Database and records searchable by surname. The storm missed Arkansas State University in eastern Jonesboro. MRS. MARY HARRIS. But I did know at that point that it's amazing you're alive.". MRS. V. NICHOLS. Ten persons were injured. Tornado #27: F3 tornado tracked south of Freeburg, Illinois in St. Clair County. Jonesboro, Ark. Tornado #28: This F4 tornado tracked nearly 21 miles through Arkansas. ELLA WILLIAMS. The Tuckerman twister, which may have been the same one which later struck Jonesboro and Manila, first hit an implement company building west of U.S. Highway 67, then skipped across the road and demolished some homes. This university city of 24,000 was hardest hit. This outbreak produced 39 tornadoes from 3:28 PM CDT on … 472 CR 766Jonesboro, AR 72401(870) 931-8888. Several other tornadoes which caused property damage and injury were reported during the night and most of the area was under a storm alert until daybreak. The heaviest damage was in the downtown area, which was almost deserted when the storm struck. MAGGIE GUY, 30. After being rushed to the hospital by an elderly couple, Joyce recalls hearing news of her parents' condition. More Notable Events on May 15: 1988 Moscow began withdrawing its 115,000 troops in Afghanistan 1948 Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabian troops attack Israel 1940 1st nylon stockings sold in U.S. 1928 Mickey Mouse made his 1st appearance 1905 Las Vegas, Nevada founded The tornado did major damage at the Mall at Turtle Creek and Jonesboro Municipal Airport. ARCHIE WIMPY, 30. EMBED (for wordpress.com hosted blogs and archive.org item tags) Want more? It affected the states of: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. RITA SLATER, 28. Rotation within the storm … "I really didn't know what to think," said Thorne, "I was so young. A photo of the tornado that hit Jonesboro on 3/28 from the KAIT 8 Skycam. According to Reed, a 69-volt line and multiple distribution lines were downed, leaving around 6,000 people without power. WSR-57 Event - Jonesboro, Arkansas Tornado May 15, 1968. WAYNE HENLEY, 6. NORMAN JACQUESS, 45. Based on the video shared online and pictures of the damage posted on Twitter, it … MICHAEL CARTER, 16. Jonesboro, Ark. Jonesboro 1973 Tornado Trumann Tornado of 1968 2011 Joplin, Missouri Tornado Waco Texas May 11, 1953 Moore Oklahoma May 20, 2013 Tornado Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tornado 2011 … It counted 33 dead and more than 350 injured as the first daylight search of the stricken area began. The main building will forever be burned into our minds. The tornado crashed the living room walls down and created a vacuum in the room they were taking refuge in. The city of Jonesboro took a direct hit from this tornado. The shopping district of suburban Nettleton at Jonesboro was heavily damaged and the Nettleton elementary school was destroyed. 27 Nov 1967 – 15 May 1968 Nettleton Cemetery Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas, USA PAULINE SYKES, 3. Suddenly, he said, the windows in the car burst out and shingles and debris began to blow over him, and his four-year-old son, BUDDY. Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the 1968 tornado. "We were taken up in the air," said Cleghorne, "It felt like it lasted for a long time but it couldn't have been since we landed just across the street… all that was left was the foundation to our house. It wasn’t unusual to experience tornadic incidents. Fortunately, another man he assumed had passed away was seen walking down the streets of Jonesboro just weeks later. It affected the states of: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. MARY ANN RIGGS, 15. May 16, 2018 at 3:22 AM CDT - Updated August 14 at 1:21 AM, Missing Independence County man found safe in Illinois, Earthquake reported in Northeast Arkansas, Here’s how to get the all-new Region 8 News app, Vaccinate Region 8: Where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine. There were 142 confirmed tornadoes in the United States in May. This university city of 24,000 was hardest hit. The Weather Bureau estimated the speed of the winds at Jonesboro at 120 miles per hour. The Tornado outbreak of May 1968 was a significant and deadly tornado outbreak that … On May 16, 1968 a tornado struck the small town of Trumann, Arkansas and parts of Jonesboro, Arkansas. The twisters dropped out of spring thunderstorms which poured heavy rain on already flooded areas. DENISE ALLEN, 1 1/2. All rights reserved. Two major shopping centers and three other schools were heavily damaged. FamilyOldPhotos   Old-Yearbooks  TexasHistoryArchives, Greenwood, AR Tornado Devastates Town, Apr 1968, AR Tornado - Piney, Loudon, Wellerville, Jeshro, Louisville, Patterson, Berryville, Mulberry, Cravens, Nov 1908, Hot Springs, AR Area Tornado Spreads Destruction, Nov 1915, Hot Springs & Garland Co, AR Tornado, Jun 1916. BEVERLY HANSEN, 19. Browse more videos. DAVID RAY GOODMAN, 3 1/2. EMBED. Copyright ©2003-2019, All rights reserved. Weather Bureau reported numerous sightings of tornado funnels aloft. Reed worked in the office trying to figure out which circuits were out as other electric companies from all around came in to offer any assistance they could. Copyright 2018 KAIT. — People in Jonesboro are trying to salvage what they can after an EF-3 tornado brought 140 mile per hour winds to northeast Arkansas on Saturday night. A tornado ripped through Jonesboro, Arkansas, injuring 22 people and leaving a trail of flattened homes and buildings. 1968 Jonesboro Tornado Report . Here's a JHS group dedicated to the May 27th, 1973 tornado which took our school. MILLIE SYKES, 55. Jim Reed is one individual that was interviewed. RITA ALLEN, 30. The last tornado that did extensive damage in Jonesboro occurred in the early 1970s, when a twister struck a school in the city, Campbell said. Privacy Policy. Tuckerman, population 1,600 was not so hard hit. Eight bodies were found in a field near the BROWN home. Mountain Home: Discover (and save!) (AP) -- The coroner's office at Jonesboro and State Police Thursday night issued this list of the victims in Wednesday night's tornadoes in Northeast Arkansas: Many homes and businesses have been destroyed, including parts of Turtle Creek Mall. Follow. *Tornado risk is calculated from the destruction path that has occured within 30 miles of the location. Mar 19, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Betty Davidson. MR. and MRS. YANKEE ROBERSON. WSR-57 Event - Jonesboro, Arkansas Tornado May 15, 1968. JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) - The official forecast for May 15, 1968 mentioned severe thunderstorms including hail and wind. Jonesboro police continue to investigate a Tuesday night shooting that sent a man to the hospital. That's it.". RICKY HENLEY, 4. EXIE TAYLOR, 46. The May 15-16 1968 tornado outbreak was a significant and deadly tornado outbreak. GenDisasters is a genealogy site, compiling information on the historic disasters, events, and tragic accidents our ancestors endured, as well as, information about their life and death. The twister that hit Jonesboro struck first in the Valley View community, south of the city, then smashed through the southeast section of the city scattering homes like dominoes. Else Maiya. MRS. DOROTHY GAUGER of Gamallel. ZACK WEBB. The Region 8 StormTeam interviewed multiple Jonesboro residents that lived through the event, each with a unique story. Authorities at Manila said three blocks of buildings were wrecked. He said he turned around to go home, but the street was blocked by a house which had blown into it. Quinn remembers seeing residents who had lost their lives in a field and remembers hearing a baby crying. 0:18. Unfortunately, five years earlier, on another May day in 1968, a tornado had devastated the city, killing 34 people. Injured from Oil Trough crowded into hospitals at Newport and Batesville. Within a few minutes, the damage was done, with the powerful winds erasing entire neighborhoods. This outbreak produced 39 tornadoes from 3:28 PM CDT on … Joyce remembers being at home when the tornado was coming. (AP) -- Deadly spring twisters prowled Arkansas' tornado alley Wednesday night, leaving more than two score dead and staggering property damage. Discover (and save!) The First Jonesboro Tornado, May 15, 1968... On May 15, 1968, severe weather hit north central and northeast Arkansas. The tornado roared through homes, the town's commercial district, and the Jonesboro High School complex, skirting the campus of Arkansas State University. MRS. BROWN, at home with daughter SHERRY, three months, said she and the child crouched against a wall in SHERRY'S bedroom and this was the only room in the house that was not damaged. Twisters were reported after midnight near Marion and Black Oak, but there was no report of injuries from these storms which reportedly hit unpopulated rural areas. There were 35 total deaths and the seriously injured number was at a total of 364. Jonesboro has a 205 percent higher incidence of tornados than the national average, high even for Arkansas. Her mother had survived… but her father passed away. Although her home was not destroyed, Darlene has tragic memories surrounding that night. your own Pins on Pinterest. 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