Tornadoes Can Make Holy Week A Deadly Time

Holy Week, the holiest time of the year for Christians around the country and the world, can produce dangerous severe weather across the U.S. Over the years, Holy Week has had a lethal history when it comes to severe weather.
 
The Easter holiday typically occurs during the storm-rich period of late March and April, setting the stage for trouble. Another part of the reason that this week has meant bad news is interrupted weather awareness. With many faithful spending much of the day in church for the holy days of Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter, receiving updates and warnings on storm development and approach are often interrupted. In addition, more people concentrated in one spot leads to an increased probability for injuries if a storm were to strike.
 
Here’s a brief history on some of the major Palm Sunday and Easter outbreaks:

• Palm Sunday 1994: Twenty-nine tornadoes tracked from Alabama to North Carolina, killing 40 people and leaving nearly 500 injured. One twister struck Goshen, Ala., destroying the Goshen United Methodist Church and crushing the parishioners inside to death. Additional deadly tornadoes tore across Georgia and South Carolina.
• Palm Sunday 1965: Nearly 50 tornadoes ripped across the Midwest from Iowa to Ohio. Entire subdivisions were laid flat by the tornadoes, with 271 fatalties reported from the storms.
• Palm Sunday 1920: Dozens of tornadoes ripped across the Midwest and South, with many of the storms occurring right around the Noon hour. In one notable storm, the tornado hit Elgin, Ill., just minutes after church services let out. However, Melrose Park, Ill., was not as lucky as the twister hit as parishoners prepared for services. Ten people were killed in Melrose Park Catholic Church from that storm.
• Easter 1913: A tornado outbreak in the Plains killed more than 240 people. The single deadliest tornado struck Omaha, Neb., where a crowd was gathered for an Easter performance. The theatre was destroyed by the tornado, resulting in the death of more than 25 people.

 
What can you do to stay safe on the holy days this week?

• Be weather aware. Before you head to church, or during breaks in services, take the opportunity to check the weather on your mobile device or even by looking out the window.
• Remain vigilant. Know what to listen for during services – if you hear winds pick up rapidly, it might be a sign that a severe storm is on its way.
• Know where to go. Look for safe rooms in the church that you can go to in the event of a tornado. Interior rooms on the lower level or in the basement are your best bet.

Remember, you might not have access to your weather radio during the middle of services, but a little preparation could be a life-saver.

Image: In one of the most incredible tornado photographs ever taken, monstrous double tornadoes rip through Midway Trailer Park in Indiana, between Goshen and Elkhart on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, at 6:32pm. (Paul Huffman)