8/18/2023 0 Comments Moore oklahoma time zoneThe tornado destroyed 507 structures and damaged 803 more in Oklahoma. Damages were estimated at $1.5 million in Texas and $8 million in Oklahoma. Another 782 people were in Oklahoma with 198 injuries occurring in Texas. Never before or since has a tornado been so costly to human life in the Sooner State. In all, at least 116 lives were lost in Oklahoma on that fateful night with another 68 deaths occurring in Texas. The supercell thunderstorm would produce at least another 4 tornadoes near the Oklahoma State line and in southern Kansas. Beyond Woodward, the tornado lost some intensity, but still destroyed 36 homes and injured 30 people in Woods County before it dissipated. Help for Woodward came from many places, including units from as far away as Oklahoma City and Wichita. In fact, the bodies of three children were never identified, and one child who survived the tornado was lost and never reunited with her family. Normal communications between Woodward and the outside world were not restored for some time and there was great uncertainty as to victim status. Confusion and fires reigned in the aftermath with over 1000 homes and businesses destroyed, at least 107 people killed in and around Woodward, and nearly 1000 additional injuries. Over 100 city blocks on the west and north sides of the city were destroyed with lesser damage in the southeast portion of the town. The violent tornado (F5 on the Fujita Scale) unleashed its worst destruction on Woodward, striking the city without warning at 8:42 pm CST. Moving into Woodward County, one death was reported near Tangier. Even though no towns were struck, nearly 60 farms and ranches were destroyed and 8 people were killed with 42 more injured. In Ellis County, Oklahoma, the tornado did not strike any towns, passing to the southeast of Shattuck, Gage, and Fargo. It first struck Glazier and Higgins in the Texas Panhandle, devastating both towns and producing at least 69 fatalities in Texas before crossing into Oklahoma. The tornado was massive, up to 1.8 miles wide, and traveled at forward speeds of about 50 miles per hour. The tornado moved northeast, and continued on the ground continuously for about 98 miles, before ending in Woods County, Oklahoma about 10 miles west of Alva. ![]() What is known is that the violent tornado that struck Woodward had a confirmed path that started 3 miles northwest of Canadian, TX. In addition, the Woodward tornado may have begun closer to Pampa, TX, but there is no corroborating evidence to confirm a damage path in the area. While it is still officially attributed to have traveled in a single long track through 3 states, work done by Tom Grazulis of the Tornado Project, and research scientist Don Burgess indicates that a separate tornado occurred near White Deer, TX, and 4 or more tornadoes occurred near the Oklahoma state line and into Kansas. The Woodward tornadic supercell thunderstorm began in the Texas Panhandle during the afternoon of April 9, 1947, and produced at least six tornadoes along a 220-mile path that stretched from White Deer, TX (northeast of Amarillo) to St. ![]() The most deadly tornado to ever strike within the borders of the state of Oklahoma occurred on Wednesday, Apin the city of Woodward.
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