Megaphone -- Page 8

On Palm Sunday, 1965, 11 tornadoes struck 20 counties in central and northern Indiana, killing 137 people. More than 1,700 people were injured and property damage exceeded $30 million. It was Indiana's worst tornado disaster. Twin tornadoes tore through Goshen, destroying close to 100 trailer homes. In Russiaville, 90 percent of the buildings were damaged. The tornadoes that devastated Indiana were part of an outbreak in which nearly 50 tornadoes struck the Great Lakes region on April 11-12, causing 271 deaths and more than 3,400 injuries.

The most destructive tornado outbreak of the 20th century was the "Super Outbreak" of April 3-4, 1974. During a 16-hour period, 148 tornadoes hit 13 states, including Indiana. The path of destruction stretched 2,500 miles. More than 300 people died and more than 5,000 were injured. The most notable tornado in this group destroyed much of Xenia, Ohio. In Indiana, 21 tornadoes struck 39 counties, killing 47 people.

In June 1990, the largest outbreak of tornadoes ever hit Indiana. Thirty seven tornadoes ripped across 31 counties; 8 people died and more than 200 were injured. Downtown Petersburg was severely damaged. Across the Midwest, this outbreak produced 64 tornadoes in nine states, and caused nine deaths.

Indiana tornado disasters

April 13, 1852: New Harmony - 16 killed
May 14, 1886: Anderson - 43 killed
March 23, 1913: Terre Haute - 21 killed
March 11, 1917: New Castle - 21 killed
March 23, 1917: New Albany - 45 killed
March 28, 1920: Allen through Wayne counties - 39 killed by three tornadoes
April 17, 1922: Warren through Delaware counties - 14 killed
March 18, 1925: "Tri-State Tornado" -- Posey, Gibson and Pike counties - 74 killed
March 26, 1948: Coatesville destroyed - 20 killed
May 21, 1949: Sullivan and Clay counties - 14 killed
April 11, 1965: "Palm Sunday Outbreak" -- 11 tornadoes, 20 counties - 137 killed
April 3, 1974: "Super Outbreak" -- 21 tornadoes hit 39 counties - 47 killed
June 2, 1990: 37 tornadoes hit 31 counties - 8 killed

I went down to the creek today
to see what I could find,
Seeing many imprints
wildlife left behind.

Much to my amazement,
Perhaps ten feet away,
Drinking from the water's edge
there it was today.

I stood so very still
To see what it might do,
When it became aware of me
it merely stood there too.

Eye to eye we stared,
Powerless to move.
We watched each other for a while
uncertain what the other would do.

Then so graciously it bowed it's head
portraying an aura of respect,
Then glanced at me and quickly fled...

Oh I could hardly move,
As if frozen to the ground.
I watched it vanish in the bounds of nature.....
Free of any sound.