5–128

lornajarrettblanchard April 12, 1945

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/ Last edit 12-9-2023.

–129 storymaps.arcgis.com. “The April 12, 1945 Tornado Outbreak.” [I count 128 in narrative.]

–128 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 242, 503, 919.

— 08 Oklahoma County, OK. (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 503, 919)

— 03 Latimer County, OK. “

— 07 Crawford, AR & Sequoyah, OK Counties. (Grazulis 1993, pp. 242, 503, 919)

— 13 Muskogee County, OK. (Grazulis, 1993, pp. 503, 919)

— 04 Cherokee County, OK. “

— 69 Antler, OK. Brooks/Doswell 2000; OK/NWS 2008; Pushmataha Co. (Grazulis, 503, 919)

— 01 McDonald, MO. (Grazulis, 1993, pp. 503, 919)

— 09 Madison and Carroll Counties, AR. “

— 04 Polk, MO. “

— 10 Logan and Johnson Counties, AR. “

Arkansas – 21:

–02 Crawford County, AR. (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919)

–2 Dora. Young girl and her grandmother. (storymaps.arcgis.com.)

–09 Madison, Carroll Counties. (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919; storymaps.arcgis.com.) –1 Crosses. (Ada Evening News, OK. “Oklahoma…74 Tornado…” 4-13-1945, p1.)

–1 Japton. (storymaps.arcgis.com.)

–7 Marble area (storymaps.arcgis.com.)

–10 Logan, Johnson Counties, AR. (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919)

Missouri – 05:

–01 McDonald County, MO. (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919)

–04 Polk County, MO. “

Oklahoma – 102:

–04 Cherokee County, OK (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919; storymaps.arcgis.com.)

— 4 Hulbert (storymaps.arcgis.com.)

–03 Latimer County, OK (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919; storymaps.arcgis.com.)

— 1 Red Oak (Ada Evening News, OK. “Oklahoma…74 Tornado…” 4-13-1945, p1.)

–13 Muskogee County, OK (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919; storymaps.arcgis.com.)

–08 Oklahoma County, OK. (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919)

–8 SE side of Oklahoma City near Tinker AFB. (storymaps.arcgis.com.)

–69 Pushmataha County, OK (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919; storymaps.arcgis.com.)

–69 Antlers. NWS WFO, Norman, OK. “Top Ten Deadliest OK…”

–05 Sequoyah County, OK (Grazulis 1993, pp. 503, 919; storymaps.arcgis.com.))

— 1 Greenwood Junction. (Ada Evening News, OK. “Oklahoma…Tornado…” 4-13-1945, p1.)

— 1 Rowland (Ada Evening News, OK. “Oklahoma…74 Tornado…” 4-13-1945, p1.)

–07 Sequoyah/Crawford counties. storymaps.arcgis.com.

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “OK APR 12, 1945 1525 8k 200inj 400y 20m F4. OKLAHOMA–Moved NE from near the Cleveland County line, along the SE edge of Oklahoma City. About 160 homes were destroyed in the communities of Valley Brook, Dell City, and Choctaw. Most of the dead and injured were families of personnel at Tinker Air Force Base. $1,000,000.

“OK APR 12, 1945 1615 3k 15inj 200y 12m F3. LATIMER — Moved NE from 7m SE of Wilburton to 4m NE of Red Oak, hitting the “Boggy” community. Three children were killed as a small home was leveled and swept away. $30,000.

“OK-AR APR 12, 1945 1630 7k 40inj…llm F3. SEQUOYAH_,OK/CRAWFORD, AR — Moved NE from near Roland, Oklahoma, passing north of Dora, Arkansas. Five people were killed in Oklahoma as a small home was destroyed. Two other tornado-related fatalities occurred in Arkansas when a girl and her grandmother were caught as their home was destroyed and burned near Dora.

“OK APR 12, 1945 1650 13k 200inj 400y 3m F4. MUSKOGEE — Moved NE at the east edge of Muskogee, hitting the School for the Blind. Losses totaled $1,400,000, mostly in the “Hyde Park” residential area and at the school. Three of the 13 deaths were at the school, as the girl’s dormitory roof collapsed. Many of the injured were in the school gym. About 100 homes were damaged or destroyed.

“OK APR 12, 1945 1700 4k 8inj 200y 4m F2. CHEROKEE — Moved NE, damaging or destroying 81 buildings at Hulbert. Four people were killed in a small home at the north edge of town.

“OK APR 12, 1945 1740 69k 353inj 800y 28m F5. PUSHMATAHA — Moved NE from 5m SW of Antlers, devastating about a third of that town. Over 600 buildings were destroyed, and over 700 were damaged. This tornado would have commanded the attention of both the local and the national press if it were not for the death of President Roosevelt. In spite of the enormity of the disaster, even nearby newspapers had more information on the death of the President than on the tornado. $1,500,000.

“MO APR 12, 1945 1900 lk 15inj 200y 13m F3. MCDONALD–Moved ENE from 4m W of Pineville, destroying several homes lm N of town. One woman was killed and five people were injured in one home. The last damage was south of Stella….

“AR APR 12, 1945 2000 9k 30inj 400y 30m F3. MADISON/CARROLL–Moved NE from near Crosses, 5m SW of Japton, passing 4m SE of Huntsville. Homes were destroyed in at least a half dozen small communities. One person died in a barn near Japton, and seven members of one family were killed as a small home was obliterated just south of Marble. The tornado lifted 4m E of Metalton. Several thousand acres of forest were uprooted. $70,000….

“MO APR 12, 1945 2045 4k 16inj 300y 8m F4. POLK–Moved NE through the NW part of Morrisville, destroying eight homes, and killing people in two of them. $250,000.

“AR APR 12, 1945 2100 10k 70inj 600y 50m F4. LOGAN/JOHNSON — Moved NE from 8m SW of Booneville to 5m NE of Clarksville. Many homes were swept away along the section of the path from 2m E to 8m NE of Paris. Five people died in that area, and five others were killed at Minnow Creek, near the end of the path. About 100 homes were damaged or destroyed in five small communities in Johnson County. $200,000.” (Grazulis. 1993, p. 919.)

storymaps.arcgis.com. “The April 12, 1945 Tornado Outbreak.” —

“During the afternoon of April 12, 1945, the nation was in shock over the sudden death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As many residents of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas undoubtedly huddled by their radios listening to the reports of the President’s death, they likely were unaware of the gathering storm clouds outside. In those days, the very mention of the word “tornado” was not allowed by the government, as this might cause undue panic.

“The weather turned violent to the west just after 3 pm, when a twister killed 8 on the southeast side of Oklahoma City near Tinker AFB. The storms would unleash their fury on eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas over the next 6 hours.

“Overview

“A total of 7 tornadoes have been documented in the area that makes up the present County Warning and Forecast Area of the National Weather Service office in Tulsa, OK. As is typically the case with tornado events from the past, the actual number may have been considerably higher. There may have been other tornadoes that were unaccounted for due to a lack of damage reports. It is also possible that the longer tracked tornadoes could have been comprised of a “family” of tornadoes, or multiple tornadoes from the same thunderstorm.

“The destruction was not limited to our area. Other significant tornadoes occurred farther east and northeast into Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. This outbreak was responsible for 129 fatalities in all, with hundreds of injuries….

“The Antlers Tornado – 5:40 pm – 69 killed, 353 injured

“The violent tornado first touched down southwest of Antlers near the Hall community. A short time later, it tore through Antlers, becoming one of the most devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma history. Tracking from the southwest part of the city to the northeast, the twister cut a swath of destruction nearly a half-mile wide and destroyed most everything in its path. Roughly one-third of the town lay in ruins, as 375 homes and 250 buildings were destroyed, while around 200 more homes and buildings were heavily damaged. The destruction left about 1500 people homeless. The time of the storm was determined to be at 5:40 p.m., as electric clocks stopped at that hour….

“After leaving Antlers, the tornado continued northeast until it struck the One Creek area in Pushmataha County, then on to the Nashoba area. Additional damage was reported at the community of Red Bank in LeFlore County, with another two injuries. Some accounts say the tornado continued on northeast to Wister and on in to Arkansas, but no historical evidence could be found of this occurring. The F5 rating is based on photographs and witness accounts, but is largely inconclusive.

“Other April 12, 1945 Tornadoes

“The Antlers tornado was one of several deadly twisters that struck eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas during the afternoon and evening of April 12, 1945. In all, 103 area residents lost their lives that day, with scores of others injured, and many lives undoubtedly changed forever. Below we have listed the rest of the tornadoes from that day.

“‘Boggy’, OK Tornado – 4:15 pm: 3 killed, 15 injured

“The first tornado of the afternoon in eastern Oklahoma struck Latimer County, moving from southeast of Wilburton to northeast of Red Oak. The hardest hit area was the community of “Boggy”, 5 miles north of Red Oak, which consisted of a dozen or so houses, an elementary school, a teacherage, a cemetery and a church. By all accounts, the entire community was basically destroyed. Three children were killed as a small home was swept away. 15 others were injured.

“According to those who survived the tornado, if the school principal hadn’t made the decision to let school out early due to the impending stormy weather, there would likely have been many more deaths as the brick building was flattened to the foundation….

“Roland, OK / Dora, AR Tornado – 4:30 pm – 7 killed, 40 injured

“Another strong tornado developed a few miles from the Oklahoma, Arkansas border at around 430 pm, striking near the town of Roland, OK. Five people were killed in near Greenwood Junction Sequoyah County, when a small home was destroyed. Just across the Arkansas line, north of the town of Dora, a young girl and her grandmother lost their lives when their home was destroyed and subsequently caught fire….

“Muskogee, OK Tornado – 4:50 pm – 13 killed, 200 injured

“Also hit hard that April afternoon was the city of Muskogee, OK. A large twister tore through the eastern section of the city shortly before 5 pm, damaging most of the roofs and demolishing the gymnasium at the Oklahoma School for the Blind. Three students at the school were killed as the girls dormitory roof collapsed, and many others were seriously injured. Damage to the school was estimated at $1,000,000, and the school was closed for the remainder of the year.

“The tornado also cut a swath of destruction through homes around the school, particularly in the St. Joseph addition and the Hyde Park area near the Arkansas River. Of the 50 or so houses in the Hyde Park area, only three were left standing. A nearby church was also destroyed. In all, about 100 homes were either damaged or destroyed in Muskogee.

“The destruction was widespread, and assistance was called for from nearby Camp Gruber. Ambulances from the Army training camp helped transport the injured to Muskogee’s hospitals. A large part of the city was without electric power for several hours when lines from a plant on the Arkansas river were blown down. The lack of power caused significant problems with the city’s water pumps. To help allay the water shortages, the Army also assisted the city by pumping water from the Arkansas River.

“Hulbert, OK Tornado – 5:00 pm – 4 killed, 8 injured

“This tornado struck the town of Hulbert, OK in northern Cherokee County not long after the Muskogee tornado. The timing and path suggest that it may have been spawned from the same storm. In all, 81 buildings in Hulbert were significantly damaged. Four people were killed in a small home at the north edge of town.

“Madison County Tornado – 8:00 pm – 9 killed, 30 injured

“At around 8 pm, a strong tornado developed near the town of Crosses, then moved northeast along a roughly 30 mile path. Substantial damage occurred in Crosses, where the school house and several homes were destroyed, along with the post office, a store building and a canning factory. A hotel building was shifted off its foundation and heavily damaged. One person was killed in Crosses.

“Several other small communities suffered significant damage. The tornado also struck the communities of Asher and Japton, where a number of homes, barns and outbuildings were heavily damaged. Another person was killed in a barn near the town of Japton.

“From there, the tornado moved northeast and struck the community of Aurora, destroying most of the few remaining structures there. Farther northeast, seven members of one family all lost their lives when their home was destroyed just south of Marble. The tornado eventually passed a few miles southeast of Huntsville, before eventually lifting 4 miles east of Metalton in Carroll County….

“Carroll County Tornado – 8:00 pm – 0 killed, 0 injured.

“The final documented tornado from that evening developed near Gage Mountain, 9 miles south of Berryville, and passed about 5 miles east of Berryville. The only documented damage was to a home in the community of “Cisco”. No deaths or injuries occurred.”

Newspaper

April 13: Ada Evening News, OK. “Oklahoma Counts 74 Tornado-Dead, Hundreds Homeless. Antlers is Hardest Hit With 55 Dead; Dozen Places Struck. Muskogee Has 11 Dead, State School For Blind There is Wrecked; Four Residence Blocks in Oklahoma City Levelled.” 4-13-1945, p.1.)

“Oklahoma City, April 13. – (AP) – Oklahoma counted its tornado-dead at 74 and the homeless in hundreds today after twisters bounced crazily over the state to spread destruction in a dozen cities and rural communities.

“The storms swept on into Arkansas, killing three, and two persons were reported missing in a storm at Morrisville, Mo.

“Most seriously hit in Oklahoma by yesterday afternoon’s storms were Antlers with 55 dead, Muskogee with 11, Oklahoma City with four and Hulbert with three. Boggy had one fatality, as did Red Oak, Greenwood Junction and Rowland. In Arkansas, two were killed at Dora and one near Fayetteville….

“Red Cross Chairman Paul Osborn at Antlers, struggling to bring order into rescue work said one-third of the city of 3,000 was demolished when wind caught up 500 or 600 residences. Army posts and Red Cross chapters were sending all available personnel into the area, and Will Rogers Army Air Field at Oklahoma City ent a badly needed portable electric power plant.

“At Muskogee a twister whirled through the eastern outskirts, seriously damaging every building of the Oklahoma School for the Blind, many of whose inmates were hospitalized. A large part of the city was without electric power for several hours when lines from a plant on the Arkansas river were blown down. Damage to the Oklahoma School for the Blind from yesterday’s tornado here is estimated at $1,000,000 and the school will be closed for the remainder of the year, officials said today. The city water supply was cut off, with a reserve of 2,000,000 gallons for fire protection, but the pumping station is expected to be back in operation by noon Saturday. One hundred and fifteen persons are hospitalized here.

Sources

Ada Evening News, OK. “Oklahoma Counts 74 Tornado-Dead, Hundreds Homeless.” 4-13-1945, p. 1. Accessed 12-9-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ada-evening-news-apr-13-1945-p-1/

Brooks, Harold E. and Charles A Doswell III (NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory). “Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes in the United States: 1890-1999.” Revised manuscript submitted as Note to Weather and Forecasting, Vol. 16, 9 p., Sep 2000. Accessed 11-25-2017 at: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/users/brooks/public_html/damage/tdam1.html

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

storymaps.arcgis.com. “The April 12, 1945 Tornado Outbreak.” Accessed 12-9-2023 at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ce31f44c04ec40739c6ddc97921ef573