1913 Omaha Nebraska Tornado

      There were three distinct and possibly four tornadoes in Nebraska on Easter Sunday, according to Prof. Condra and Prof. G. A. Loveland of the state university, who made a scientific survey of all the storms.

     They were all part of the same disturbance, however. They say that Omaha is more than fortunate that the tornado that hit it was not the one that struck Berlin. The storm, according to the professors, was enormously more terrific than the Omaha storm, was broader, and had it hit Omaha, would have wiped it off the face of the map.

     This explanation of the tornado is given by the scientists :

     There was a great mass of cold air coming from the northwest. At the same time there was a mass of warmer air coming in a lower current from the southwest.

     The two masses passed, one under the other, the colder air on top. The cold air naturally pressed down on the warmer air. Harder and harder it pressed until by the great pressure holes were torn in the cold air.

     Then the warm air shot up in these holes. This started the energy and whirling motion and the tornadoes were started. According to the scientists "holes" were torn in the cold air covering near Berlin, Yutan, Omaha, and possibly near Tekamah.

           Professors Condra and Loveland have only investigated the Berlin tornado. They are now working on the Omaha storm with an automobile and maps. They will go to the Yutan storm and lastly to the Tekamah one.

     The Berlin storm started four miles south of Douglas. In a straight line northeast to the Missouri river it tore over a stretch of forty miles.

     So straight was the line that every section corner was cut with the exception of one , and this was missed by only an eighth of a mile. Farmers build on the section corners and this accounts for so much damage.

     The storm varied in width from one-fourth to one-half of a mile. Professors Condra and Loveland have figured that it took just thirty-five minutes for it to cover forty miles in Nebraska. It started at 6:05 o'clock and left the state at 6:40 o'clock. The tornado left Nebraska at King Hill, two miles south of Rock Bluff.

      Professors Condra and Loveland say the damage of this storm was enormous. Southwest of Berlin it destroyed the Casper, Pierce, Warner, Corey, Davis, Killenbeck and Brandt properties. Also three propertie's belonging to former Governor Sheldon were torn down. Governor Sheldon had no insurance, but the others had.

      A peculiarity of the storm on the Warner place was that it took a barn filled with cattle and strewed it for acres, but did not harm the cattle, which were crowded in the structure.

     This storm caused thirteen deaths in Nebraska. All those who ran to storm eaves or cellars were saved. The facts do not show that the storm followed draws or streams. It traveled in a straight line and never left the ground once.

     The data being collected by the scientists is for the United States government and for the state university.

      Two days after the tornado the Omaha Commercial club sent out an official statement concerning the damage done, and the status of the part of the city not touched by the storm. Most of the figures available to the club at the time the statement was issued were afterward found to be somewhat erroneous.

     Following is the official statement:

     The Commercial club of Omaha sends out the following authentic statement regarding loss of life and damage to property in a tornado which visited Omaha the evening of Sunday, March 23. This is done in order to allay apprehension among the relatives and friends of the citizens of Omaha and put before the country the actual facts to take the place of the first meager reports that went out through various channels.

     Telegrams of sympathy, conveying offers of help in every one, have poured in to the Commercial club and to the mayor of the city the last two days. These have been acknowledged in every instance and reply made that, while the business men of Omaha appreciate the sympathy and generous offers of outside assistance, it is believed that Omaha can take care of the situation, for the present at least.

     The property loss, both real and personal, will amount to but not exceed $5,000,000.

     The tornado passed through the residential portion of the city from the southwest to northeast, traversing the wealthier section as well as that occupied by those in comfortable circumstances and the poorer class. The path of the tornado was of a width averaging a quarter of a mile and five or six miles long. Fire broke out in the wreckage in twenty instances and in spite of the difficulties confronting the fire department, especially in going from one fire to another through debris, all of these were put out within a couple of hours.

     All injured persons were taken from the ruins and attended to during the night. The number injured is 322. Those killed number 139. These have all been taken from the ruins with the possible exception of nine, who are missing, and have been attended to. This includes Omaha suburbs, as well as Omaha proper.

Immediately following the disaster, under the direction of Mayor James C. Dahlman and operating through the police and fire departments, assistance was given wherever needed. Before any disorder or any looting could be attempted, the federal troops from Fort Omaha, under Major C. F. Hartmann, were in charge of the situation, which was completely under control before daybreak Monday morning. Adjutant General Phil L. Hall arrived on an early morning train and took charge of the local militia, which patroled the southern portion of the city, while the regulars covered the northern half. Governor J. H. Morehead arrived in Omaha Monday morning and reported back to the state legislature in session, that the situation was admirably handled and under perfect control. Monday saw the leading citizens assembled to take immediate steps for the relief of those in need of financial or other help. An executive committee of seven was made up as follows: T. J. Mahoney, attorney, chairman; T. C. Byrne, wholesaler; C. C. Rosewater, newspaper editor; Robert Cowell, retailer; E. F. Denison, secretary Y. M. C. A.; Rt. Rev. A. L. Williams, and J. M. Guild, commissioner of the Commercial club.

The stricken territory was divided into districts and an absolute census taken of the entire situation which was completed within twenty-four hours of the visitation. This has become the basis of all relief work, as everything has been card indexed, from the name, location, condition of house, names of occupants, their injuries, financial condition, where they are being sheltered, etc. This census shows a total of 1,669 houses damaged, of which 642 are totally destroyed, making 2,179 people homeless. These have been quartered in the homes of friends, in the Young Men's Christian association, in the various missions and in the Auditorium, and all have been temporarily taken care of. The issuance of food and Clothing is proceeding in a systematic way. The territory has been subdivided into six districts for the issuance of supplies, each in charge of a prominent business man right on the ground. These distributing depots are served from the downtown main supply depot and are in charge of the following men, one to each district: George H. Kelly, president of the Commercial club; J. A. Sunderland, wholesaler; T. P. Redmond, retailer; John L. McCague, real estate; F. I. Ellick, printer, and Joseph Kelley, wholesaler.