1913 Omaha Nebraska Tornado

At the top of a high hill overlooking the burning lines of wreckage 300 refugees from a large storm-stricken area had gathered. Some were silent, some wept as they surveyed the ruin spread out below them, and some frantically implored aid in searching for missing relatives.

The firemen were unable to get their engines within half a mile of the fires, and ran stumbling through the darkness, carrying their hose upon their shoulders. Arrived at the fires they often found water plugs covered under tons of debris, and usually threw away their hose so that they might advance the urgent work of rescue.

     Rumors of a moving picture theater having been destroyed near the corner of Twenty-fourth and Lake streets, spread faster than any other information in connection with the storm. Persons who wished to render service, heard all along the line that a picture show house had collapsed in the storm, burying alive hundreds of spectators.

     While these rumors proved to be untrue, as all patrons of the show had escaped alive, it served to concentrate the rescuers where they were most needed--near Twenty-fourth and Lake. In an area covering four blocks, having its center at this corner, perished nearly half of those who were killed instantly by the tornado. In this district also many of the heroic rescues were made.

     During the hours that followed the terrible work of the storm hundreds of heroic deeds were done. Lives we're saved at the risk of life by men and boys who had never laid claims to heroism. Those whose lives had been spared by the storm collected their scattered wits, saw their families on the way to some temporary shelter, and set about the work of dragging from the ruins those who had had no chance of escape.

      A heavy downpour of rain prevented the spread of the fires after 8 o'clock, and by 9 o'clock only smoldering piles of ruins marked the section that had threatened a general conflagration.

     Every ambulance, hearse and taxicab in the city was engaged in the rescue work, or other work in connection with the storm, between 8 o'clock and daylight.

     Daylight showed a list of nearly 100 killed. The list has since grown to nearly 140. Hundreds of the injured were treated at emergency hospitals established in wrecked buildings, where doctors and nurses spent the night in providing emergency treatment for victims. Many of those who suffered minor injuries did not report their names to any institution or organization. The number of injured whose injuries were serious enough for extended hospital treatment, reached 350.

     The tornado's path included the homes of the very wealthy in the West Farnam and Bemis Park district, homes of hundreds of middle-class business and professional men, dwellings of many foreigners on Franklin and Decatur streets, and residences of negroes in the vicinity of Twenty-fourth and Lake.

     Five school buildings were badly damaged, eleven churches wrecked; three convents partially destroyed, one hospital damaged, and a children's home almost demolished. Street car, telephone, telegraph and railroad companies suffered loss of millions of dollars. In Ralston, which is practically a part of Omaha, almost every business, including some large factories, was wiped out.