Some of the Worst Tornados in US History Result in Massive Damage

April 11, 1965 is still remembered by many: that day afor better methods to communicate warnings to
brutal string of tornados hit the states of Iowa, Indiana,residents and officials in other areas of approaching
and Michigan with wind gusts as high as 318 miles perstorms. It was just a little while after this that the
hour, killing 250 people and injuring some 1500 others.Weather Service started to put out announcements
The first funnel cloud hit the ground at 1 p.m. withindicating that tornados where likely to form and where
others following at varying intervals, up to 5:30 pm. Thethey were traveling once they had hit the ground.
storms intensified as they day progressed. An F4The economic consequences of these storms were
storm hit Koontz Lake, Indiana and 2 other twisters hitfelt in all three states. Houses where completely
Wakarusa, and Goshen, doing massive damage todestroyed, and all the major utilities took damage. Local
homes, and local infrastructure.businesses had to close and effect repairs and millions
More storms continued to develop over the course ofof dollars had to be spent to clean up the mess that
that same day. The worst of the tornados, an F5was left by the roving storms. The loss of business
storm with winds reaching speeds of up to 318 milesand personal information alone can hardly be
per hour landed at Elkhart Indiana and destroyed thecalculated.
Sunnyside subdivision killing over 30 people. One of theOnce again local residents and business across the
funnel clouds was a colossal eight hundred yards wide,three states where caught by surprise and hurt or
leaving a trail of devastation in its path. Telephone andkilled as a result. Tornados by there very natures are
electrical lines where knocked out by the high winds.extremely hard to forecast. Unlike other storms that
The phone system was down and, as a result, localcan be seen as they approach, a tornado can, in
city officials where unable to warn others in the patheffect, form right on top of you and hit you when you
of the storm of the severe danger. The dayleast expect it. The need to take proper precautions is
progressed and tornados hit many other counties. Theessential to ensuring the safety of local residents and
damage from all these rapidly occurring storms wasbusinesses. Yet even that may not be enough.
devastating.Protecting your own business infrastructure, records
The impact that these storms had on the area wasand information can be an essential component to
huge. The U.S. weather bureau conducted a fullyour own recovery process in the event a major
investigation after the storm and established the needdisaster strikes.