HistoricOmaha

Today is the 95th anniversary of the deadly tornado that hit Omaha on Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913. This family of storms makes up the top 3 killer tornados in Nebraska history according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

THE TOLL OF EASTER DAY IN OMAHA AND VICINITY,
The Terrible Tale of America’s Worst Tornado.

Omaha and Environs.

	Dead.	Injured.	Property Loss.
Omaha	115	352	$5,000,000
Council Bluffs	11	15	300,000
Ralston	7	20	250,000
Totals	133	387	$5,550,000

Nebraska.

	Dead.	Injured.	Property Loss.
Yutan	18	21	$300,000
Berlin	7	17	350,000
Mead	2	2	50,000
Rock Bluffs	1	1	10,000
Fremont		2	1,500
Bennington		7	5,000
De Soto	2	10	6,000
Valley		6	1,250
Plattsmouth		1	1,000
Nehawka	1	12	5,000
Waterloo		6	2,500
Greenwood		4	1,500
Tekamah		2	1,000
Craig	6	2	2,500
Total, Nebraska	37	93	$737,250

Iowa.

	Dead.	Injured.	Property Loss.
Glenwood	5	12	$125,000
Woodbine		8	300,000
Beebertown	2	10	125,000
Gilliat	2	5	75,000
Weston	2	11	100,000
Neola	3	4	50,000
Total, Iowa	14	50	$775,000
Grand total	177	510	$7,062,250

Homes destroyed in Omaha		642
Homes wrecked in Omaha		1,669
Persons left homeless in Omaha		6,834

More photos and descriptions:

• There are several sites with photos and stories from a 32 page supplement published by the Omaha Bee.
• Easter Sunday 1913 Omaha Tornado
• Track of the Tornado Housed by the MARDOS Memorial Library at USGenNet.org
• 1913 Omaha Nebraska Easter Tornado Photo Gallery housed by NOAA’s website
• 11913 OMAHA NEBRASKA TORNADO extensive descriptions, index of affected families, and a table listing the human and property destruction from a booklet published by the Omaha Daily News
• Story of the Great Flood and Cyclone Disasters America’s Greatest Calamity edited by Thomas H. Russell, A.M., LL.D
• Chapter XXI — The Omaha Tornado
• Chapter XXII — In the Storm’s Path
• Chapter XXIII — What the Governor Saw
• Chapter XXIV — The Work of Relief
• Chapter XXV — How the Storm Started
• Chapter XXVI — The Dead in Omaha
• Chapter XXVII — Incidents of the Tornado
• Tragic Story of America’s Greatest Disaster by Marshall Everrett
• Chapter XVIII — Omaha’s Terrible Night Description of a great city in the path of the awful forces of destruction—Humanity returned to life of destitution in a twinkling of an eye—Rich and poor on equality in bitter cold of wind-swept hills
• Chapter XIX — Tragic Days After Tornado Relief and sight seeing amid ruins of great city—Soldiers on guard—Story of Pete, the canary
• Chapter XX — Heroism of Telephone Girls Feminine nature responds to call of duty—Not even daunted by Omaha tornado—Exchange a hospital and military headquarters
• TORNADO OF MARCH 23, 1913 in the Omaha Public Library’s Early Omaha: Gateway to the West collection
• Omaha Easter Sunday Tornado (1913) at Wikipedia.org.
• HOW OMAHA WAS STRICKEN.; Fully 1,500 Homeless; $5,000,000 Property Loss. New York Times, March 24, 1913.
• OMAHA COUNTS 200 LIVES LOST; Surrounding Towns Add 50 More — Roll of Injured Numbers Nearly 500. New York Times, March 25, 1913.
• OMAHA’S TERRIBLE NIGHT is a lengthy description of the tornado and its impact on the city.
• Omaha’s Easter Tornado of 1913 (Paperback) by Travis Sing