lornajarrettblanchard

— 15  Boston Globe (Ortega). “1984 Beverly fire etched into memory of witnesses.” 7-4-2014.

— 15  Duwe, Grant.  Mass Murder in the United States: A History. McFarland, 2007, p. 28.

— 15  Elliottchambersfire.org.  Remembering the Elliott Chambers Fire.

— 15  NFPA. Lodging/Rooming Houses. “Boarding House, Beverly, MA, 7-4-84, 15 fatalities.”

— 15  Quinn, Colleen E. and John J. Burke. Elliott Chambers Fire Memorial Foundation, Inc.

— 14  National Fire Sprinkler Association.  F.Y.I.  1999, 6.

 

Narrative Information

 

Boston Globe retrospective: “….Officials would later say that the 35-room building was “built to burn.” The blaze spurred state legislation requiring sprinklers in boarding and lodging houses. ‘It was a very tragic fire in the annals of the history of the Commonwealth,’ said State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, who, at the time, was director of the state fire academy. ‘It dictated discussion of what could be done to prevent similar tragedies.’….

 

“In 1989, James Carver, a taxi driver and part-time pizza maker from Danvers, was convicted of setting the fire. Today, he is serving back-to-back life sentences for arson and second-
degree murder. Authorities say Carver acted in a fit of jealousy after he learned a tenant was dating a former girlfriend of his. A jury found that he took a match to a stack of gasoline-soaked newspapers in the front doorway of the rooming house, the only exit available to the building’s 33 residents. Carver continued to insist he was innocent and appealed the decision as recently as 2009. His lawyer pointed to another resident of the rooming house, saying that man had a propensity for starting fires…. Steve O’Connell, a spokesman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, said the prosecutor’s office remains convinced Carver was responsible for the fire….

 

“Those who lived at Elliott Chambers tended to be poor men in difficult circumstances, according to witnesses and news reports at the time. There were drug addicts, drifters, and former mental hospital patients, although children and women also lived there. A boy and a woman, found in the manager’s room, were among the victims.

 

“Massachusetts legislators quickly passed a law that allowed municipalities to choose to require sprinklers in boarding and lodging houses. More than 130 cities and towns now mandate sprinklers in boarding houses, said Coan, the fire marshal. Deaths in rooming house fire have declined dramatically since the law went into effect, from nine in 1985 to an average of fewer than one a year since the mid-1990s, according to data from the state’s Department of Fire Services.

 

“Coan helped craft similar legislation, currently under review on Beacon Hill, that would expand residential use of sprinklers. He said 23 people in one- and two-family homes in Massachusetts died in fires last year, and such deaths might be prevented if sprinklers and other fire-control technology were present.

 

“The Elliott Chambers fire — along with the Cocoanut Grove nightclub blaze in 1942 that killed 492 people in Boston — continues to serve as a reference point for public safety discussions in Massachusetts, he said….” (Boston Globe (Oliver Ortega). “1984 Beverly fire etched into memory of witnesses.” 7-4-2014.)

 

Elliottchambersfire.org: “In the early morning of July 4, 1984, a fire swept through a three-story rooming house above Davis Drug pharmacy located at 434 Rantoul Street in Beverly, Massachusetts. The pre-dawn blaze took the lives of 15 people, which is considered the highest death toll for arson in Massachusetts.  13 of the 36 residents at the Elliott Chambers rooming house died of burns or smoke inhalation when the fast-moving fire erupted. A 14th victim was killed when he jumped from a third-floor room trying to escape the flames. The 15th victim died a few weeks later at a hospital.” (Elliottchambersfire.org.  Remembering the Elliott Chambers Fire.)

Sources

 

Boston Globe (Oliver Ortega). “1984 Beverly fire etched into memory of witnesses.” 7-4-2014. Accessed 2-13-2017 at: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/07/03/three-decades-later-beverly-rooming-house-fire-that-killed-leaves-legacy-loss-and-reform/PljEbDRo6WmiAs5L84MRNP/story.html

 

Duwe, Grant. Mass Murder in the United States: A History. McFarland, 2007.

 

Elliottchambersfire.org. Remembering the Elliott Chambers Fire. Accessed 12-3-2010 at:  http://www.elliottchambersfire.org/index.html

 

National Fire Protection Association. Lodging/Rooming Houses. “Boarding House, Beverly, MA, 7-4-84, 15 fatalities.” Accessed 2-13-2017 at: http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/resources/fire-investigations/residential/lodging-or-rooming-houses

 

National Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc. F.Y.I. – Fire Sprinkler Facts. Patterson, NY: NFSA, November 1999, 8 pages. Accessed at: http://www.firemarshals.org/data/File/docs/College%20Dorm/Administrators/F1%20-%20FIRE%20SPRINKLER%20FACTS.pdf

 

Quinn, Colleen E. and John J. Burke. Elliott Chambers Fire Memorial Foundation, Inc. “Remembering the Elliott Chambers Fire.” Accessed 2-28-2013 at: http://elliottchambersfire.org/

 

 

 

Severe Weather, including Flash Flooding, High Wind, and Tornadoes:

— 15  NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 6, June 1984, pp. 27, 38, 59.

 

Tornadoes:

— 13  Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 1257-1259.

— 13  NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 6, June 1984, p. 5.

 

Iowa                (4)

–2  Keokuk County. Couple in a car. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1259.

–2  South Central, Southeast, East Central F4 tornado, 17:55-20:58. NCDC. 26/6, p. 27.

–1  Ringgold Co., Mt. Ayr, ~20:00. Tree fell on car in high wind, killing driver. NCDC, p. 27.

–1  Ringgold Co., Kellerton. Man seeking better shelter than his mobile home. Grazulis, 1259.[1]

 

Missouri         (2)

–1  Buchanan Co., St. Joseph, 20:00-00:00 CST. Heavy rain and flash flooding. NCDC, p. 38.

–1  Harrison Co. Mobile home; male. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, 1259.[2]

 

Wisconsin       (9)

–9  Iowa Co./Dane Co. 23:41, F5. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1259.[3]

 

Narrative Information

 

Grazulis: “MO-IA JUN 7, 1984 1745 lk l0inj 250y 50m F3. HARRISON, MO/ DECATUR/WAYNE/LUCAS, IA — Moved NE from about 3m WSW of Eagleville, Missouri, crossing into Iowa due south of Davis City and cutting a swath across the Nine Eagles State Park. In Missouri, a man was killed and his wife was injured as their mobile home was destroyed. Farm homes and barns were destroyed.  In Decatur County, Iowa, a farm house was destroyed, with one injury, 6m SE of Leon. In Wayne County, buildings were destroyed on at least 17 farms. The tornado destroyed a truck stop and half of a motel at the intersection of US-65 and Hwy-2, 10m W of Corydon. Wayne County losses totaled $1,750,000 and six people were injured there. The funnel turned N at Cambria. Six funnel clouds were sighted aloft in Lucas County. The last stage of this event may have been the funnel sighted aloft, west of Chariton. A piece of a drive-in movie screen from near Cambria was carried to the north and dropped near Derby…. [p. 1259]

 

“IA  JUN 7, 1984 1945 lk 3inj 150y 14m F2. RINGGOLD–Moved E from Mount Ayr to the NW part of Kellerton. Six homes were destroyed and 12 more were damaged. A man was killed as he was trying to seek better shelter than his trailer home. His wife survived, but the trailer was devastated. Only a pile of metal shards and limber remained…. [p. 1259]

 

“IA  JUN 7, 1984 1945 2k 51inj 250y 30m F4.  MAHASKA/KEOKUK — Moved NE from NE of Eddyville, passing through and devastating all of the small town of Wright in Mahaska County. All but two buildings in Wright, including all 25 homes, were damaged or destroyed. Losses in Mahaska County were $3,400,000. In Keokuk County, damage totaled $25,000,000, with the worst (near-F5) being in the NW half of Delta and on farms SW of Delta. About 800 hogs and cattle died in Keokuk County, and a couple died when their car was thrown 200 yards. The funnel lifted near South English, and re-formed to the SE as the next event…. [p. 1259]

 

“WI  JUN 7, 1984 2341 9k 200inj 400y 36m F5. IOWA/DANE — Moved NE from south of Ridgeway through Barneveld, to Black Earth and Lodi. About 90% of the town of Barneveld was torn apart. Ninety-three homes were destroyed and 64 were damaged. Seventeen of 18 businesses and public buildings were destroyed and losses in town totaled $25,000,000. Another 24 homes were torn apart between Barneveld and Black Earth, where eight more homes were destroyed. The F5 damage was in a cluster of new Barneveld homes, which were obliterated. $40,000,000.”  [p. 1259] (Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 1257-1259.)

 

Sources

 

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. 26, No. 6, June 1984, 67 pages. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 1-30-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-4E14EAF8-553B-40C2-8264-0121200D8AB5.pdf

 

 

 

[1] Also NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 6, June 1984, p. 27. The NCDC notes Kellerton, not Grazulis.

[2] Also NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 6, June 1984, p. 38. Lists as F3 at 17:45.

[3] Also NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 6, June 1984, p. 59.

–22  17 dead/5 missing. AP. “Storms leave floods…” Daily Record, Roswell, 5-9-1984, p. 23.

–19  UPI. “Rain finally lets up in flood-stricken East.” Ukiah Daily Journal, CA. 5-10-1984, p5.

–18  Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “Rain Stops, Southern Rivers Still Rise.” 5-9-1984, p. 12.

–17  AP. “Flood death toll up to 17.” News-Herald, Panama City FL. 5-10-1984, p. 1.[1]

–16  Blanchard tally of State and DC breakouts below.[2]

–16  NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984.

–16  Plus 5 missing. AP. “Floods Spread in Appalachia and the Deep South.” NYT, 5-9-1984.

–16  UPI (Cathy Lewandowski). “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984.

 

District of Columbia (1)[3]

–4  Potomac River at Brookmont Dam, Little Falls, May 5. 3^rd Infantry Regiment soldiers.[4]

–1  UPI. “Rain finally lets up in flood-stricken East.” Ukiah Daily Journal, CA. 5-10-1984, p5.[5]

–1  Washington Post (Anderson, Fishman, Alma). “1 Drowns, 4 Missing In Potomac.” 5-6-1984.[6]

 

Kentucky                   (7)

— 7  May 7-10. Linked to flooding. NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 26.[7]

–2  Adair County. Drowning; driver of car tried to drive across flooded stream.

–1  Fayette County, Boone Creek. Drowning; Winchester man while canoeing.

–1  Pike County, Beefhide. Drowning; female, found downstream of her home.[8]

–1  Pike County, Tug Fork Creek. Drowning; female swept away at home.[9]

–1  Spencer County, Little Beech Creek. Drowning; man removing debris from bridge.[10]

— 7  UPI. “Rain finally lets up in flood-stricken East.” Ukiah Daily Journal, CA. 5-10-1984, p.5.

— 5  UPI (Cathy Lewandowski). “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984.

 

Louisiana                   (1)

— 3  UPI (Cathy Lewandowski). “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984.[11]

— 1  Caddo, Bossier and Webster Parishes. May 7 Severe Thunderstorm. Male; lightning.[12]

 

Maryland                   (1)

— 1  Hurlock area, May 8, F1 tornado, 17:05 EST. Building picked up, dropped; male inside.[13]

— 1  Hurlock, Eastern Shore tornado, May 8. UPI. “Tornadoes, thunderstorms…” 5-9-1984.

 

New Jersey                 (1)

–1  May 8 downburst. “A Moorestown woman…killed when a tree came…down on her car.”[14]

–1  May 8 tornado. Tree fell on car. UPI. “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984.

 

Ohio                            (2)

— 2  UPI (Cathy Lewandowski). “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984.[15]

 

South Carolina          (1)

— 1  Orangeburg area, May 6. Drowning; male when his van overturned on flooded highway.[16]

 

Tennessee                   (3)

–3  UPI (Cathy Lewandowski). “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984.

–3  NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 43.

–1  Nashville, Davidson Co., May 6. Drowning, female, 85; car stalled under RR underpass.[17]

–1  McKenzie, Carroll County, May 6. City worker drowned; male.[18]

–1  Waverly, Humphreys County, Richland Creek, May 6. Drowning, male, 22; ATV.[19]

 

Virginia                      (1)

— 1  State. UPI (Cathy Lewandowski). “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984.

— 1  Newport News, May 8. Man hit by tree felled by high wind from thunderstorm. NCDC.[20]

 

West Virginia            (1)

— 1  Mingo Co., May 6. Drowning; attempting to cross rapidly rising Tug Fork River in canoe.[21]

 

Deaths by Cause (where noted):

 

Drowning                    (12)  (7 in KY, 1 in SC, 3 in TN, 1 in WV.)

Lightning                    (  1)

Tornadoes                   (  2)  (NJ death described by press as a tornado, a downburst by NCDC.)

High Wind/Tree fall    (  1)  (VA)

Not noted                    (  5)  (One in DC, two in Louisiana and two in Ohio.)

 

Narrative Information

 

NCDC on Kentucky: “Tremendous flood damage as well as tornado and severe thunderstorms occurred on May 6^th and 7^th. Dozens of counties were declared disaster areas and sought federal help due to the flooding….

 

May “7-10…Severe Flooding. Millions of dollars worth of damage was reported due to flooding over southeast Kentucky. 7 deaths were linked to the floods that affected most of Kentucky’s counties. There was as much damage as the Kentucky flooding of 1977 and 1957. Roads and bridges were washed out over almost all of the State….” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, pp. 25-26.)

 

NCDC on New Jersey Downburst, 18:47-1910, EST, May 8: “A storm with strong winds, lightning and torrential rains belted several New Jersey communities. The storm packed winds up o 71 mph, which was reported at McGuire AFB. The violent wind turned a C-141 180 degrees on the ground at the base. The storm ripped off portions of the roofs of a nursing home and two houses in Salem County. It damaged the roof of a hospital, and knocked down trees and utility poles across southern New Jersey. The forceful winds cut a path eight miles long and about a half-mile wide across Salem County, just north of the city of Salem. Winds had increased from 8 mph to 35-40 mph in three minutes. Minor injuries were reported among the 45 people evacuated from the Salem County Nursing and Convalescent Home. A Moorestown woman was killed when a tree came crashing down on her car.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 32.)

 

NCDC on Tennessee, May 6-8: “The state of Tennessee was battered by thunderstorm after thunderstorm in a three day period from Sunday the 6^th through Tuesday the 8^th. The weather was a combination of tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and heavy rains. The weather came on top of a week of fairly wet weather. The wet sail allowed trees to topple easily. The saturated sil also allowed added heavy rains to runoff quickly creating flooding and flash flooding. Lakes were filled to overflowing and most streams in East and Middle Tennessee were out of their banks. Damage to crops and cropland was significant…” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 41.)

 

NCDC on Virginia Thunderstorms, May 8: “A major thunderstorm outbreak occurred ahead of a cold front that extended from the eastern Great Lakes t the Gulf of Mexico during the afternoon of the 8^th. Warm, moist unstable air covered the coastal plains area. Temperatures climbed rapidly into the 80s to near 90 across the eastern half of the state, increasing the instability of the air. Severe thunderstorms developed across central Virginia by 1500EST, and moved to the coast by evening. Several major areas of severe thunderstorms occurred. One developed in Orange County and moved east across the Potomac River into Maryland, causing considerable straight-line wind damage. Also, waterspouts were spawned over the Potomac River. A second huge thunderstorm complex formed in south central Virginia and moved eastward across the state, spawning at least 3 tornadoes that struck areas including the cities of Petersburg and Hopewell. This area of thunderstorms caused widespread, straight-line wind damage to trees, power lines, mobile homes and barns from the central counties to the coast.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 50.)

 

NCDC on West Virginia Flooding, May 7-9: “Moderate to heavy rainfall (2 to 2.5 inches), which fell over southern West Virginia during th evening of May 6^th and the morning of May 7^th, caused widespread small stream flooding and river flooding throughout Mingo, Logan, Wyoming, and McDowell Counties by daybreak on May 7^th. As the rainfall moved into the main stream beds of the Tug Fork and Guyandotte Rivers, a major flood resulted. At Williamson this was the second greatest flood ever recorded, cresting at 45.05 feet (flood stage is 27 feet). Water topped a 44 foot floodwall at Williamson. One drowning occurred when a couple attempted to cross the rapidly rising Tug Fork River in a canoe on May 6^th in Mingo County. The canoe overturned and one of the occupants was drowned. The other swam to safety. Total flood dame in West Virginia was estimated by the State government to be 22.9 million dollars.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 51.)

 

Sources

 

American Whitewater. Accident Database. “Accident #273.” Accessed 2-10-2017 at: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/273/

 

Associated Press. “2 dozen twisters, water 8 feet deep paralyze Southeast.” The Joplin Globe, MO. 5-8-1984, 2A. Accessed 2-9-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/missouri/joplin/joplin-globe/1984/05-08/page-2?tag

 

Associated Press. “Flood death toll up to 17.” News-Herald, Panama City FL. 5-10-1984, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/florida/panama-city/panama-city-news-herald/1984/05-10?tag

 

Associated Press. “Floods Spread in Appalachia and the Deep South.” New York Times, 5-9-1984. Accessed 2-9-2017 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/09/us/floods-spread-in-appalachia-and-the-deep-south.html

 

Associated Press. “Southeast pounded by thunderstorms, hail, high winds.” The New Mexican, Santa Fe, 5-7-1984, A-4. Accessed 2-9-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/new-mexico/santa-fe/santa-fe-new-mexican/1984/05-07/page-22?tag

 

Associated Press. “Storms leave floods, destruction behind.” Daily Record, Roswell, 5-9-1984, p. 23.  Accessed 2-9-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/new-mexico/roswell/roswell-daily-record/1984/05-09/page-22?tag

 

Associated Press. “Storms rake Southeast.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, 5-7-1984, p. 2, Section 1. Accessed 2-9-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/wisconsin/madison/madison-wisconsin-state-journal/1984/05-07/page-2?tag

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, 55 pages. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 2-2-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-8B7938E7-D085-41B5-BD86-32B4E38F0536.pdf

 

Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “Rain Stops, Southern Rivers Still Rise.” 5-9-1984, p. 12. Accessed 2-9-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/indiana/logansport/logansport-pharos-tribune/1984/05-09/page-12?tag

 

United Press International. “Rain finally lets up in flood-stricken East.” Ukiah Daily Journal, CA. 5-10-1984, p. 5. Accessed 2-9-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/ukiah/ukiah-daily-journal/1984/05-10/page-5?tag

 

United Press International (Cathy Lewandowski). “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984. Accessed 2-7-2017 at: http://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/05/09/Tornadoes-thunderstorms-move-east/7341452923200/

 

Washington Post (John Ward Anderson, Charles Fishman, and Alma). “1 Drowns, 4 Missing In Potomac.” 5-6-1984. Accessed 2-10-2017 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1984/05/06/1-drowns-4-missing-in-potomac/16a3a010-d0ab-42c8-8717-9c0a98341dbc/?utm_term=.f3795a8032d4

 

 

[1] Notes, additionally, five missing.

[2] We note generalized press accounts showing higher death tolls, but only include what we can substantiate.

[3] We show in order to indicate awareness of this reporting, but do not include in our tally. The 3^rd Infantry Regiment rafting deaths were on the 5^th. It is not clear that these were storm or flooding related deaths. The NCDC does not note a District of Columbia weather-related death during May 6-10.

[4] American Whitewater. Accident Database. “Accident #273.”

[5] Also notes one death each in Maryland and Virginia, thus this is not a duplication of one of those.

[6] We note this even though there were four fatalities as eventually determined, in order to indicate our speculation that the one DC death reported in the UPI on May 10 may have been a reference to this early report of a drowning death. We have found no other references to storm or flood-related deaths in DC during this time-frame. The victim, and four other men from the Army’s 3^rd Infantry regiment stationed at Fort Myer, had gone out on an inflatable  rafting trip on the Potomac River. However the Potomac was swollen by recent heavy rainfall and the river stage reached 6.35 feet at Little Falls. The article notes that “Levels above 5 feet are considered unsafe for recreational activities.” Article notes that the raft went past signs warning people to stay away from a dam down river, “no matter what the river stage.” The raft went over the dam, was caught in an eddy preventing it from going further down river, and eventually capsized.

[7] The breakout of “Flood Related Deaths” specifically notes six deaths. The 7^th the NCDC notes, is not specified.

[8] This and the next entry bear resemblance. In that only six of seven noted deaths are identified, it may be that this is a double entry, worded somewhat differently.

[9] “She was trying to retrieve property from the home when the water rose rapidly.” An AP story identified the victim as Gail Collins, citing Pike County Coroner, who noted she apparently was swept out of her home by raging floodwaters.” (AP. “2 dozen twisters, water 8 feet deep paralyze Southeast.” The Joplin Globe, MO. 5-8-1984, 2A.)

[10] “He had stopped his truck to remove debris from the bridge when he slipped into the flooded river…as high as the bridge at the time.” Notes he was from Mt. Eden.

[11] While we note a UPI reference to three LA deaths, we can substantiate only one. There are not details in the UPI article — dates of death, cause of death, location, etc. Thus, we do not use in our tally.

[12] NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 27.

[13] NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 28.

[14] NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 32. [See narrative information section for description.]

[15] We have looked through a number of Ohio papers and coverage of the storms, flooding, and tornadoes mostly in the East and find no mention of any storm-related deaths in Ohio. Neither does the NCDC mention such deaths.

[16] NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 40. AP also notes one SC drowning death. (Associated Press. “2 dozen twisters, water 8 feet deep paralyze Southeast.” The Joplin Globe, MO. 5-8-1984, 2A.)

[17] “Police believe she stayed in the car in an attempt to restart it, but the water rose quickly to a depth of 5 feet, submerging the car and drowning the woman. Rainfall at the airport totaled 2.06 inches between 1 and 2 pm cst with a full day total of 3.5 inches.” An AP article has the death on U.S. 70 near Nashville. (Associated Press. “Storms rake Southeast.” Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, 5-7-1984, p. 2, Section 1.) Another AP article identifies the victim as Euyla M. Chrisman, 85. (Associated Press. “Southeast pounded by thunderstorms, hail, high winds.” The New Mexican, Santa Fe, 5-7-1984, A-4.)

[18] “Heavy rains caused drainage ditches to run full. A City of McKenzie worker was killed when he slipped into a swift-flowing drainage ditch and was carried through a 200-foot culvert. A second employee received minor injuries when he tried to rescue his co-worker. The workers were trying to clear debris from a culvert.”

[19] “Heavy rains caused flash flooding on Trace Creek in Waverly….A 22-year-old man was drowned when his all-terrain-type vehicle was swept into Richland Creek. The man was crossing the creek when the raging water picked him and the vehicle up and washed them downstream…”

[20] NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 51.

[21] NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 5, May 1984, p. 51.

–>10  Biography.com. “Bobby Joe Long.” 1-29-2016 update.

—  10  Blanco, Juan Ignacio. Murderpedia. Accessed 1-31-2017.

—  10  Wikipedia.  “Bobby Joe Long.” 1-18-2017 modification.

 

Sources

 

Biography.com. “Bobby Joe Long.” 1-29-2016 update. Accessed 1-31-2017 at: http://www.biography.com/people/bobby-joe-long-20962313#video-gallery

 

Blanco, Juan Ignacio. Murderpedia. Accessed 1-31-2017 at: http://murderpedia.org/male.L/l/long-bobby-joe.htm

 

Wikipedia.  “Bobby Joe Long.” 1-18-2017 modification. Accessed 1-31-2017 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Joe_Long

 

 

 

— 15  AP. “Wild Weather…twisters.” Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, WI. 4-27-1984, p. 1.[1]

— 12  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1255.

— 12  NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, pp. 8, 18 and 52.

 

Minnesota      (  1)

— 1  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1255.

— 1  St. Anthony. Female in home. NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 18.

 

Oklahoma      (11)

–14  State. AP. “Wild Weather…twisters.” Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, WI. 4-27-1984, p. 1.

–2  Okmulgee Co. AP. “Wild…” Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, WI. 4-27-1984, 1.

–1  Terlton. AP. “Wild Weather…” Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, WI. 4-27-1984, p. 1.

–11  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1255.

–8  Morris.

–3  Terlton.

–11  Morris. AP. “Wild Weather…twisters.” Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, WI. 4-27-1984, p. 1.

–11  NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, pp. 8 and 52.

–8  Morris.

–3  Terlton.

–11  Tulsa World. “Struck Scarred in 1984: April 26 twisters raked communities.” 4-26-2009.

 

Narrative Information

General

 

AP: “….More than 40 tornadoes ripped into Oklahoma, Minnesota, Kansas and Iowa when a cold front stretching from South Dakota to Texas collided with record heat over much of the East, the National Weather Service reported.

 

“In Oklahoma, tornadoes killed 14 people — including 11 in the town of Morris — and injured about 70 others, Lt. Gov. Spencer Bernard said at a press briefing this morning.

 

“One person died in Minnesota.

 

“The worst tornadoes hit northeastern Oklahoma on Thursday night and early today. Hardest hit was Morris, a town of 1,300 people about 40 miles south of Tulsa, and Terlton, a town of 155 people about 30 miles west of Tulsa, where one person was killed and 25 injured.

 

“Two other tornado-related deaths were reported in Okmulgee County, where Morris is located, Sheriff Gene Rice said.

“In Minnesota, 88-year-old Frances Schrag died of injuries after a twister hit her home and destroyed a shopping center in St. Anthony, just north of Minneapolis Thursday night….” (AP. “Wild Weather. Blizzard spawns deadly twisters.” Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, WI. 4-27-1984, p. 1.)

Minnesota

 

Grazulis: “MN Apr 26, 1984 2033 1k 52inj 600y 5.5m F3. HENNEPIN/RAMSEY — Moved NNE from St. Anthony, through New Brighton and Mounds View. Many homes in St. Anthony were badly damaged, and a woman was killed in her home. Eighteen homes had major damage and 288 had lesser damage. Two businesses were totally destroyed and 64 were partly destroyed….” Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1255.

 

NCDC: “Tornado at St. Anthony, Minnesota on April 26, 1984. An F3 tornado ripped through a north suburban area of Minneapolis, Minnesota during the evening of April 26^th. The tornado touched down in St. Anthony and moved north-northeastward, causing extensive damage to homes, apartments, and the Apache Plaza shopping center. The tornado came very close to striking the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant. One person was killed in her home by the tornado.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 18.)

 

Oklahoma

 

Grazulis: “OK  APR 26, 1984 2205 3k 37inj 800y 22m F4.  CREEK /PAWNEE /OSAGE — Moved ENE from 2m N of Oilton, passing near Terlton and ending 2m N of New Prue. About 120 structures were damaged or destroyed. One person died in an area of F4 damage, lm W of Terlton. A man and his son died in a trailer, 3m NE of Terlton. $2,500,000….

 

“OK  APR 26, 1984 2333 8k 95inj 1000y 22m F3.  OKMULGEE — Moved NE from 12m SW to 10m NE of Morris. Extensive damage was done along the path of the storm, and a 28-square-block area in Morris was destroyed. It was estimated that 70% of the town was damaged or destroyed. One death occurred SW of Morris, and five more in the town itself. The other two deaths occurred in a trailer park, 3m SE of Okmulgee. $9,000,000.”  (Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1255.)

 

NCDC: “Tornadoes near Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 26, 1984. Two of four tornadoes occurring near Tulsa on April 26^th, produced F4 and F3 damage as they carved paths through the towns of Terlton and Morris, respectively. The Terlton Tornado killed 3 people and injured 37, while the Morris Tornado killed 8 and injured 95.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 8.)

Sources

 

Associated Press (Dana Fields). “Wild Weather. Blizzard spawns deadly twisters.” Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, WI. 4-27-1984, p. 1. Accessed 2-7-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/wisconsin/eau-claire/eau-claire-leader-telegram/1984/04-27?tag

 

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. 26, No. 4, April 1984. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 2-7-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-1A8D69EB-E0AE-420F-9206-8B287F97BC8C.pdf

 

Tulsa World (Manny Gamallo). “Struck Scarred in 1984: April 26 twisters raked communities.” 4-26-2009, updated 10-3-2013. Accessed 2-9-2017 at: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state/struck-scarred-in-april-twisters-raked-communities/article_e0ad1066-cc12-5ce1-bf99-be11a6ab13ac.html

[1] Not using 14 as fatality count in that we can find no substantiation.

–15-16  Blanchard tally based on State and locality breakouts below.[1]

—     16  NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 24.

—     15  Assoc. Press. “Cleanup Begins from Twister.” Laurel Leader-Call, MS, 4-23-1984, 1.[2]

—     15  Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1255.

—     15  NWS. Twenty-four Deadliest Tornadoes in Mississippi 1950-2005. Jackson, MS WFO.

 

Mississippi            (15-16)

 

Leflore County:         (  2)

–2  Leflore County. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1255.

–2  Schlater. F3 1600-1835 North MS F3. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/4, April 1984, p. 43.

–2  Schlater. AP. “Cleanup Begins From Twisters.” Laurel Leader-Call, MS, 4-23-1984, 1.[3]

 

Tallahatchie County: ( 5)

–5  Philipp. AP. “Cleanup Begins From Twisters.” Laurel Leader-Call, MS, 4-23-1984, p. 1.[4]

–5  Philipp. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1255.

–5  Philipp. 16:30 F3 North MS tornado. NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 43.

 

Union County:           (  1)

–1  ~Pinedale, 18:50 North MS F3; mobile home. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/4, April 1984, p. 43.

–1  AP. “Cleanup Begins From Twisters.” Laurel Leader-Call, MS, 4-23-1984, p. 1.[5]

 

Yalobusha County:   (7-8)

–7  Water Valley. AP. “Cleanup Begins…Twisters.” Laurel Leader-Call, MS, 4-23-1984, 1.[6]

–7  Water Valley. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1255.[7]

–8  Water Valley. 17:30 North MS F3. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/4, April 1984, pp. 24 and 43.

–1  James Grocery store.

–3  Houses.

–2  Mobile home.

–1  Car.

–1  Outside.

–7  Water Valley. UPI (Cathy Lewandowski). “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984.[8]

 

Tennessee                   (1?)

— 1  Memphis. Margaret Mitchell.[9]

 

Narrative Information

Mississippi

 

Grazulis: “MS APR 21, 1984 1600 15k 76inj 125y 91m F3. LEFLORE/ TALLAHATCHIE/YALOBUSHA/ LAFAYETTE/ UNION — Moved NE from 3m W of Schlater, Philipp, Water Valley, Yocona, Pinedale, to SW of New Albany. In Leflore County, the tornado hit 26 homes and four trailers, killing two people. In Tallahatchie County, 21 homes were hit, with five deaths in a single small home at Philipp. A break in the tornado damage path, and the start of a new event in the family, was probably in SW Yalobusha County. By the time it reached Water Valley, the tornado was an intense, multiple- vortex event. Seven people died there; three in homes, one in a grocery store, two in a trailer, and one in a car. Sixty-five people were injured, with a total of 186 homes either damaged or destroyed in the county. One person died in a trailer near Pinedale, Union County.” (Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes, 1993, p. 1255.)

 

NCDC: “Tornadoes in North Mississippi & Southwest Tennessee on April 21, 1984. On April 21^st, strong thunderstorms spawned 7 tornadoes in northern Mississippi and southwest Tennessee. On the 7 tornadoes, 2 were F3, 1 was F2, and the remaining 4 were F1. The longest tornado (110 miles) killed 16 people in Mississippi, 8 of which died when it struck and severely damaged the town of Water Valley.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 24.)

 

NCDC on Tippah County F1 tornado at 15:02 CST: “A tornado touched down briefly just east of Ripley damaging two houses and a mobile home. Numerous trees were up-rooted. The same thunderstorm produced egg-size hail east of Corinth.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 43.)

 

NCDC on North Mississippi F3 tornado, 16:00-18:35 CST: “At 4 PM a powerful tornado touched down in western Leflore County about three miles west of Schlater. The tornado moved to the northeast at about 45 MPH. The tornado destroyed or damaged 26 houses and four mobile homes. It killed two people and injured four in the county.

 

“At 1630CST the tornado crossed into Tallahatchie County and struck the town of Philipp killing five people and injuring two others who lived in a small house by the Tallahatchie river. The tornado destroyed or damaged 21 homes and 3 mobile homes. It remained on the ground as it crossed Tallahatchie County.

 

“At 1705CST the tornado, now very weak, crossed into Yalobusha County. At 1715CST it began to intensify again and was a very powerful multi-vortex tornado as it struck Water Valley at 1730CST. Eight people were killed in Water Valley, one in a grocery store, three in houses, two in a mobile home, one in a car and one person was caught in the open. Sixty-five people were injured. In the county the tornado damaged or destroyed 186 homes, 13 mobile homes and 18 businesses.

 

“At 1740CST the tornado crossed into Lafayette County and then struck the community of Yocona where three people were injured. In the county 11 houses and three mobile homes were damaged or destroyed.

 

“The tornado then moved into Union County at 1805CST and struck a mobile home killing one person near Pinedale. A total of five houses and two mobile homes were damaged or destroyed in Union County. The tornado then lifted briefly for the first time, but set down again as it crossed the northern part of New Albany at 1830CST damaging three businesses and a church. Shortly after the tornado lifted again and funnel clouds were reported northeast of New Albany. At 1900CST funnel clouds were reported at Ripley and later in Corinth.

 

“Lafayette, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha and Leflore Counties were declared Federal Disaster Areas.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 43.)

 

NCDC on Lafayette County 16:10 CST F1: “A tornado touched down briefly in a wooded area in northeast Lafayette County. Only timber damage was found.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 43.)

 

NCDC on Burnsville, Tishomingo County 18:20 CST F1: “A weak tornado touched down briefly in Burnsville destroying a car wash and damaging a furniture store and an apartment building.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 4, April 1984, p. 43.)

 

Tennessee

 

NCDC on Memphis, Shelby County, 17:10 CST F3: “A tornado touched down just southeast of the intersection of Old Coleman Rd. and Egypt-Central Rd. in north Memphis. It traveled east-northeast at about 40 miles an hour. As it crossed Egypt-Central Rd., the tornado damaged a stable and overturned and destroyed a mobile home. A person in the mobile home taking a shower at the time was injured. A person at the stable was also injured but her injuries were minor. The tornado travelled over open country a short distance before entering the Northwood Glen subdivision. The Red Cross reported that 83 homes were damaged, 5 were listed as destroyed with 14 suffering heavy damage. From the subdivision, the tornado continued across open country crossing Singleton Parkway. A number of buildings, homes and barns, were damaged in and around the intersection of Austin Pay Hwy, Old Brownsville Road, and Bolan-Huse Road. After crossing Austin Peay Hwy, the tornado apparently dissipated as it moved into the Loosahatchie bottoms. The location of the third injury was not known, but injury was reported as minor (treated and released).” (NCDC. Storm Data, 26/4, April 1984, p. 56.)

 

NCDC on Hickory Valley, Hardeman County 20:00 CST F1: “A tornado damaged several houses and outbuildings and downed trees and power lines in southwest part of Hardeman County, about 10 miles southwest of Bolivar on Highway 18. Buildings on three different farms were reported damaged.” (NCDC. Storm Data, 26/4, April 1984, p. 56.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press, Water Valley, Miss. “Cleanup Begins From Twisters.” Laurel Leader-Call, MS, 4-23-1984, p. 1. Accessed 2-7-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/mississippi/laurel/laurel-leader-call/1984/04-23?tag

 

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. 26, No. 4, April 1984, 68 pages. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 2-54-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-21A44507-C8CF-4A6F-A311-2F24AC48AB85.pdf

 

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Jackson, MS. Twenty-four Deadliest Tornadoes in Mississippi 1950-2005. Jackson, MS:  NWS WFO, NOAA, January 18, 2006 update. Accessed at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/TorStats/24DeadliestTors.php

 

United Press International (Cathy Lewandowski). “Tornadoes, thunderstorms move east.” 5-9-1984. Accessed 2-7-2017 at: http://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/05/09/Tornadoes-thunderstorms-move-east/7341452923200/

 

 

[1] The range is due to Water Valley range of seven (Grazulis, AP & UPI) and NCDC at eight. We can find no substantiation for reference to one death in Memphis, TN, thus this AP-noted death in one article is not included.

[2] This AP story differs from the NCDC in that in notes 7 rather than 8 Water Valley deaths and lists one for Tenn.

[3] Victims identified as Alice McIntush, 50, and Edward King, 80.

[4] Ricky Boclair, 7, Shinita Boclair, 6, Tuborus Boclair, 6-mo., James Earl Howard, 12, and Obie Howard, 61.

[5] Victim identified as James Self, 35.

[6] Six victims identified as Lucille Turner, Jennie Tolbert, Jim Allen, Aileen Black, Levi Benson, and Ruby Burden, 64. AP also notes that Water Valley was the “Hardest hit” locale, and that it was a town of 4,500 people.

[7] The difference between the NCDC and Grazulis figures (Grazulis also notes the type of place where deaths occurred), is that the NCDC notes “one person was caught in the open” and Grazulis does not.

[8] Notice that this was written more than two weeks afterwards when another set of storms went through the area. “Residents of Water Valley, Miss., still cleaning up from an April 21 tornado that killed seven people and caused $21 million in damage, armed themselves with brooms and buckets to clear their basements and shops of mud from 5 inches of rain that fell Monday night [May 7].”

[9] Associated Press. “Cleanup Begins From Twisters.” Laurel Leader-Call, MS, 4-23-1984, p. 1. Can not substantiate, however, thus not including in the tally.

— 10  Doyle, et al.  “Mass Killer Eyes Freedom.” New York Post, February 16, 2009.

— 10  NYT (Rangel). “Defendant in the Killing of 10 is Guilty of Reduced Charge. 7-20-1985.

— 10  OJP, DOJ. Community Crisis Response Team Training Manual: 2nd Ed. (Appendix D).

 

Narrative Information

 

Doyle, Messing and Weiss: “The man convicted of systematically slaughtering two women and eight children in the worst mass killing in New York history before 9/11 could go free… Christopher Thomas…was found guilty of heartlessly pumping bullets into the heads of his terrified victims in the “Palm Sunday Massacre” on April 15, 1984.

 

“Veteran detectives recoiled in horror when they saw the blood-splattered bodies – including that of a pregnant woman – in a railroad flat at 1080 Liberty Ave. in the East New York section of Brooklyn. “One child was eating chocolate pudding sitting on the couch in a suspended state, with the spoon still in her hand, dead,” said former NYPD Detective Beau Dietl.  “There were victims sitting around the living room with fear on their faces after being systematically shot,” he said.

 

“The slayings made front-page news for days. “Showed No Mercy,” read a Post headline.  At his trial, Thomas insisted he was innocent. And he did so again last week in an exclusive interview at the Shawangunk Prison in upstate Wallkill, where he is serving 25 to 50 years on 10 manslaughter counts. “I didn’t do it,” the salt-and-pepper-haired Thomas coolly repeated. “I wasn’t there.”….

 

“In July 1985, a Brooklyn jury found Thomas guilty of manslaughter but not murder. They felt he acted without full responsibility because of drug use.” (Doyle, et al. “Mass Killer Eyes Freedom.”  New York Post, February 16, 2009.)

 

Sources

 

Doyle, John, Philip Messing, and Murray Weiss. “Mass Killer Eyes Freedom.” New York Post, 2-16-2009. At: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02162009/news/regionalnews/mass_killer_eyes_freedom_155429.htm

 

New York Times (Jesus Rangel). “Defendant in the Killing of 10 is Guilty of Reduced Charge. 7-20-1985. Accessed 2-5-2017 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/20/nyregion/defendant-in-the-killing-of-10-is-guilty-of-reduced-charge.html

 

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

 

1984 — March 28, Tornadoes and severe weather, NC (42-44) and SC (21) –63-65

— 74 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Tornadoes kill 74.” 3-29-1984, pp. A1 and A10.
— 70 AP. “Tiny Red Springs hit hard.” Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC. 3-29-1984, p. 1.
— 70 Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Killer twisters hit Carolinas.” 3-29-1984, p. 1.
–62-65 Blanchard tally of State breakouts below, including indirect deaths.
— 63 Blanchard tally of NWS NC death toll of 42 and SC SCO figure of 21 SC deaths.
— >60 Wilmington Morning Star, NC. “Tornado death toll reaches 60.” 3-30-1984, p. 1.
— 59 CDC. Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Tornado Disaster, NC, SC, March 28, 1984. 1985.
— 58 AP. “Twisters devastate towns in Carolinas; 58 killed…” Daily Independent, 29th.
— 57 Doyle. “10 Most Destructive Tornadoes From Around the World.” Scienceray, 6-19-2008.
— 57 NRC Committee on Natural Disasters. Hurricanes Iwa, Alicia, and Diana. 1984, p. 5.
— 57 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 1254-1255.
— 57 NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 5.
— 57 National Weather Service, Milwaukee Weather Forecast Office, 2005
— 57 National Weather Service, Raleigh, NC. March 28, 1984 Carolina’s Tornado Outbreak.
— 57 NWS, Wilmington NC. Carolinas Tornado Outbreak: March 28, 1984. 3-28-2014 mod.
— >57 Sparks. Building Damage…[SC] Caused by the Tornadoes of March 28, 1984. 1985, 1.

North Carolina (41-44)
— 57 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Tornadoes kill 74.” 3-29-1984, pp. A1 and A10.
— 56 Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Killer twisters hit Carolinas.” 3-29-1984, p. 1.
— 6 Bertie County.
— 1 Cumberland County
— 7 Duplin County.
— 2 Gates County.
— 6 Green County.
— 1 Hertford County.
— 2 Lenoir County. (AP. “Twisters devastate towns in Carolinas; 58 killed, 461 hurt.”)
— 1 Perquimans County.
–10 Pitt County.
–3 Greenville.
— 5 Robeson County.
–2 Red Springs. One victim was 3. AP, “Tiny Red Springs hit hard,” 3-29-1984.
–11 Sampson County.
— 2 Scotland County.
— 2 Wayne County.
— 44 AP. “Victims survey damage left by ravaging twisters.” Daily Times-News, 3-30-1984, 1.
— 44 AP. “Tornado cripples N.C. farmers’ financial base.” Times-News, Burlington, 31st, 11.
— 44 AP. “Funerals for tornado victims begin.” Times-News, Burlington, NC, 4-1-1984, p. 12A.
— 44 AP, Ayden, NC. “Storm victims picking up.” Times-News, Burlington, NC, 4-2-1984, 2A.
— 44 Wilmington Morning Star, NC. “Tornado death toll reaches 60.” 3-30-1984, p. 1.
— 6 Bertie County (The county breaking is from sidebar “Tornado Victims.)
— 2 Cumberland County
— 1 Dead on arrival at Cape Fear Valley Hospital, Fayetteville.
— 2 Gates County
— 8 Greene County
— 0 Harnett County
— 0 Hertford County
— 2 Lenoir County
— 0 Nash County
— 1 Perquimans County
— 8 Pitt County
— 2 Robeson County
–2 Dead on arrival, Southeastern General Hospital, Lumberton.
–10 Sampson County
–1 Clarence Hobbs
— 1 Scotland County
— 2 Wayne County
–3 Mount Olive (Wayne and Duplin counties — does not square with sidebar.)
— 1 Within article notes that a person taken to Bladen Co. Hospital in Elizabethtown, died after transfer to New Hanover (Co.) Memorial Hospital (Wilmington).
— 44 Blanchard tally based upon review of Grazulis and the NCDC.
–>43 AP. “Disaster centers aid twister victims.” Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC, 4-3-1984, 1.
— 42 National Weather Service, Raleigh, NC. March 28, 1984 Carolina’s Tornado Outbreak.
— 0 1st NC tornado, coming north from Marlboro County SC, where 7 died, about 19:15.
— 1 2nd NC tornado, Scotland County, F4, approximately 19:25.
— 1 2nd NC tornado, northwestern Robeson County, between 19:25 and 19:45, F4.
— 2 3rd NC tornado, Sampson County, west-central, F3, approximately 19:45.
— 6 3rd NC tornado “ “ near Clinton, F3, approximately 19:45.
— 2 3rd NC tornado, “ “ Roseboro, F3, approximately 19:45.
— 1 3rd NC tornado, “ “ Salemburg, F3, approximately 19:45.
— 3 4th NC tornado, Duplin and SE Wayne County, F3, approximately 20:15.
— 0 5th NC tornado, Wayne County, northeast of Mount Olive; F3.
–15 6th NC tornado, Lenoir Co., central Greene Co. and into Greene Co., 20:45-20:55.
–6 Snow Hill, Greene County.
–2 Ayden, Pitt County.
–1 Winterville, Pitt County.
–6 East side of Greenville, Pitt County.
— 6 7th major NC tornado, Bertie County, just west of Lewiston at about 20:55, F3.
— 2 8th major NC tornado, just southeast of Ahoskie (Hertford Co.) and into Gates Co.
— 1 Last major NC tornado, Perquimans Co.; touchdown ~22:15 near Elizabeth City.
— 42 NWS, Wilmington NC. Carolinas Tornado Outbreak: March 28, 1984. 3-28-2014 mod.
— 41 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 1253-1254.
–6 Bertie Co., 20:55, F3. All six from a trailer park, 5 in one family. Grazulis, 1254.
–2 Cumberland County, Beaver Dam, 19:45, F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–2 Duplin and Wayne Counties, Mount Olive, 20:15, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–2 Gates County, 21:30, F2. 20:45, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–6 Greene County, near Snow Hill, 20:45, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–1 Lenoir/Greene/Pitt Counties, 20:45, F4. 20:45, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–1 Perquimans County, 22:15, F1. Began as waterspout in Albemarle Sound. P.1254.
–2 Pitt County, Ayden, 20:45, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–6 Pitt County, near Greenville, 20:45, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–1 Pitt County, Winterville, 20:45, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–1 Robeson County, 19:25, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–6 Sampson County, near Clinton, 19:45, F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–1 Sampson County, near Clinton, 20:15, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–2 Sampson County, Roseboro, 19:45, F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–1 Sampson County, Salemburg, 19:45, F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–1 Scotland County, 19:25, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–39 NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, pp. 32-33.
–6 Bertie Co., 20:55, F3. All six from a trailer park, 5 in one family. Storm Data, p. 32.
–2 Cumberland Co., Beaver Dam, 19:45, F3. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/3, 1984, p. 32.
–2 Duplin/Wayne Counties, Mount Olive, 20:15, F4. Storm Data, 26/3, 1984, p. 32.
–6 Greene County, rural Snow Hill, 20:45, F4. Storm Data, 26/3, March 1984, p. 32.
–1 Perquimans Co., 22:15, F2. Tree fell on a mobile home. Storm Data, 26/3, p. 33.
–2 Pitt County, Ayden, 20:45, F4. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/3, March 1984, p. 32.
–6 Pitt Co., rural Greenville, 20:45, F4. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/3, March 1984, p. 32.
–1 Pitt County, Winterville, 20:45, F4. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/3, March 1984, p. 32.
–3 Robeson County, 19:25, F4. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/3, March 1984, p. 32.
–1 Sampson Co., central, 20:15, F4. NCDC Storm Data, 26/3, March 1984, p32.
–6 Sampson County, ~Clinton, 19:45, F3. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/3, March 1984, p. 32.
–2 Sampson Co., rural Roseboro, 19:45, F3. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/3, 1984, p. 32.
–1 Sampson Co., Salemburg, 19:45, F3. NCDC. Storm Data, 26/3, March 1984, p. 32.
–38 AP (Patterson). “Man felt building ‘trembling’.” Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 29th.

South Carolina (21)
— 21 South Carolina State Climatology Office. South Carolina Storms of the Century.
–15 Direct — >6 Indirect.
— 17 NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, pp. 36-37.
–5 Fairfield County, 18:00, F4. All in mobile homes; 49 injured. Storm Data, p. 37.
–1 Fairfield County, 18:00. Heart attack during tornado period. Storm Data, p. 37.
–1 Laurens County, Fountain Inn, 17:00. High wind blew large tree limb into car. P. 36.
–7 Marlboro Co., Bennettsville area, 19:10, F4. NCDC, Storm Data, p. 37; also NWS.
–3 Lester Community.
–4 Fletcher Community.
–2 Marlboro County, Tatum and McColl areas, one in mobile home, one in house. P. 37.
–1 Newberry Co., Newberry area, 17:20. Power knocked out, person in house fell. P. 37.
— 17 Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Tornadoes kill 74.” 3-29-1984, pp. A1 and A10.
— 17 Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Tornado Disaster Relief.” 4-1-1984, 3A.
–>16 Wilmington Morning Star, NC. “Tornado death toll reaches 60.” 3-30-1984, p. 1.
— 15 Grazulis 1993, pp. 1253-1254. [Grazulis only mentions direct deaths, unless noted.]
–5 Fairfield Co., 18:00, F4. 4 in mobile homes; 1 in truck, I-77 and 441 intersection.
–7 Marlboro Co., 19:10, F4. 4 in mobile homes, 3 in frame homes. Grazulis, p. 1253.
–3 Lester “
–4 Fletcher “
–2 Marlboro County, 19:25, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 1254.
–1 Newberry Co., 1720, F2. Male in wreckage of his auto shop. Grazulis 1993, p.1253.
— 15 National Weather Service, Raleigh, NC. March 28, 1984 Carolina’s Tornado Outbreak.
— 15 NWS, Wilmington NC. Carolinas Tornado Outbreak: March 28, 1984. 3-28-2014 mod.
–2 Newberry, Newberry Co., and Fairfield County, SX: F2-F3 tornadoes, 5:00-5:40.
–6 Winnsboro (Fairfield Co.), Kershaw (Lancaster Co.), Cash (Chesterfield Co.) areas.
–? Bennettsville area, Marlboro County.
— 14 Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Killer twisters hit Carolinas.” 3-29-1984, A1, A10.
–5 Fairfield County, Winnsboro.
–1 Laurens County, Fountain Inn. Woman, when tree limb fell on her car. (p. 10A)
–7 Marlboro Co., Bennettsville, Northwood Shopping Center. (p. 10A, cont. from 1.)
–1 Newberry Co., Newberry, Chris Epting, in his auto parts store. (p. 10A)
Other Reporting:
— 2 Newberry. (AP. “South Carolinians had little warning…” Times-News, 4-1-1984, 12A.)

Narrative Information
General

CDC: “On the evening of March 28, 1984, a series of tornadoes touched down in northeastern South Carolina and cut a swath almost exclusively through rural areas and small towns in a northeasterly direction through eastern North Carolina… In a 5-hour period, these storms caused more than 1,000 casualties (killed and seriously and slightly injured), along with extensive property damage of more than $100,000,000. The severity of the tornadoes varied from one to four on the Fujita scale (maximum five) and generated winds of at least 260 miles per hour.

“Emergency room (ER) charts and medical records from several of the temporary first aid posts were reviewed in both North Carolina and South Carolina, and death certificates for persons with fatal injuries were analyzed. In addition, all hospitals that treated 15 or more casualties were visited and evaluated for: (1) ER treatment of these casualties; (2) “disaster drill” response of each hospital; and (3) problems that each hospital encountered in coping with the disaster.

“A case was defined as an individual in either North Carolina or South Carolina who, on March 28, 1984, was injured in a tornado storm and required medical treatment. A total of 955 individuals were injured by the tornado storms and sought medical assistance. Of these, 640 (67%) had minor injuries (i.e., were treated and released); 256 (27%) were hospitalized; and 59 (6%) were killed. The age and sex distribution (56% were female) of those injured (excluding fatal injuries) for the counties in which the tornadoes struck reflected the age distribution of residents in these counties. Residents of the affected North Carolina counties who are 55 years of age or older comprise 18% of the population. Of those in North Carolina with nonfatal injuries and recorded ages, 106 (16%) of 660 were in this age group; of the fatalities, 19 (43%) of 44 were in this group (p 0.0001). As expected, contusions and lacerations, as well as other minor injuries (caused usually by blunt trauma), predominated (Table 1). Injuries to vital organs were uncommon.

“The ER records recorded the location of each person at the time of injury for 346 (39%) of the 896 nonfatal injuries. The death certificates recorded this in 55 (93%) of 59 fatalities. Where location was recorded, 19 (46%) of 41 of the North Carolina fatalities and 176 (51%) of 348 of the injured persons in North Carolina and South Carolina were in trailers or mobile homes at the time of injury. Of the counties that sustained tornado damage, an estimated 11% of residents live in trailers or mobile homes.

“All 20 hospitals in North Carolina that treated tornado-associated injuries had implemented their respective disaster plans and recall systems well before the first persons arrived; thus, rarely was an ER overloaded. The disaster plan had relatively few problems, but important among them were: poor radio communication between the hospital ER and the centralized, nonhospital disaster-control staff at the disaster sites; reluctance to treat the tornado storm as a mass casualty disaster; infrequent use of casualty “tags” in contrast to that hospital’s ER medical record; only partial implementation of triage; inadequate recording of essential information on the health records of most patients (e.g., vital signs not recorded in 44% of cases); and a relative deficiency of clerical, administrative, and other support staff (e.g., kitchen workers, social services staff, transport employees, chaplains).” CDC. Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Tornado Disaster, NC, SC, March 28, 1984. 1985)

Doyle: “Throughout the afternoon and evening hours of March 28, 1984, an ominous serious of tornadoes were preparing to devastate the Carolinas. As twenty-two tornadoes touched down causing over $200 million dollars in property damage and killing 57 people, while leaving 1,248 injured.” (Doyle 2008)

Grazulis: “SC MAR 28, 1984 1720 lk 38inj 1000y 23m F2. NEWBERRY — Moved ENE from 6m WSW of Newberry, across Newberry, near the Broad River. Downtown Newberry “looked like a war zone,” with $11,000,000 damage, as 80 businesses were damaged or destroyed. One man died in the wreckage of his automotive shop….

“SC MAR 28, 1984 1800 5k 49inj 1000y 21m F4. FAIRFIELD/KERSHAW — Moved NE from 5m W of Winnsboro to the northern part of Winnsboro, then E, crossing Wateree Lake, to the western tip of Kershaw County. All the deaths were in Fairfield County. Four occurred in trailers. Forty houses, 24 trailers, and four businesses were damaged or destroyed. One man was killed in a truck at the intersection of 1-77 and Hwy-441….

“SC-NC MAR 28, 1984 1910 7k 100inj 2100y 16m F4. MARLBORO, SC/ SCOTLAND, NC — Moved to the NE from 5m WNW of Bennettsville. The Northwood Shopping Center was hit in the northern part of Bennettsville. Three people were killed at “Lester” and four died at “Fletcher,” all in South Carolina. Four of the deaths were in mobile homes and three were in frame homes. The North Carolina path was three miles long….

“SC-NC MAR 28, 1984 1925 4k 395inj 1500y 45m F4. MARLBORO,SC /SCOTLAND/ ROBESON/CUMBERLAND, NC — Moved NE in tandem with the Bennettsville tornado. The seven-mile-long track in South Carolina began west of Tatum, passing through that town, and through McColl. Two deaths and 115 injuries occurred in South Carolina, where 150 homes and trailers were destroyed. In North Carolina, one person died in Scotland County and one in Robeson County with 280 injuries, as the funnel passed through Johns, Maxton, and Red Springs. Every building in Red Springs had Fl or F2 damage….

“NC MAR 28, 1984 1945 12k 101inj 1400y 41m F3. BLADEN/CUMBERLAND/ SAMPSON …Moved NE from 5m NE of Tobermory, to Beaver Dam, Salemburg, Roseboro, and near Clinton. The tornado moved along at 60mph, first striking Beaver Dam, killing two people and leveling a vast section of pine forest. One person was killed in Salemburg, two near Roseboro, and six near Clinton. Three deaths were in trailers. The total loss for both tornadoes in Sampson County was $25,000,000….

“NC MAR 28, 1984 2015 3k 149inj 1400y 21m F4. SAMPSON/DUPLIN/WAYNE… Moved NE from 5m NE of Clinton, Faison, Calypso, to NE of Mt. Olive. One person was killed near Clinton, and two died at Mt. Olive. There was considerable damage at Faison and Calypso….

“NC MAR 28, 1984 2045 16k 153inj 1200y 38m F4. LENOIR/GREENE/PITT… Moved NE from NE of La Grange to east of Greenville. Six people were killed near Snow Hill, two at Ayden, one at Winterville, and six near Greenville. Four of the deaths occurred in trailers. A total of about 300 homes were destroyed….

“NC MAR 28, 1984 2055 6k 19inj 800y 6m F3. BERTIE …Moved NE from just west of Lewiston. This tornado struck a trailer park. Six people were killed at the trailer park, including five members of one family. $5,000,000….

“NC MAR 28, 1984 2130 2k 10inj 800y 14m F3. GATES… Moved NE from near the Chowan River across the southern part of the county. Nine houses and seven trailers were destroyed, and nine houses were damaged….

“NC MAR 28, 1984 2215 lk l inj 175y 6m Fl. CHOWAN/PERQUIMANS… Moved NNE as a waterspout on Albemarle Sound, then moved ashore into Chowan County. One person was killed and another was injured as a tree crushed a trailer in Perquimans County.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 1254-1255.)

NCDC: “Tornado Outbreak in the Carolinas on March 28, 1984. During a 6-hour period in the late afternoon and early evening of March 28th, a strong line of thunderstorms produced 22 tornadoes in North and South Carolina. Of the 22 tornadoes, 7 were F4 in strength, 5 F3, 7 F2, and 3 were L1. The path lengths varied from less than a mile to 45 miles, and totaled 310 miles. The longest tornado path (#11, McColl Tornado) was also the widest, with a mean width of 1.5 miles and maximum width of 2.5 miles. Many of the paths followed each other along lines indicating that the tornadoes were of a family type (spawned one after another by the same parent thunderstorm). One tornado (#16, Snug Harbor) began as a waterspout over Albemarle Sound. In South Carolina the tornadoes were accompanied by 3 large downburst areas, each producing F1 damage.

“The total number of deaths for the two states from the two states from these tornadoes was 57, 21 of which (37%) occurred in mobile homes. 1,248 people were injured.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 5.)

Sparks: “On Monday, March 26, 1984, a low-pressure system formed in West Texas. As it crossed the Midwest it increased in strength. The hot, dry air from the southwest gathered moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and met with cold dry air from the interior of the continent, creating an unstable air mass. By the morning of Wednesday, March 28, heavy rain and strong winds were being experienced in Georgia. By the time the storm reached South Carolina, conditions were ideal for the creation of tornadoes. The National Severe Storms Forecast Center of the National Weather Service issued its first tornado watch at 2:15 p.m. Record low pressures were recorded as the storm passed, accompanied by severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail.

“The first tornado was reported by a South Carolina state trooper near Ware Shoals, about 20 miles from the Georgia border, at 4:35 p.m. The Columbia office of the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning at 4:45 p.m. Between 4:35 p.m. and 10:50 p.m. the storm traveled northeast across South Carolina and North Carolina, killing at least 57 people, injuring approximately 1,300, causing over $200 million of damage, and leaving more than 3,000 people homeless….” (Sparks 1985, p. 1.)

South Carolina

SC State Climatology Office: “On March 28, 1984, one of the most intense low pressure centers on record moved across the State, spawning 11 tornadoes, and numerous damaging thunderstorms. The first tornado appeared in Honea Path in Anderson County and was followed by a series of ten tornadoes along a line from Anderson and Newberry counties east-northeast through Marlboro County into North Carolina. Fifteen people were killed as a direct result of these tornadoes and at least six other deaths were indirectly associated with this severe weather episode.” (SCSCO. SC Storms…)

Sparks: “There is no state-wide building code in South Carolina. If a jurisdiction adopts a building code, it must be one approved by the state, which currently means the Standard Building Code (Southern Building Code Congress International, 1982). However, most rural areas have not adopted a building code, and even when a code has been adopted, inadequate resources often limit its enforcement. This has had an adverse effect on the quality of construction in general and on the ability of structures to resist the natural hazards of tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes to which the area is prone in particular. The state-wide enforcement of appropriate building regulations could greatly reduce damage and loss of life in future events of this type. (p. 2.)

“The performance of the public, unreinforced masonry buildings examined in this survey was extremely poor. South Carolina has the highest earthquake risk of any state on the East Coast and is subject to hurricanes, so it is surprising that unreinforced masonry is used so extensively in the area when its poor performance in extreme winds and earthquakes has long been known. Since the cost of reinforcing masonry is small compared with the overall construction costs and the returns are so great, there seems little excuse for the continued use of unreinforced masonry in places of public assembly

“The collapse of the Northwood Village Shopping Center and the subsequent testing and analysis highlighted serious shortcomings in its form of construction. Unfortunately, it is a form of construction used in hundreds of shopping centers in the region. The use of a moment-resisting frame would add relatively little to the total cost yet would increase the safety of such buildings significantly. The better performance of buildings constructed in this way clearly shows the advantage to be gained from this form of construction.

“With regard to domestic dwellings, a number of simple improvements could be made to conventional construction that, although they would not prevent minor damage in the event of tornado, would probably prevent collapse and loss of life….” (p. 36.)

Sources

Associated Press. “16 tornadoes kill 70, hurt 600,” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 3-29-1984, pp. A1 & A4. Accessed 2-4-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/ohio/elyria/elyria-chronicle-telegram/1984/03-29?tag

Associated Press. “Disaster centers aid twister victims.” Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC, 4-3-1984, 1. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/burlington/burlington-daily-times-news/1984/04-03?tag

Associated Press. “Funerals for tornado victims begin.” Times-News, Burlington, NC, 4-1-1984, p. 12A. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/burlington/burlington-daily-times-news/1984/04-01/page-12?tag

Associated Press (Dennis Patterson). “Man felt building ‘trembling’.” Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 3-29-1984, p. 1. Accessed 2-2-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/kannapolis/kannapolis-daily-independent/1984/03-29?tag

Associated Press, Columbia, SC. “South Carolinians had little warning before tornadoes hit them.” Times-News, Burlington, NC, 4-1-1984, 12A. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/burlington/burlington-daily-times-news/1984/04-01/page-12?tag

Associated Press, Ayden, NC. “Storm victims picking up.” Times-News, Burlington, NC, 4-2-1984, 2A. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/burlington/burlington-daily-times-news/1984/04-02/page-2?tag

Associated Press, Red Springs, NC (Dennis Patterson). “Tiny Red Springs hit hard.” Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC. 3-29-1984, p. 1. Accessed 2-2-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/burlington/burlington-daily-times-news/1984/03-29?tag

Associated Press, Raleigh. “Tornado cripples N.C. farmers’ financial base.” Times-News, Burlington, NC, 3-31-1984, A11. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/burlington/burlington-daily-times-news/1984/03-31/page-10?tag

Associated Press (F. Alan Boyce). “Twisters devastate towns in Carolinas; 58 killed, 461 hurt.” Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 3-29-1984, p. 1. Accessed 2-2-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/kannapolis/kannapolis-daily-independent/1984/03-29?tag

Associated Press (F. Alan Boyce). “Victims survey damage left by ravaging twisters.” Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC, 3-30-1984, p. 1. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/burlington/burlington-daily-times-news/1984/03-30?tag

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Tornado Disaster—North Carolina, South Carolina, March 28, 1984.” MMWR Weekly, Vol. 34, No. 15; pp. 205-206, 211-213, 1985. At: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000523.htm

Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Killer twisters hit Carolinas.” 3-29-1984, p. 1. Accessed 2-2-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/burlington/burlington-daily-times-news/1984/03-29?tag

Doyle, Nelson. “10 Most Destructive Tornadoes From Around the World.” Scienceray, 6-19-2008. http://www.scienceray.com/Earth-Sciences/Meteorology/10-Most-Destructive-Tornadoes-From-Around-the-World.142263

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. 26, No. 3, March 1984. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 2-2-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-5FD9B10D-9522-482F-B5DA-E8BB51A161A4.pdf

National Research Council, Committee on Natural Disasters. Hurricanes Iwa, Alicia, and Diana — Common Themes. A Report of the Committee on Natural Disasters, 1984. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1985.

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI. Famous Large Tornado Outbreaks in the United States. NWS, NOAA, DOC. November 2, 2005 modification. Accessed at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/climate/torout.php

National Weather Service, Raleigh, NC. March 28, 1984 Carolina’s Tornado Outbreak (webpage). 3-18-2009 update. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19840328/

National Weather Service, Wilmington, NC. Carolinas Tornado Outbreak: March 28, 1984 (webpage). 3-28-2014 modification. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: http://www.weather.gov/ilm/CarolinasOutbreak

Sparks, Peter R. Building Damage in South Carolina Caused by the Tornadoes of March 28, 1984. Prepared for Committee on Natural Disasters, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1985. Google digital preview accessed 2-3-2017 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=BmQrAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Tornadoes kill 74.” 3-29-1984, pp. A1 and A10. Accessed 2-4-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-herald-journal/1984/03-29?tag

Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Tornado Disaster Relief.” 4-1-1984, 3A. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/north-carolina/burlington/burlington-daily-times-news/1984/04-01/page-3?tag

Wilmington Morning Star, NC. “Tornado death toll reaches 60.” 3-30-1984, p. 1. Accessed 2-3-2017 at: http://www.weather.gov/images/ilm/climate/CarolinasOutbreak/TornadoDeathTollReaches60-Mar30.png

— ~33  Blanchard tally from Breakouts below.

 

Connecticut                (  1)

— 1  AP (Fields). “Killer storm finally moving out to sea.” The Sun, Lowell, MA, 3-30-1984, p.2.

 

District of Columbia (  2)

— 2  March 28-29. Trees fall on automobiles. NCDC Storm Data, 26/3, March 1984, p. 28.

 

Massachusetts            (~3)

— 1  Beverly, March 29. Man killed when tree fell on his van. Storm Data, 26/3, 1984, p. 28.

— 1  Boston, March 29. Man electrocuted by fallen electric wire. Storm Data, 26/3, 1984, 28-29.

— 1? Off Cape Cod. New Bedford fisherman missing; his boat found with engine running.[1]

 

New Jersey                 (  1)

— 1  AP (Fields). “Killer storm finally moving out to sea.” The Sun, Lowell, MA, 3-30-1984, p.2.

 

New York                   (~16)

–8  Central, March 28. Vehicular accidents “due to bad road conditions and snow removal.”[2]

–1  Morris vicinity, March 30. Miss Teenager of NY lost control of car on slippery rd.[3]

–4  Off Long Island, March 29. From fishing boat, the Wind Blown, ~12 miles off Montauk.[4]

–1  New York City, March 29. “One death was blamed on the weather [severe spring storm].”[5]

–3? Western, March 29-30. “A few passengers [in vehicular accidents] were reportedly killed.”[6]

 

Pennsylvania              (~11)

–~11  Blanchard tally from breakouts below.

— >6  Eastern PA, March 28-29. NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 35.

—>5  Vehicular accidents attributable to slippery roadways.

—  1  Heart attach while shoveling snow.

Central Pennsylvania:

— 2  Clearfield County, March 28. Couple killed in head-on collision with truck, snowy road.[7]

— 1  Lycoming County [No. Central], Linden, March 29. Weather-related vehicular accident.[8]

Western Pennsylvania:

— 1  Armstrong County, March 29. Male; car skidded into another on “slushy” Route 66.[9]

Locality Not Noted:

— 1  “…fatal heart attack trudging through snow…”[10]

 

Narrative Information

 

NCDC on Connecticut, March 29: “A very intense coastal storm with gale force, east and northeast winds gusting up to 70 MPH caused damaging coastal flooding along portions of the Connecticut shore. Damage estimates ranged up to 2.5 million dollars including cleanup and repair costs in Westport. Disaster aid was being sought for coastal portions of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties. Many homes and businesses were damaged by the tidal flooding as tides up to three feet above normal carried by pounding surf swept into the area. In Milford over one thousand homes were damaged with amounts estimated at $750,000. Many streets were under water, and a number of piers and bridges were damaged alng the Connecticut shore. Up to 50,000 electric customers lost power statewide during the storm as high winds and snow felled trees and power lines. Most service was restored by the morning of the 31^st. Blizzard conditions were reported in northern and northwestern Connecticut, with 18 inches of snow accumulating in Norfolk.” (NCDC Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 23.)

 

NCDC on Maryland & DC: “A rapidly-intensifying low pressure system moved out of the Mississippi Valley during the afternoon and evening of the 28^th and continued on toward the northeast late on the 29^th. As the center passed through central Maryland, the lowest atmospheric pressure ever recorded at Baltimore-Washington International Airport for the month of March –28.78 inches — occurred early on the 29^th. Rainfall of 2 to 3 inches was common and wind gusts to 60-80 mph were registered along the coast. Waves 15 feet high washed away sections of boardwalk and eroded a portion of the beach at Ocean City. In separate occurrences falling trees struck two automobiles in the District of Columbia fatally injuring two persons and hospitalizing another. Wind, rain and falling trees took a widespread toll in damage with the heaviest losses over eastern Maryland, in what was termed the most severe [storm] since the great March 1962 storm.

 

“Communities along the lower end of Chesapeake Bay were hit especially hard. In Crisfield 300 homes were damaged and up to 4 feet of water covered roads in what long-time residents called the worst storm in 50 years. At nearby Smith Island an estimated one-quarter million dollars damage was caused by very high tides. Elsewhere, in Somerset County, thousands of chickens were drowned, an additional 300 homes were victims of high water, and 150 people had to be evacuated.

 

“To the west, numerous homes in Cumberland had flooded basements. Rain changed to snow as cold air moved in on the 29^th, with 4 to 8 inches of wet snow falling in Allegany and Garrett Counties. Lesser amounts also fell over areas to the east.” (NCDC Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 28.)

 

NCDC on Massachusetts, March 29: “A savage, early Spring coastal storm caused millions of dollars in damage to power lines and property. Northeast winds gusting to hurricane force along the coast resulted in tidal flooding. A short distance inland, the suburbs west and southwest of Boston had heavy, wet snow which combined with the high winds to cause tremendous damage to trees and power lines. The Boston Edison Power Co., serving this area, reported that up to 150,000 customers were without electric power at the height of the storm. The area hit especially hard included: Needham, Wellesley, Newton, W. Roxbury, Dedham, Canton, Stoughton, Walpole, and Westwood. Many people went without power in this area for up to three to five days after the storm. For the power company it meant bringing in out-of-state repair crews to help out. Residents without heat, in some cases, were forced out of their homes.

 

“Peak wind gusts reached 80 to 90 mph along the Massachusetts coast south of Boston with a peak gust of 108 mph from the ENE at Blue Hill Observatory, Milton.

 

“In Beverly, a man was killed when a tree fell on his van, and in Boston, a man was electrocuted by a fallen electric wire.

 

“On Cape Cod, at Orleans, the 473 ft. freighter ‘Eldia’ was driven hard aground and 23 crewmen were evacuated from the ship by Coast Guard helicopter. On Nantucket Island, the 71 ft. high Great Point Lighthouse built in 1818 was toppled by heavy seas. Damage to property was very heavy with 700-800 trees knocked down. 25 houses were seriously damaged in just the town of Needham alone, one of the areas with the most storm damage. Farther inland, there was 17 inches of snow at Worcester. However, there the snow was not as wet as nearer the coast, so there was not as much tree and power line damage. There was some wind damage, however, in central Massachusetts, with wind gusts to 50 to 60 mph. Cape Cod had rain with high winds….

 

“About 8500 electric customers lost service during the storm on Cape Cod. A total of about 250,000 were without power statewide, which represents a million people, making this the greatest power failure since the Great Northeast Blackout in 1965….Wind gusts at Martha’s Vineyard to 97 mph.”

 

“Southboro [March] 29….A most unusual occurrence during the ‘Northeaster’ blizzard was a very powerful downburst wind which sheared off four to five acres of red pine trees at a height of about 20 feet off the ground. This site was investigated by the NWS by helicopter and determined to be a ‘microburst’….The location was off Middle Road near the dam at the Sudbury Reservoir.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, 26/3, 1984, pp. 28-29.)

 

NCDC on Coastal New Jersey, March 29: “Near hurricane force winds drove the ocean over the sea walls and bulk heads into the streets of nearly every community on the barrier islands. The degree of flooding reached sever levels around 0430EST and reached a tide height several feet above mean low water. Winds reached near hurricane strength at the State Marina in Atlantic City before the anemometer fell victim to the storm. A limited state of emergency was declared for several counties of New Jersey. The storm moved off the Jersey coast and accelerated northeast. Winds along the shore shifted from the east northeast to the northeast and continued around to the north. It was this shift that prevented any more severe flooding.” (NCDC Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 31.)

 

NCDC on Central New York, March 28: “A major Nor’easter hit Eastern New York bringing snowfall of up to 12 inches in parts of the Mohawk Valley and Southern Adirondacks. Flooding from ocean surf was a problem along the lower portion of the Hudson River. Power lines and trees fell as strong winds blew. In Orange and Putnam Counties snow mixed with and changed to rain, which created flood problems. All [8] deaths were associated with auto accidents due to bad road conditions or snow removal.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 31.)

 

NCDC on Western New York, March 29-30: “A severe winter storm produced up to 2 feet of snow and forced the closure of businesses and schools. Many roads were impassable due to deep snow. The roads that were open were dotted with abandoned cars. Many of these cars were involved in vehicular accidents attributed to poor driving conditions. A few passengers were reportedly killed. Dozens were injured. Weak structures such as old bars collapsed from the heavy snow. Trees were uprooted. Power lines broke. Blackouts lasted up to six hours in the Southern Tier Counties.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 31.)

 

NCDC on Eastern Pennsylvania, March 28-29: “An intense spring storm which started with rain on the 27^th gradually changed to snow on the 28^th and developed high wind gusts. Wind gusts reached 40 to 50 MPH and brought down hundreds of trees. Trees and tree limbs damaged utility lines, mobile homes, houses and other buildings. Some buildings had all or part of the roof torn off. Power interruptions were experienced by 150,000 customers or more. Snow and sleet accumulations were little if any in Philadelphia, around 2 inches inn the north and west suburbs, up to 6 to 12 inches in the lower Susquehanna Valley. There were 7 to 12 inches in the lower elevations in the north and 1 to 2 feet in the higher elevations. The greatest amount reported was 28 inches at Mt. Pocono, Monroe County.

 

“The slippery roadways caused many accidents with many injuries and at least 5 deaths. One man died from a heart attack while shoveling snow and at least 4 people were injured by falling trees.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 35.)[11]

 

Sources

 

Associated Press (Dana Fields). “Killer storm finally moving out to sea.” The Sun, Lowell, MA, 3-30-1984, p. 2. Accessed 2-4-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/massachusetts/lowell/lowell-sun/1984/03-30/page-2?tag

 

Associated Press, East Hampton, L.I. “Mass is Said for 2 Fishermen Lost off Long Island in Storm. New York Times, 4-12-1984. Accessed 2-4-2017 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/12/nyregion/mass-is-said-for-2-fishermen-lost-off-long-island-in-storm.html

 

Associated Press, New York. “NYC rocked by storm.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. 3-29-1984, A10. Accessed 2-4-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-herald-journal/1984/03-29/page-180?tag

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 2-2-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-5FD9B10D-9522-482F-B5DA-E8BB51A161A4.pdf

 

Tuma, Debbie. “Lost at Sea Memorial Still Stands the Test of Time.” Montauk Sun, 10-1-2016. Accessed 2-4-2017 at: http://www.montauksun.com/lost-at-sea-memorial-still-stands-the-test-of-time/

 

United Press International. “East Coast cleans up.” Key West Citizen, FL, 4-1-1984, p. 2. Accessed 2-4-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/florida/key-west/key-west-citizen/1984/04-01/page-2?tag

 

United Press International. “Storm’s sting felt in state.” Valley Independent, Monessen, PA, 3-30-1984, p. 3. Accessed 2-4-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/monessen/monessen-valley-independent/1984/03-30/page-3?tag

 

 

 

[1] Associated Press (Dana Fields). “Killer storm finally moving out to sea.” The Sun, Lowell, MA, 3-30-1984, p. 2. Notes: “Rescuers abandoned a search off Cape Cod on Thursday [March 29] for a New Bedford fisherman whose boat was found with the engine running.”

[2] NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 31.

[3] United Press International. “East Coast cleans up.” Key West Citizen, FL, 4-1-1984, p. 2. Jacqueline Barry, 17.

[4] Associated Press, East Hampton, L.I. “Mass is Said for 2 Fishermen Lost off Long Island in Storm. New York Times, 4-12-1984. Two are identified as Michael Stedman, 32, of East Hampton, and David Connick, 23, of Montauk. They were last heard from by radio morning of March 29. Another source identifies the other two as Michael Vigilant, 19 and Scott Clark, 19 and notes their boat The Windblown, “went down between Montauk and Block Island.” Writes “The Windblown did not stand a chance in…waves…up to 30 feet…and gusts of up to 120 miles an hour.” (Debbie Tuma. “Lost at Sea Memorial Still Stands the Test of Time.” Montauk Sun, 10-1-2016.)

[5] Associated Press, New York. “NYC rocked by storm.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. 3-29-1984, A10. Notes: “Today’s severe spring storm, driven by gusts up to 62 mph pummeled the New York City area with sleet and snow that disrupted mass transit, pelted pedestrians and flooded roadways. One death was blamed on the weather.”

[6] NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 31. Question mark inserted after number 3 denoting we have converted “a few” into “3” for purposes of tabulation.

[7] “A couple was killed in a head-on collision with a tractor trailer on snow covered Route 36 about a half mile south of La Jose.” (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 35.) A news source noted the couple, identified as Anthony Ananea and his wife Carol, both 44) were from Punxsutawney. (United Press International. “Storm’s sting felt in state.” Valley Independent, Monessen, PA, 3-30-1984, p. 3.)

[8] “In Lycoming County, when snow closed down some county offices, police said the weather was the reason for the traffic death of a Linden woman.” Identified as Iris Haywood, 51. (UPI. “Storm’s sting felt in state.” Valley Independent, Monessen, PA, 3-30-1984, p. 3.)

[9] In Bethel Township. (NCDC/NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 26, No. 3, March 1984, p. 35.)

[10] Associated Press (Dana Fields). “Killer storm finally moving out to sea.” The Sun, Lowell, MA, 3-30-1984, p. 2. It is conceivable that this is a reference to the heart attack death while shoveling snow in eastern PA, though the wording here does not lead one to that conclusion.

[11] One has to read the NCDC descriptions carefully for indications of fatalities, in that the “Killed” box for this event notes “0” — only direct deaths, by NCDC definition, are noted within their “Killed” framework.

–29 Los Angeles Times. “`It’s Getting Worse’: Copter Victim’s Tape…” 5-14-1986.
–29 (18 US). Keating. In the Dark of the Night: Night Vision Goggles… 1991.
–29 (18 US). New Mexican, Santa Fe. “Marine helicopter…down…S. Korea…” 3-24-1984, p. 9.
–29 (18 US). Roswell Daily Record, NM. “Marine helicopter crashes; 31 dead.” 3-25-1984, 20.
–29 (18 US). The News, Frederick, MD. “Hunt Ends for Crash Survivors.” 5-7-1985, p. 1.
–18 Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (165170 to 160006). 11-7-2011.

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion….157132 crashed near Hunghae, South Korea Mar 24, 1984. 18 occupants killed.” (Baugher. US Navy…Marine…BuNos…(156170 to 160006). 11-7-2011.)

Keating: “1984 CH-53 29 [fatalities] PVS-5 FFP 53% [Moon] 21 Degs. Aircrew Dash 3 [6] flew into mountain in poor weather during troop assault mission. 14 of 29 killed were South Korean Marines.” (Keating, USMC Major George H. In the Dark of the Night: Night Vision Goggles (NVG) Mishaps Lessons Learned. 1991.)

Newspapers – Chronological:

March 24, AP: “Seoul, South Korea (AP) — A U.S. Marine Corps helicopter carrying 18 Americans and 11 South Koreans crashed into a mountainside early Saturday while taking part in military exercises along the southeast coast, military officials said. There was no immediate word on casualties, but officials described the crash as “violent” and the crash site as “extensive.”

“Rescue and investigating teams were reported on the scene about 200 miles southeast of Seoul. A military announcement said the U.S. Navy vessel Belleau Wood was standing by offshore “to provide assistance as required.” The Belleau Wood, an amphibious assault ship, is equipped with a surgical hospital.

“Officials said the helicopter was engaged in Team Spirit ’84, an annual training maneuver involving thousands of U.S. and South Korean military personnel. The war games began Feb. 11 and will continue into April.

“Announcement of the crash was made by the Team Spirit press center. The report placed the crash site 24 miles north of Pohang, a port town on the southeast coast that has been a center of activity for the maneuvers. The announcement said, “A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53D helicopter crashed this morning at approximately 4 a.m. (Korean standard time) about 24 miles north of Pohang during a Team Spirit exercise. There were 18 U.S. and 11 ROK (Republic of Korea) military personnel on the flight manifest. “The USS Belleau Wood, an amphibious assault ship, was standing by offshore to provide assistance as required. “An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the accident….

“The Marines’ CH-53 is known as the “Sea Stallion” and can carry 38 combat-loaded infantrymen. It normally has a crew of three….” (AP. “Marine helicopter goes down during S. Korea exercises.” New Mexican, Santa Fe. 3-24-1984, 9)

March 25, AP: “Seoul, South Korea (AP) — A U.S. military spokesman said today all 18 American and 11 South Korean Marines aboard a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter were killed when it crashed and burned in the rain-swept coastal mountains.

“Military teams searching the area determined there were no survivors in the fiery pre-dawn crash Saturday, said the spokesman. “We can confirm they are all dead,” he said. “They have the
bodies.”….

“A U.S. military report said the helicopter plowed into the side of a mountain about 25 miles north of the southeast port of Pohang. The military said the copter, one of six in the maneuvers, had been headed back to base at Pohang after deteriorating weather conditions forced cancellation of the night exercises. A fire, spotted on the mountainside, was the first indication of a crash. The report said “some bodies” were recovered Saturday. The rugged nature of the terrain about 200 miles southeast of Seoul made the grim hunt a slow, difficult process. “It was a violent crash that spread the helicopter all over,” one source said. “It covered a great area of steep, rugged mountain.”

“All the Americans aboard the helicopter were members of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force based on Okinawa and in South Korea for the joint maneuvers, called Team Spirit ’84.

“The helicopter was a CH-53D type, a “Sea Stallion” that can carry as many as 38 marines and a crew of three. It was taking part in a night exercise involving the movement and landing of combat troops.

“Col. Rallin J. Aars, public affairs officer and spokesman for U.S. Forces in South Korea, gave this account:

“The helicopter which crashed was one of six helicopters which took off from Pohang Airfield…The weather when the helicopters took off was above minimum standards. However, as the flight continued the weather deteriorated. The mission was terminated and all aircraft were returning to Pohang when the helicopter crashed.”

“Aars said a Marine observation aircraft sighted a fire on a rugged mountainside and search and rescue operations got under way immediately….

“Elements of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force are among some 60,000 American military people taking part in this year’s Team Spirit, the ninth annual exercises in the series. With the South Korean forces participating, the total number that will have been involved when Team Spirit ’84 ends next month will reach about 207,500.” (Associated Press. “Marine helicopter crashes; 31 dead.” Roswell Daily Record, NM. 3-25-1984, 20.)

March 27, UPI: “United Press International. The Pentagon has released the names of 17 of the 18 U.S. Marines killed in the crash of a helicopter Saturday in South Korea. Identity of the 18th victim was being withheld until relatives could be notified, a spokesman said. The list includes the home town of record:

Gunnery Sgt. Richard L. Djelko, Danbury, Conn.
Sgt. Kenneth B. Crosby, Houston, Texas.
Pvt. Anthony F. Dugas, Opelousas, La.
Pfc. Edwin C. Ferrell, Clover, Va.
Cpl. Tim V. Kelly, Fresno, Calif.
Cpl. Bradley McComas, Camden, Ohio.
Sgt. Kevin J. Mugoodwin, Gary, Ind.
Pfc. James T. Rooney, West Point, Iowa
Lance Cpl. Fernando Resales Jr., Brentwood, N.Y.
Pfc. William A. Soles, Baton Rouge, La.
Sgt. David C. Higgins, Somerset, Pa.
Lance Cpl. Daniel B. Zinzk, Framingham, Mass.
Pfc. John M. Andrews III, Watchung, N.J.
Lance Cpl. Herman L. Osceola, Culewiston, Fla.
Capt, John H. Huston, Gahanna, Ohio.
Capt. Steven Burley, Magnolia, N.J.
Cpl. Jeffrey Acquiston, San Dimas, Calif. [Jeff Aquisto]

“…All the Americans were members of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force, based at Camp Butler, Okinawa….” (UPI. “Pentagon releases names of helicopter crash victims.” Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. 3-27-1984 1 and 10.)

May 1985: “The casualties [new event] were the highest involving U.S. military personnel in the area since March 1984, when another Marine Corps CH-53D helicopter crashed into a Korean mountainside during military exercises, killing 18 Okinawa-based Marines and 11 Koreans.” (The News, Frederick, MD. “Hunt Ends for Crash Survivors.” 5-7-1985, p. 1.)

LA Times, 1986: “March 24, 1984: A CH-53D crashes into mountain in Korea during a night troop operation, killing 29. Probable cause: air crew error, lack of crew coordination, supervisory error.” (Los Angeles Times. “‘It’s Getting Worse’: Copter Victim’s Tape…” 5-14-1986.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Marine helicopter crashes; 31 dead.” Roswell Daily Record, NM. 3-25-1984, p. 20. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=157448163

Associated Press, Seoul, South Korea. “Marine helicopter goes down during S. Korea exercises.” New Mexican, Santa Fe, NM. 3-24-1984, 9. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=111483249

Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (160007 to 163049). Oct 29, 2011 revision. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries21.html

Bisson, Ted. Email dated 11-13-2021.

Keating, USMC Major George H. In the Dark of the Night: Night Vision Goggles (NVG) Mishaps Lessons Learned. 1991. At: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1991/KGH.htm

Los Angeles Times. “`It’s Getting Worse’: Copter Victim’s Tape Detailed Craft’s Faults.” 5-14-1986. At: http://articles.latimes.com/1986-05-14/local/me-5469_1_marine-corps-super-stallion-helicopter/2

The News, Frederick, MD. “Hunt Ends for Crash Survivors,” 5-7-1985, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=32681256

United Press International. “Pentagon releases names of helicopter crash victims.” Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. 3-27-1984 1 and 10. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=133271914