I was 6 years old when it hit. Lived on Clay street, just up the street from Washburn University. Remember how our house was spared and just across the street was leveled. My elementary school (Central Park??) was completely destroyed as well. Worst part was that my father was on duty at Forbes AFB and my siblings were home alone at the time. Scary. :)
I believe my Dad and his family were the first people, or one of the first, in Topeka to get wiped out by this thing. I've talked with him about it many times, and even went with him years ago to where they lived...near Burnets Mound. He told me that there were no early warning sirens and that, by chance, they looked out to check the weather just in time to see the tornado bearing down on them. No sooner than they got in the cellar and started hearing the mud hitting the windows, they were suddenly looking up where their house USED to be. They then watched the tornado move over the mound.
I was 6 years old when it hit. Lived on Clay street, just up the street from Washburn University. Remember how our house was spared and just across the street was leveled. My elementary school (Central Park??) was completely destroyed as well. Worst part was that my father was on duty at Forbes AFB and my siblings were home alone at the time. Scary. :)
I believe my Dad and his family were the first people, or one of the first, in Topeka to get wiped out by this thing.
I've talked with him about it many times, and even went with him years ago to where they lived...near Burnets Mound. He told me that there were no early warning sirens and that, by chance, they looked out to check the weather just in time to see the tornado bearing down on them. No sooner than they got in the cellar and started hearing the mud hitting the windows, they were suddenly looking up where their house USED to be.
They then watched the tornado move over the mound.
I lived at 3819 Truman ave when this tornado hit. We werent hit, but my boy scout troop helped clean up at Washburn University
How many fatalities were a result from the Topeka Tornado?
16 fatalities, which many considered quite miraculous. See here for a map and some stats -> www.weather.gov/images/top/66TopekaTor/66map.jpg