

 

“The tornado formed very rapidly around 7 pm, cut an erratic but generally eastward path about 8 miles long before dissipating near the small community of Michigan Valley. Witnesses sighted 3 funnels rotating around the main vortex, which itself was no more than about 150 yards wide. Some people reported more than one tornado in the area.

 

“Although damage was also reported to campers, trees and power lines in and near the lake, this tornado should have been relatively insignificant and generally the “norm” in Kansas. The exception occurred when the winds from the tornado capsized the Whippoorwill Showboat causing the 16 deaths. This incident shows that ALL tornadoes, no matter how small or short-lived, demand our respect, and have the potential to cause damage, injuries and fatalities, even when they do not make a direct strike.” (National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Topeka, KS. “1978 Whippoorwill Tornado Disaster.” 8-31-2010.)

 

Newspaper

 

June 18: “Ottawa (UPI) — A tornado overturned an excursion boat with at least 58 persons aboard Saturday night, killing at least two persons. At least 17 others were reported missing.  The boat, the Whippoorwill Showboat, was capsized on 4,000 acre Lake Pomona by what apparently was a tornado, the Franklin County sheriffs dispatcher said. It was carrying 46 passengers, a crew of six and a six member band.

 

“A witness on the boat told a sheriff’s deputy “We were cruising along when a funnel appeared over the water.  The boat was turned away from it.  It looked like smoke coming out of the water. It went about 200 feet into the air.  Then the boat went over.”

 

“Three persons were injured and taken to Stormant-Vail Hospital at Topeka, where they were listed in serious condition. A hospital spokesman said the injured were a man in his 80s and two women, one in her 70s and one in her 30s….

 

“Lt. Fred Austin of the Kansas Highway Patrol said shortly after 10 p.m. that one death had been confirmed and 17 persons were still missing.  Reporters at the scene said a second body was pulled from the water a short time later.

 

“All available ambulances in the area were dispatched to the scene, about 15 miles west of Ottawa in east central Kansas.  Nearby area hospitals called in emergency personnel and were standing by for injured passengers.  Sheriff’s deputies and highway patrolmen were at the scene, along with workers equipped with cutting torches — apparently to be used to extricate any persons trapped inside the vessel.  Scuba divers were sent from Lee’s Summit, Mo., — about 85 miles east of Ottawa — and a Shawnee County underwater rescue squad was dispatched to the scene.”  (Hutchinson News, KS.  “Twister flips boat.” 6-18-1978, 1.)

 

Sources

 

Drabek, Thomas E. The Human Side of Disaster. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2010.

 

Fitzgerald, Daniel C.  Sound and Fury: A History of Kansas Tornadoes, 1854-2008. Dan Fitzgerald Company, 2008-2009.

 

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

 

Hutchinson News, KS. “Twister flips boat.” 6-18-1978, 1. Accessed at:  http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=149602952

 

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Topeka, KS. “1978 Whippoorwill Tornado Disaster.” 8-31-2010. Accessed at:  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/top/events/whippoorwill.php

 

Wikipedia. “1978 Whippoorwill tornado.” 3-7-2012 modification. Accessed at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_Whippoorwill_tornado