1975 Omaha tornado outbreak: Difference between revisions

41°15′N 96°00′W / 41.25°N 96°W / 41.25; -96

The 1975 Omaha tornado was a violent tornado that hit the Omaha metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It was the costliest and most powerful tornado out of 36 that touched down across the Midwest and South during the two-day outbreak. Besides Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Texas Mississippi, and Louisiana were all affected by multiple tornadoes which resulted in millions of dollars [USD] in damages.

During the early afternoon of Tuesday, May 6, 1975, a tornado watch was issued for much of eastern Nebraska. Initial tornado activity started in northeast Nebraska throughout the first half of the afternoon. At around 4:15 PM, a tornado warning was issued for the Omaha area and an F4 tornado^[1] touched down about 15 minutes later in Sarpy County, Nebraska. The storm then moved north-east, cutting into Douglas County crossing Interstate 80 (injuring several motorists) and through west-central sections of the city of Omaha. The tornado chopped a path across 10 miles (16 km) of streets and residences, crossing the city's busiest intersection at 72nd & Dodge. Extensive damage occurred along 72nd Street, with numerous homes and apartments severely damaged, along with Creighton Prep School and the United Methodist Church. The Westgate subdivision was devastated, with many homes leveled, and a few that were swept away. The nearby Westgate Elementary School was destroyed. Bergan Mercy Hospital, Lewis and Clark Junior High School, a motel, and several industrial buildings were severely damaged as well. The tornado later lifted in the Benson Park area at 4:58.^[2]

In one remarkable instance, First United Methodist Church minister of music Mel Olson spotted the rolling clouds in the sky outside the windows of the room where he was rehearsing a children's choir. He led them to safety below the church building. The building, located at 70th and Cass Streets, was struck and heavily damaged by the twister. The room where the children had been practicing, with three walls of windows, was hit and the glass exploded.

Three people were killed and 133 others were injured. One of the fatalities was a woman who was thrown by the tornado from her home to a backyard four or five houses away.^[3] At least 287 buildings were destroyed, and nearly 4,000 buildings were damaged with debris found, in some cases, several miles away. When adjusted for inflation, this remains one of the costliest tornadoes in United States history.

• List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

• Black Tuesday: May 6, 1975 Archived December 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine