1978 Whippoorwill tornado
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | June 17, 1978 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 1 |
| Max rating1 | F1? tornado |
| Damage | unknown |
| Casualties | 16 deaths |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale | |
The 1978 Whippoorwill Tornado also known as the Whippoorwill Disaster was a tornado that struck on June 17, 1978. The tornado, which was on the ground for 8 miles (13 km), struck a tourist boat called the Whippoorwill, causing it to capsize and drowning sixteen out of the 58 passengers and crew.[1]
Storm history
The tornado formed at 7 p.m. (CST) and moved erratically eastward for 8 miles before dissipating near the small town of Michigan Valley. The tornado was too small to be detected on radar, and eyewitnesses stated that the tornado was only 150 yards wide but had a multiple vortex structure. Some reported another tornado in the area although it was not confirmed by the National Weather Service.[1][2]
Impact
At the time of the tornado, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Franklin County, Kansas. At the same time, the showboat, Whippoorwill left its mooring at Pomona Lake carrying 58 passengers and crew. Eyewitnesses of the disaster stated that they saw the tornado forming at the west end of the lake. The tornado strengthened as it raced toward the boat. The tornado struck the boat and capsized it before moving on to land.[3]
After the tornado moved away, rescuers began to pick survivors off from the hull of the capsized ship. One rescuer The owner of Lighthouse Bay Marina, and diver, Lawrence Stadel, dove under the boat found two more survivors, trapped in air pockets. The tornado that capsized the boat later caused minimal damage to mobile homes before dissipating.[1][3]
Aftermath
The Whippoorwill was bought by Lawrence Stadel and was restored to a houseboat, and the name changed. The owners of the ship closed down their dinner theater a few years after the disaster.[3]
