Washington, The Most Evil Tornado Ever Recorded

Summary

On November 17, 2013, a devastating tornado struck Washington, Illinois, causing unprecedented destruction for the month. Despite the rare occurrence of tornadoes in November, especially in the Midwest, the Storm Prediction Center issued a high risk warning due to a powerful jet streak and warm, moist air. The tornado, initially an EF2, intensified to an EF4, leveling over 1,000 homes and causing $950 million in damages. Remarkably, the low death toll of three is attributed to early warnings by the National Weather Service and the presence of basements in homes. The community's resilience was evident as locals began rebuilding immediately, although they were denied federal aid by FEMA due to an outdated formula.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ On November 17th, 2013, a powerful tornado devastated Washington, Illinois, causing extensive damage and loss of life.
• 📅 The tornado occurred in mid-November, an unusual time for such severe weather in the Midwest, highlighting the unpredictability of tornadoes.
• 🚨 Meteorologists at the Storm Prediction Center issued a rare high risk warning for tornadoes, indicating a 30% chance, particularly for Illinois and Indiana.
• 🏠 The tornado had a significant impact on residential areas, destroying over 1,000 homes and causing approximately $950 million in damages.
• 👤 Despite the severity of the tornado, the death toll was relatively low at three, attributed to effective warnings and the presence of basements in homes.
• 📡 Satellite imagery revealed cycloidal markings left by the tornado, indicative of sub-vortices within the tornado that caused concentrated destruction.
• 🆘 The National Weather Service played a crucial role in minimizing casualties by issuing timely tornado warnings, allowing people to seek shelter.
• 🛑 The town of Washington was directly in the tornado's path, with residents like Matt Wells capturing the event, showing the tornado's immense power.
• 🏛️ The tornado's path of destruction extended over 45 miles, affecting multiple towns and causing widespread devastation.
• 🙏 The community of Washington came together in the aftermath, cleaning up debris and supporting those who lost their homes.
• 🚫 Despite the significant impact, FEMA denied a $26 million grant for recovery efforts, citing a rule that the disaster did not meet the threshold for federal aid.

Q & A

What was the date of the Washington, Illinois tornado event described in the script?

The Washington, Illinois tornado event took place on the morning of November 17th, 2013.

What were the two infamous tornadoes that occurred in Oklahoma City in May 2013?

The two infamous tornadoes that occurred in the Oklahoma City area in May 2013 were the Moore EF5 and the 2.6-mile wide El Reno Beast.

Why was there a high risk of tornadoes forecasted for mid-November, which is not typically a tornado season in the Midwest?

In mid-November, forecasters were monitoring a powerful jet streak overlapping an area with extremely warm and moist air in Illinois and Indiana, despite it being mid-November, which led to the Storm Prediction Center issuing a rare high risk for a 30% chance of tornadoes.

What was the initial speed and direction of the tornado that touched down near the city of Poria, Illinois?

The tornado initially moved Northeast at a speed of 52 mph after touching down right on the Illinois River.

What was the first town the tornado hit after crossing the Illinois River?

The first town the tornado hit after crossing the Illinois River was the town of Pon, Illinois.

How did the tornado affect the town of Pin, Illinois, and what was the damage level?

The tornado affected over 179 homes and six businesses in Pin, Illinois, injuring 10 residents and causing EF2 level damage.

What was the significance of the secondary vortex merging with the main tornado?

The secondary vortex merging with the main tornado rapidly intensified it, making an already bad situation even worse and leading to an unbroken swath of high-end EF4 level damage.

What was the final damage cost of the Washington tornado in terms of dollars?

The final damage cost of the Washington tornado was about $950 million, making it one of the top 10 costliest tornadoes at the time.

Why did FEMA deny the request for federal aid for the town of Washington after the tornado?

FEMA denied the request for federal aid because the threshold required for FEMA to approve the aid is equal to 1.35 times the state population, and the rule was not met given the Illinois state population at the time.

What was the death toll of the Washington tornado, and what factors contributed to the low number?

The death toll of the Washington tornado was three people. Factors contributing to the low number included the remarkable job done by the meteorologists at the National Weather Service who issued warnings well ahead of time, and the quality of construction in Washington, where most homes had basements providing a safe place for residents.

How did the town of Washington recover after the tornado, and what challenges did they face?

The town of Washington recovered by locals getting to work cleaning up the debris, donating supplies, and housing those who lost their homes. However, they faced challenges when FEMA denied their request for federal aid, which highlighted the need for reform in federal disaster aid laws.