| 12:37
PM
- National Weather Service's Severe Storms Forecast Center
at Kansas City issued a tornado watch for eastern Nebraska
valid from 2PM - 8PM.
1
PM - 2 PM
- REACT spotters activated their network at locations in Sarpy
and Douglas Counties.
2:05
PM
- Weather Service Forecast Office, Omaha, issued a severe
thunderstorm warning for several counties including Sarpy
and Douglas. It was based on radar reports and was transmitted
to the REACT network, to broadcasters, the Communication Center,
and the Police and Sheriff's Department via the NOAA Weather
Wire.
3:15
PM
- Weather Service Forecast Office issued another multi-county
severe thunderstorm warning valid until 4:30 PM an included
the Omaha metropolitan area. It was based on radar indications
and reports of severe weather and hail to the south and southwest
of Omaha.
4:07
PM
- Pottawattamie County sounds Tornado Alarms for a tornado
being sighted (Not the tornado that strikes Omaha).
4:09
PM
- Colonel Tracy (REACT) reports spotting of tornado in Sarpy
County. Several other sightings by citizens in same general
area together with strong radar echoes. Sarpy County sounds
Alarms for LaVista-Papillion for a tornado spotted near Springfield.
4:14
PM
- Tornado warning for Omaha area and three-county area issued
by Weather Service Forecast Office.
4:29
PM
- Sirens in Omaha sounded. A brief touchdown reported at 132nd
Street and Harrison
4:33
PM
- Several tornado reports received from REACT, AREC, Sheriff's
Office, Police Division, Fire Division and the public. The
tornado touched down hitting apartments at 96th and Q. Bergan-Mercy
Hospital is hit.
4:34
PM - 4:43 PM
- Captain Robert Rockwell, Fire Division, followed tornado
giving location, movement, and description of damage.
4:36
PM
- Tornado moves north along 84th from the South side of I80
4:38
PM
- Tornado shifts east from 84th St.
4:40
PM
- Interstate 80 closed to traffic. Some injured persons on
highway.
4:42
PM - 4:49 PM
- Patrolman David Campbell drove along beside tornado sounding
siren and reporting location, movement, and damage. Both Rockwell
and Campbell gave information that was valuable in dispatching
rescue units and in routing traffic. Heavy winds hit Ak-Sar-Ben
area. 72nd and Pacific area hit.
4:58
PM
- Tornado lifted and dissipated in Benson Park.
Courtesy
of http://www.crh.noaa.gov/oax/archive/may1975/may675.php
Note:
This chronology has some discrepencies, which I guess could
be expected from the chaos 30+ years ago. For instance,
it says, "4:33
PM - Several tornado reports received from REACT, AREC, Sheriff's
Office, Police Division, Fire Division and the public. The
tornado touched down hitting apartments at 96th and Q. Bergan-Mercy
Hospital is hit." According to all the maps and
news pictures, the tornado didn't hit at 96th and Q, but rather
a few blocks South of the intersection. It crossed Q
at S. 87th Plaza. Also, Bergan-Mercy is well to the
North of I-80, yet it's stated that i-80 was closed at 4:40pm,
some 7 minutes later. Bergan-Mercy would have been hit
sometime near the time that Ak-Sar-Ben experienced heavy winds,
which was stated between 4:42pm and 4:49pm.
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