1966 — June 8, Tornadoes, esp. Topeka, Shawnee County; also Leavenworth Co., KS– 17

–17 Environmental Data Service. Storm Data, Vol. 8, No. 6, June 1966, Asheville, NC, p. 65.
–16 Topeka vicinity
— 1 Leavenworth County
–17 Fitzgerald. Sound and Fury: A History of Kansas Tornadoes, 1854-2008. 2008-2009, p.247
–17 Ludlum. The American Weather Book, 1982, p. 129.
–17 OJP DOJ. Community Crisis Response Team Training Manual: 2nd Ed. (Appendix D).
–16 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1081.
–16 Menninger, B. And Hell Followed With It: Life and Death in a Kansas Tornado. 2011.

Narrative Information

EDS Storm Data: “Topeka and vicinity…8 [June]…7:00-7:36 p. …22 [miles length]…16 [deaths]…Tornado.

“This was one of the most damaging single tornadoes of record. First damage occurred about 3 miles south-southeast of Dover. The tornado entered the Topeka city limits at 7:15 p. and continued in a generally northeasterly direction from southwest to northeast through the heart of the city. Almost total destruction occurred along an eight mile long by four block wide path through Topeka. The tornado lifted about 2 miles northeast of the city limits. Approximately 820 dwellings were destroyed, 1010 suffered major damage and 1925 had minor damage. Forward speed of the tornado varied from 30 to 35 m.p.h.

“Leavenworth County…8 [June]…about 8:00-8:30 p. …1 [death]…Tornado. The tornado hit about 6 miles northwest of Tonganoxie and then skipped to 3-1/2 miles west-southwest of Jarbalo. It caused major damage in that town and touched down intermittently on an east-northeasterly path to about 3 miles east-northeast of Lansing.” (p. 65)

Grazulis: “KS. JUN 8, 1966 1900 16k 406inj 800y 22m F5. SHAWNEE–Moved NE from SSE of Dover, passing directly through and devastating a large part of Topeka. About 820 homes were destroyed as entire neighborhoods were leveled. Most of the damage was done in an eight-mile-long by four-¬block-wide path though the center of the city. About 3,000 homes were damaged. Washburn University was ripped apart, and losses there were $10,000,000. This violent tornado passed directly over Burnetts Mound, which, legend had said, protected Topeka from tornadoes. $100,000,000.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1081.)

Grazulis: “KS. JUN 8, 1966 2000 1k…200y 15m F4. Leavenworth – Moved ENE from 6 m NW or Tonganoxie, 3.5m WSW of Jarbalo, to 3m ENE of Lansing. One home was leveled and a person inside was killed. The wreckage of a car was found 1000 yards from the house.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1083.)

OJP DOJ. Community Crisis Response Team Training Manual: 2nd Ed. (Appendix D): Injuries 500; “leaves 1,600 persons homeless.”

Sources

Environmental Data Service, U.S. Department of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. 8, No. 6, June 1966, Asheville, NC. Accessed 5-1-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-56E7182E-12BC-4E5C-8631-99F5AC9529A4.pdf

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, 1,326 pages.

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

Menninger, Bonar. And Hell Followed With It: Life and Death in a Kansas Tornado. Emerald Book Company. 2011.

Office of Justice Programs, United States Department of Justice. Community Crisis Response Team Training Manual: Second Edition (Appendix D: Catastrophes Used as Reference Points in Training Curricula). Washington, DC: OJP, U.S. Department of Justice. Accessed at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/crt/pdftxt/appendd.txt