ONE OF THE WORST TORNADO DISASTERS TO HAVE EVER OCCURRED IN AN URBAN AREA.

Beginning at Applewood Golf Course, it moved in a northeasterly direction through a single family residential area, and then demolished portions of the Wentworth apartment complex. Near 84th and "V" Streets it changed direction slightly, now heading more to the north. It ripped through the Ralston Bank, and tore apart a major trucking terminal and warehouse district, mangling structures and equipment over a four square block area. It then skipped over Interstate 80 and smashed into the single family Westgate Addition with all its fury. It inflicted some of its heaviest damage in Westgate, including the leveling of an elementary school and the destruction of all the facilities at a major city park.

The tornado's next major victim was Archbishop Bergan Mercy Hospital where damage was estimated in the millions. The hospital continued to function and handled not only its existing patients, but most of those seriously injured by the tornado.

Moving north toward Pacific Street, the tornado demolished a number of high cost homes and apartments. It crossed Pacific near 74th, destroying an extensive area of commercial and industrial structures. These included an office building and a large automobile parts warehouse and truck facility. In one of the smaller establishments hit, a waitress was killed after taking cover.

Rolling north along 72nd Street (Omaha's major north/south arterial), the tornado smashed into still more office and commercial structures. The West Omaha Post Office was directly hit, and its walls caved in.

The tornado plunged into Dodge Street (Omaha's major east/west arterial) at 72nd. Here, it totally leveled a 400 room motel complex, as well as smaller office and commercial establishments. The tornado then generally followed 72nd Street north, moving just east of the arterial. It rammed into a large church, a synagogue, the Omaha Playhouse, and more and more homes.

At Western, it inflicted heavy damage on Creighton Prep High School; at Blondo, it hit a parochial school. As it crossed Blondo and Maple Streets, it vacuumed, damaged or destroyed practically everything in its path. More homes and commercial structures were leveled and the second and third tornado fatalities occurred.

Moving still further north, the tornado rammed through an area of smaller single family homes. It hit Benson Park sweeping across the park golf course, scattering debris and flattening fences. Finally, at Ames Avenue, the tornado lifted.

During its brief rampage, the tornado had destroyed or damaged 2459 residential units, 153 commercial units, 23 industrial units as well as schools, parks, a major hospital, a post office, a large motel complex, a church, a synagogue, a community playhouse and more. It was almost immediately recognized as one of the worst tornado disasters, in terms of property loss, to have ever occurred in an urban area in this country.

Estimated Tornado Damage

Residential
Units Damaged 2,459
Destroyed or Heavily Damaged 572
Moderate or Minor Damage 1,1887
Amount of Residential Damage $13,100,000

Commercial
Units Damaged 153
Destroyed or Heavily Damaged 36
Moderate or Minor Damage 117
Amount of Commercial Damage $10,751,000

Industrial
Units Damaged 23
Destroyed or Heavily Damaged 19
Moderate or Minor Damage 4
Amount of Industrial Damage $5,843,000

Amount of Miscellaneous Damage $600,000

Total Structures Damaged 2,650
Amount of Damage to Real Estate¹ $30,294,000

Residential Population Affected 7,350

However, as the city took a look at itself in the hours following the attack, a stunned public was informed that only three lives had been lost as a direct result of the tornado.

 

THE WEEK OF TRIAL²

Governor J. James Exon happened to be in Omaha when the tornado hit, and after a brief consultation with Omaha Mayor Edward Zorinsky, activated 1500 members of the National Guard. The Guard was to stay on duty for twelve days, protecting and aiding disaster victims, providing assistance in clean up activities, and in general, supplementing local efforts to maintain law and order in a city attempting to cope with the extremes.

Meanwhile, the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration (FDAA) office in Kansas City assembled a team of federal disaster officials and rushed to Omaha for an on-site damage inspection. By the following morning, the White House had received a report on the situation and at 4:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 7, President Ford declared Omaha a disaster area. The doors had been opened for federal assistance.

 

¹Total does not include inventories, supplies, automobiles and personal effects.

²A film, titled "The Omaha Response to Disaster", further details the May 6 tornado strike and the initial response to the disaster. Reproductions of the film are available, on request, from the City of Omaha, Public Works Department.