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NOUS43 KICT 221200
PNSICT
KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-221500-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
700 AM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...ON THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY...

In 2011, the catastrophic Joplin Tornado roared into
history.  The EF5 tornado killed 158, the seventh
deadliest in United States history and the deadliest
since the Southern Plains Tri-State Tornado of April 9th,
1947 that killed 181.  The tornado`s track was 22 miles
long, reached one mile wide and lasted 38 minutes.  The
worst destruction was to Saint John`s Medical Center,
where 6 were killed, and to Joplin High School.  Many
houses were leveled or swept from their foundations.
Damage estimates were around $2.8 billion.  An estimated
1,000 were injured.  In 2004, the widest tornado to that
date hit Hallam Nebraska, 25 miles southwest of Lincoln.
The giant F4 reached an astounding 2.5 MILES WIDE along a
track that was 54 miles long.  The tornado lasted one
HOUR AND 20 MINUTES.  Two schools were hit, buses were
tossed, homes were leveled, and a freight train was
thrown.  Surprisingly there was only one fatality, but 37
were injured.  It was the widest tornado on record until
May 31st, 2013, when it was edged out by the giant 2.6
mile wide EF5 El Reno Oklahoma Tornado.

&&

In 1987, tragedy struck Saragosa Texas when a violent F4
tornado struck the small, far West Texas town.Of the
183 residents, 30 were killed and 121 were injured.  The
tornado`s track was only 3 miles long but was nearly two
thirds of a mile wide.Of the 30 fatalities, 22 occurred
at a graduation ceremony for "Head Start" children.
Damage totaled $1.3 million.  Saragosa is located about
120 miles southwest of Midland.  In 1960, the most
powerful earthquake in history erupted approximately 100
miles off the coast of Chile directly west of Valdivia.
The ultra mega-thrust earthquake registered a moment
magnitude of 9.5 but was preceded by very powerful
earthquakes on the 21st that had magnitudes reaching as
high as 7.9 that devastated Concepcion.  The earthquake
ruptured a 560 to 620 mile segment of the Nasca Plate
which had subducted the South American Plate.  The
catastrophic quake triggered tsunamis that traveled
across the Pacific to Japan, the Philippines and
Australia.  The highest tsunami reached 82 feet that
slammed into that part of the coast bounded by the ports
of Lebu and Puerto Aisen.  A 35-foot tsunami slammed into
Hilo Hawaii, 6,200 miles distant, some 15 hours later
where 61 were killed and where the largest wave arrived
in the middle of the night.  It was the first tsunami for
which warnings had been issued.  Anywhere from 1,850 to
2,000 people were killed of which 1,655 were in Chile.

$$
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