1987 — May 22, Tornado, Saragosa, Reeves County, TX — 30

lornajarrettblanchard May 22, 1987

— 30 Aguirre, et al. Saragosa, Texas Tornado May 22, 1987… Natural Disaster Studies, V3, p.1.

— 30 Alexander, Bill (Lubbock WSFO). “The Saragosa, Texas Tornado, May 22, 1987.”

— 30 CDC. “Tornado Disaster–Texas.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Aug 5, 1988.

— 30 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1278.

— 30 NCDC. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, TX, Reeves County, 5-22-1987, 16:16 CST.

— 30 National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 29, No. 5, May 1987, p. 57.

–Female, 1, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 24, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 25, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 30, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 31, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 33, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 46, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 48, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 49, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 69, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 71, Guadalupe Hall.

–Male, 1, Guadalupe Hall.

–Male, 25, Guadalupe Hall.

–Male, 27, Guadalupe Hall.

–Male, 28, Guadalupe Hall.

–Male, 35, Guadalupe Hall.

–Male, 53, Guadalupe Hall.

–Male, 54, Guadalupe Hall.

–Male, 57, Guadalupe Hall.

–Female, 46, mobile home.

–Female, 63, mobile home.

–Female, 77, mobile home.

–Male, 70, mobile home.

–Female, 2, frame house.

–Female, 14, frame house.

–Female, 34, frame house.

–Female, 17, vehicle.

–29 Aguirre. “The lack of warnings before the Saragosa tornado.” IJMED, March 1988, 65.[1]

Narrative Information

Alexander: “At 8:15 pm, May 22, 1987, the small community of Saragosa, Texas was devastated by a violent multiple-vortex tornado. Of the 183 inhabitants, 30 were killed and 121 injured. The tornado touched down on the west side of town, completely enveloping everything within the town as it curved toward the north. The tornado had a very short path length but was just over a half-mile wide, striking an isolated community in otherwise sparsely populated ranchland.” (Alexander)

CDC: “On May 22, 1987, between 8:15 p.m. and 8:20 p.m., Saragosa, Texas, was devastated by a violent, multiple-vortex tornado, with winds of 207-260 mph. Saragosa is an unincorporated Hispanic community of 5 200-415 persons located in sparsely populated Reeves County (population 16,300) in southwest Texas. The tornado inflicted widespread damage throughout the town. The worst damage occurred in the residential and business areas where structures were totally destroyed. Many automobiles were hurled several hundred feet into buildings and homes. One hundred three families incurred severe economic losses.

“Thirty people were killed and 131 injured. Among the destroyed buildings was a community hall in which about 80 persons had gathered for a graduation ceremony for preschool children; 22 persons died and approximately 60 were injured inside this hall. Three persons in a frame home, four in mobile homes, and one in an automobile also died. Five of the decedents were less than 5 years of age, three were 5-16 years, 17 were 20-59 years, and four were over the age of 60. The mean age at death was 37 years.

“Persons with minor injuries were treated on the site; others were referred to five hospitals in nearby communities. Most victims (93 casualties and 31 hospital admissions in less than 8 hours) were treated 30 miles away in Pecos at the hospital closest to Saragosa. Most injuries consisted of contusions, lacerations, and fractures. Some wounds became infected because of dust and soil contamination and insufficient first aid. In addition to the 131 injuries associated with the immediate impact of the tornado, many postimpact injuries were sustained by residents or emergency workers. These injuries included sunburn, heat exposure, lacerations, cuts, puncture wounds, fingers crushed with hammers, and animal bites. The American Red Cross also reported several stress-related medical conditions, such as hypertension and diabetic reactions due to failure to take insulin….

“A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect on May 22, 1987, for Reeves County from 3:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and beginning midafternoon local television stations displayed a severe thunderstorm watch symbol. The National Weather Service (NWS) Office at Midland issued a tornado warning for south and central Reeves County at 7:54 p.m. This warning was partly based on reports of forming tornadoes from NWS-trained storm spotters. Local radio and TV stations promptly broadcasted the warning. The radio station in Pecos broadcasted the warning in both English and Spanish.

“Although the graduation exercise attendees did not hear the broadcast of the NWS warning, they were warned of the approaching tornado by a person who had stepped outside and spotted it. Despite some confusion, during the 1-2 minutes before the tornado hit, many persons demonstrated knowledge of tornado safety by taking proper protective action. Parents removed the kindergarten children from the stage and placed them under tables and benches next to the walls. Parents also used themselves as shields to protect their children. The open structure of the community hall made these actions the only options for safety. Some persons considered leaving the hall but remembered safety rules advising against being in the open or in vehicles in a tornado. None of the 4- and 5-year-old children participating in the graduation exercise were killed.

“The NWS issued the tornado warning for the area 20 minutes before the tornado hit, but the town did not have a warning siren. Even if a siren had been activated, there was no preidentified shelter in this community or county, and the community hall might have been considered one of the safest structures. Most housing structures were not built to withstand high wind, and walls were constructed of wood, bricks, adobe, or unreinforced concrete. The numbers of injuries and deaths were high (an estimated 70% of persons in the swath of the tornado were injured) probably because of the lack of shelters and protective housing….” (CDC. “Tornado Disaster — Texas.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 37, No. 30, pp. 454-456, 461, 8-5-1988.)

Grazulis: “TX MAY 22, 1987 1916 30k 121 inj 1000y 3m F4. REEVES — Moved NNE from 2m SW of Saragosa, passing through and virtually wiping out that town, destroying 61 homes, which was about 85% of the town. It first destroyed a farm house and scattered outbuildings, then intensified at the edge of Saragosa and grew to a half mile in width. Over 100 utility poles were snapped, and vehicles were hurled through adobe and wood-frame buildings. Some vehicles were found as much as 900 feet from where they had been parked. Twenty-two of the 30 deaths occurred in one building, Guadalupe Hall, where many people had gathered at a graduation ceremony for Head Start children. The building was totally destroyed, with only the foundation remaining. Several infants were killed, but most of the dead were parents or grandparents of the children. None of the Head Start children died. Many survived because parents shielded them from debris with their bodies, costing the adult his or her life. Four other deaths occurred in trailers, and three in frame houses. One person was killed as he tried to outrun the tornado in a car. Shortly after leaving Saragosa, the tornado lifted. $1,300,000.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1278.)

NCDC: “The supercell that produced…golfball-sized hail at Balmorhea produced a violent multiple vortex tornado that destroyed the community of Saragosa. The tornado essentially wiped the community of 183 people off the map, killing 30 and injuring 121 more. More than 85 percent of the structures in town were totally destroyed.

“The tornado began just north of Interstate 10, two miles south-southwest of Saragosa, as a strong single-vortex tornado. It moved through farmland, destroying a farm house and scattering out-buildings. As the storm entered Saragosa it rapidly became a large multiple vortex tornado, just over a half-mile wide. The path crossed over and enveloped almost all the residential and business district of the town, inflicting F3 and F4 damage….Autos and trucks were hurled through adobe and wood-frame structures, with some found as much as 500 feet from the point of origin.

“Tragically, of the 30 fatalities, 22 were in a single building, Guadalupe Hall, watching a graduation ceremony for Head Start four-year-olds. Most of those who died were parents or grand-parents of the Head Start children; none of the Head Start children died. Several others were infants a year old or younger. Many of the four-year-olds survived because parents shielded them from debris with their bodies, costing the adult his or her life. Four other fatalities occurred in mobile homes, while only 3 were in frame houses. Another died trying to outrun the tornado in an automobile.

“Shortly after the twister ripped through the community it lifted.”

Sources

Aguirre, Benigno E., et al. Saragosa, Texas Tornado May 22, 1987: An Evaluation of the Warning System (Natural Disaster Studies, Vol. 3). Wash., D.C: National Academy Press, 1991. [Can be accessed for free by registering on National Academy Press website at: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/1766/saragosa-texas-tornado-may-22-1987-an-evaluation-of-the ]

Aguirre, Benigno E. “The Lack of Warnings Before the Saragosa Tornado.” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 65-74, March 1988. Accessed at: http://www.udel.edu/DRC/Aguirre/publications/ag30.pdf

Alexander, Bill (Lubbock WSFO). “The Saragosa, Texas Tornado, May 22, 1987.” Stormtrack, 9-30-1987. Accessed at: http://www.stormtrack.org/library/1987/saragosa.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Tornado Disaster — Texas.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 37, No. 30, pp. 454-456, 461, 8-5-1988. Accessed 11-10-2016 at: http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/00001072.htm

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

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 29, No. 5, May 1987. Asheville, NC: NOAA, NCDC. Accessed 11-10-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-C82AE1F4-3ECC-4465-A977-B5A717B11E59.pdf

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Events Database. Tornado, F4, TX, Reeves County, 5-22-1987, 16:00 CST. Accessed 11-10-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10143353

[1] The fatality number is incorrect. Noted in that this is an informative social science article.