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I want
to thank some of the vistors to the site who have emailed
me with their great comments.
I did
see your website and I must say that it is great both in presentation
and also in subject material as I commend you for doing such
an act when most do not even recognize this anniversary.
Thank
you,
Kristin
Nebraska Furniture Mart Customer Service
Hello
I have just stumbled on your site. I have lived here at corner
of 70th Street and Grant Street in Omaha, Nebraska for about
11 years and have heard many stories of the tornado of 1975
from the oldtimers, that were here, who live on either side
on me. I was a 13 year old at the time of the tornado and
lived more north east of where the tornado ended . My children
and I have a keen facination of the history and event as we
now live in the area. I have an entire Omaha World Herald
newspaper dated May 7, 1975 that I bought at an estate sale
about 5 years ago. This site was very informative. I can see
my house as it was then from the Mau's back yard. As you can
imagine, I still come across glass shards and metal pieces
when I am gardening. I even came across a blond wig unearthed
while planting tomatoes a few years ago and I thought about
that horrible time in this nieghbourhood's history. The people
here are a strong group and the people on either side of me
are near and dear to me (Petersons to the north and Schultes
across the street to the south). As I said, we have shared
many conversations over the fence. Thank you for your site.
What a tribute.
Sincerly, Diana L. Rice
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Diana has provided me with the copy of the newspaper and it
will be posted soon. Thanks, Diana
I was so estatic to come across your 1975
tornado website! I have researched that tornado for years,
as I grew up in Omaha, and I was born in 1975 (later in the
year). In fact, I would easily say that I am obsessed with
that very storm, as I've always tracked tornadoes, and of
course I am intriqued that such a huge, powerful tornado hit
my hometown. I mean, in the last 30 years, hardly a roof has
been blown off in town by the weather, so a disaster like
that is rare and awesome. There is actually a new restaurant
out in west Omaha (near 180th and Center) that is run by a
local family, and the restaurant is filled with huge, historic
black and white photos of Omaha, including a 1975 tornado
one. It is awesome!
When I found the link to your site, on the Mau's family site,
my heart jumped a beat, and I instantly knew it must be a
brand new website, as I have "combed" the internet
a lot in the last year, and never come across it. I actually
thought about starting a 1975 tornado website myself, simply
to collect personal stories that normally would be beyond
my reach, and share my enthusiasm about the disaster! Now,
I don't have to -- I'll just keep my eye on yours. I was so
thrilled to read those stories on there. They ring so similiar
to my own family's stories. Nobody in my family tree actually
saw the tornado, but they all remember being very scared that
day, and realizing something was very unique in the air, as
the clouds were eerily green and black. My Grandparents actually
lived near 100th and Fort Streets, and they could see debris
flying in the air, although a hillside blocked the view of
the violent twister.
I actually have a binder filled with all the details I could
find on that 1975 tornado event --ALL the details big and
small (and there are some suprising ones)! I own both "Omaha
1975 Tornado Books" printed immediately after the disaster,
as well as the old World Herald newspapers (my grandma's gave
me them to me, as they saw my enthusiasm about that tornado,
even as a young child). I'm also an artist, and with my imagination,
I've actually driven artistic perspectives of that tornado,
and plan on doing more, as it is hard to find that many photos.
So far, I have seen 5 different views of the tornado, and
your website introduced me to another new photo. Thanks for
that! Also, it is funny: Last summer, I put together my own
ariel path of that tornado (like you). However, I used ariels
from Globexplorer.com, so it turned out very similar to the
aerial map your undertaking.
Well, I've rambled on and on. I just share the same enthusaism
you do, and I find it pretty cool that your so interested
in a storm that hit Omaha, when you grew up in California.
Take care and thanks again for starting your site. I'll definitely
be a frequent visitor, and don't hesitate to contact me if
you have any questions about that tornado. Like I said, I've
done so much research, being practically obsessed with that
storm, and I'm loaded with probably all (or most of) the info
there is!
Sincerely, JEFF
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Jeff has provided me a report
that he has been compiling for some time. Thanks, Jeff
I
was 16 and lived on 68th street between Blondo & Maple.
My Mom worked at Baker's on 72nd & Blondo. The weather
was very strange that day and severe thunderstorm warnings
were issued in the afternoon. Being an invincible 16 year
old, I wanted to borrow her car to watch the Benson High baseball
game. In her wisdom, she wouldn't let me.
We were all home and the sirens were going off, the radio
was announcing where the tornado was and where it was going.
My Dad - who also thought he was untouchable - didn't think
anything of the warnings. We were standing on the back porch
and saw this huge black funnel cloud and the roaring of the
train engines. He said, "jeepers creepers (not in that
language) and we headed for the basement. I ran back upstairs
to get my cat and diary. We all sat closely together in the
corner of the basement until the shrieking stopped.
Afterwards, we came out to the front porch and it was dark
gray, raining lightly, and debris was falling from the sky.
Praise God our house was not touched except for the porch
swing in the backyard. The neighbors on either side lost their
garages. Our neighbors two blocks away on 70th were not so
fortunate. There was nothing left but foundations and basements.
In the days that followed, we found $20 & $50 bills from
the Ralston Bank, game pieces from Monopoly, photos, bits
and pieces of peoples property strewn everywhere. Baker's
was gone, my old junior high, Lewis & Clark was heavily
damaged, it was a strange new world.
Thank you for the opportunity to share the scariest moment
in my life, up until suffering through Hurricane Wilma in
West Palm Beach, Florida.
Sincerely,
Sally J. Pflug
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