1938 – Sep 29, Tornadoes, Charleston and area, Charleston County, SC — 32
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 11-1-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
—>35 Aiken Standard and Review, SC. “Tornado Hits City of Charleston.” 9-30-1938, p. 1.
— 32 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 390 and 881.
— 32 National Weather Service, Charleston, SC WFO. “1938 Charleston Area Tornadoes.”
— 29 AP. “Charleston Seeks W.P.A. Assistance.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, IN. 10-1-1938, p1.
Narrative Information
Grazulis: “SC Sep 29, 1938 07:50 5k [killed] 20inj 100y 2m F2 Charleston [county]….”
Grazulis: “SC Sep 29, 1938 08:00 27k [killed] 80inj 70y 3m F2 Charleston [county]…”
National Weather Service, Charleston, SC WFO. “1938 Charleston Area Tornadoes.”
“Five tornadoes raked the South Carolina Lowcountry on the morning of 29 September 1938. They were likely spawned by a tropical depression that formed in the Gulf of Mexico on the 27th and moved up the southeast U.S. coast on the 29th. Three of the tornadoes ravaged parts of James Island, downtown Charleston, and Sullivan’s Island, while the other two twisters struck outlying areas. Exacerbating the problems were higher than normal tides and heavy rains overnight, resulting in significant street flooding. The low pressure system then moved up the East Coast, dumping 9.4 inches of rain in Wilmington, N.C., flooding most of the city, then brought strong winds and heavy rain to the Northeast. Two of the tornadoes were ranked F2 while three were F1.
“Fatalities 32
“Injuries 100
“Damages (1938) $2 million
“Damages (2006) $30 million
“Buildings Destroyed 196
“Buildings Damaged ≈100”
Newspaper
Sep 30, Aiken Standard and Review, SC: “At least 35 persons were killed and hundreds were injured in a furious tornado which struck Charleston at 9:07 o’clock yesterday morning. First reports were indefinite as to loss of life and damage as communications were out except for one long distance telephone line. Power wires and trees blocking streets made it difficult to obtain immediate information.
“The tornado lasted ‘no longer than a half-minute,’ it was reported. It did not strike the whole city but hit in spots. The section at Broad and Meeting streets, where St. Michael’s church, the city hall, county courthouse and post office stand, was badly hit. The storm seemed to have been traveling high. It carried away roof tops from St. Michael’s, the city hall and Timrod inn. All of the trees in City Hall park were uprooted. At least a half-dozen buildings in the upper section of Ashley avenue are reported down, including a negro church at Sumter street and Ashley avenue.
“Three or four were killed at the city market, which was badly damaged, and another was killed in Ladson street. An unconfirmed report said that the Isle of Palms was completely destroyed. A report also said that a storekeeper and his wife were trapped under the wreckage of their store building.
“An order to use the entire WPA [Works Progress Administration] force in Charleston to aid rescue workers…was dispatched to Charleston authorities yesterday morning by the state WPA office in Columbia….
“President Roosevelt, at the request of Lieut. Governor Harley, ordered marines, sailors and soldiers to aid Charleston militia. The Red Cross was also rushing help to the stricken city.”
Sources
Aiken Standard and Review, SC. “Tornado Hits City of Charleston.” 9-30-1938, p. 1. Accessed 11-1-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/aiken-standard-and-review-sep-30-1938-p-1/
Associated Press. “Charleston Seeks W.P.A. Assistance.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, IN. 10-1-1938, p.1. Accessed 11-1-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/hamilton-daily-news-journal-oct-01-1938-p-1/
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.
National Weather Service, Charleston, SC Weather Forecast Office. “1938 Charleston Area Tornadoes.” Accessed 11-1-2024 at: https://www.weather.gov/chs/1938CharlestonTornadoes