The Kalamazoo Tornado of 1980 struck downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Tuesday, May 13, 1980. The tornado, which touched down at 4:09 pm, was rated F3 on the Fujita scale. The tornado killed 5 people and injured 79. Damage was estimated at $50,000,000, which included $1,800,000 in vehicle damage.[1][2]
| F3 tornado | |
|---|---|
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| Formed | May 13, 1980, 4:09 pm EDT |
| Max. rating1 | F3 tornado |
| Fatalities | 5 fatalities |
| Damage | $50,000,000 |
| Areas affected | Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale | |
Path
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The tornado left a path of destruction 11 miles (18 km) long during its approximately 16-minute duration.[3] It was notable for having struck the heart of downtown, damaging or destroying many notable buildings, parks, and landmarks. The massive F3 caused a power outage so extensive, phone companies pleaded for people to only use phones for emergencies. In total, the storm caused 5 deaths, 79 injuries, and about 1,200 people were left homeless.[4]
An hour prior to the St. Augustine Elementary School being destroyed, all 328 students were sent home early thanks to adequate warning.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kalamazoo 1980 Tornado". Kalamazoo County, Michigan, Genealogy and Local History. Archived from the original on February 24, 2008. Retrieved July 30, 2006.
- ^ a b "Tracing the Path: The 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado". Tracing the Path: The 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ "TWISTER! The 1980 Tornado". Kalamazoo Public Library – Local History. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ^ "TORNADO!". Vanished Kalamazoo. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006. Retrieved July 30, 2006.
External links
edit- The May 13, 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado Archived May 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine case study (Grand Rapids office of the National Weather Service)
- Kalamazoo 1980 tornado MIGenWeb – Michigan Genealogy on the Web
- 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado Special, May 13: The Tragedy, The Aftermath., YouTube channel Blake Naftel, March 1, 2023 – WKZO-TV special report from May 18, 1980
- The Kalamazoo Tornado – May 13, 1980, YouTube channel Legend813a, May 13, 2008
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