May 1975 Omaha Tornado

Several Damage Photos - Click Here
 

More Info,Stories and Photos at

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. 

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.
Bergan-Mercy Hospital is hit.

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 unites and in routing traffic. Heavy winds hit Ak-Sarben area. 72nd and Pacific area hit.

4:58 PM
- Tornado lifted and dissipated in Benson Park.

Tornado touched down in northern Sarpy County just south of Omaha. Tornado moves north-northeast through residential and business areas of west central Omaha, lifting over the northern section of the city. Extensive damage to apartments, businesses, homes, schools, autos, trucks, and trees. At times damage area was a quarter mile wide.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Damage estimates ranged from $250 million to $500 million. The number of homes destroyed was 287 with damage to 1400 others. The time of day aided in the warning process as a spotter saw the tornado in Sarpy County during the daylight hours and children were no longer in school. The NWS aided by REACT and Civil Defense systems provided good lead time for the residents of Douglas County. Three people did perish. An elderly woman died in her home and likely did not hear the warnings. A waitress was killed in a restaurant as she huddled with others in the restroom. A man was killed while seeking shelter at a gas station.

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