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The Omaha Easter Sunday Tornado struck Omaha, Nebraska at approximately 6:00 p.m. on 23 March 1913. A massive tornado-producing storm ripped its way through Nebraska, and through the thriving city of Omaha. The storm's path was reported as being 40 miles long and from 1/4- to 1/2-mile wide, and included 8 distinct tornadoes.

Contents 1 Preceding touchdown in Omaha 2 Tornado enters the city 3 Impact 4 Recovery 5 See also 6 External links

Easter Sunday began under cloudy skies in Omaha. Rain threatened but never fell on the city, and by noon the skies had brightened to the point where the sun began to peek through. In the afternoon the skies darkened again as a massive storm system moved into the area from western Nebraska. This storm system brought snow to the Colorado Rockies and high winds to Denver on Sunday morning.

At 5:20 p.m. the first tornado from the storm touched down just outside of Craig, Nebraska. It traveled into Iowa without causing major damage. A second tornado touched down at about 5:30 p.m. near Ithaca, claiming the first casualties of the day as it swept through Yutan. Two other rural tornadoes followed.

At 5:45 p.m. a tornado touched down near Kramer. This tornado raced northeast and reached the outskirts of Omaha around 6:00 p.m.

The Omaha tornado followed the path of Little Papillion Creek as it entered the city. It moved through the west side of town alongside the Missouri Pacific Railroad, destroying the small workers cottages in the area. The tornado was so strong that steel train cars were later found pierced by pieces of shattered lumber from the demolished homes.

By the time the tornado reached Dewey Avenue it was five blocks wide. When it reached Farnam Hill the twister followed a shallow valley through this upscale neighborhood. Even the large mansions of Farnam were no match for the winds, and many houses were torn to pieces. Others were later found chopped in half, pipes and supports dangling into space. At 24th and Lake Streets a large crowd was enjoying a show at the Diamond Moving Picture Theater. The tornado flattened the building. Other brick structures in this small commercial district took similar hits, and more people died here than in any other part of Omaha.

A streetcar running down 24th Street encountered the tornado near this area. Thanks to the quick actions of operator Ord Hensley, every passenger on the streetcar survived. Later, photographers would spot the wrecked machine and would call it the "Streetcar of Death," imagining that no one on board could have survived given the immense damage.

The F4 tornado skirted the downtown area and moved over the Missouri River into Council Bluffs. By this time it was losing steam, and although Council Bluffs sustained damage, it escaped the destruction the tornado had brought to Omaha.

The only warning anyone had was a sudden and sharp fall of barometric pressure and temperature. Few had time to seek shelter.

153 people died, 115 in Omaha, and 400 more were injured. In the aftermath of the tornado, a cold front moved into Omaha and caused further misery, as newly homeless residents struggled to escape the snowy weather.

2,000 homes in Omaha alone were reportedly destroyed, $8 million total damage from the storm, $5.5 million of which was in Omaha (financial damage estimates vary, the NOAA reports more damage than this). The same storm system that struck Nebraska also created a huge dust storm in Topeka, Kansas. On Sunday night, it spawned another deadly tornado in Terre Haute, Indiana, killing 50. On Monday and Tuesday the storm brought heavy rains to the Midwest and upstate New York, causing widespread flooding.

Remarkably, operators from the Webster Telephone Exchange Building at 22nd and Lake did not leave their stations either during or after the tornado. The building was used as an infirmary for the wounded and dying, with physicians and nurses coming from area hospitals. US Army troops from Fort Omaha set up headquarters in the building, as soldiers patrolled the area for looters and to offer assistance.

Initially, James Dahlman, the longtime mayor of Omaha, refused assistance from any outside sources, including the federal government. However, he requited after seeing the extent of the damage throughout the city. The federal government poured in assistance soon after. The massive damage caused by the tornado inspired new engineering techniques aimed at creating a tornado-proof edifice. The first such building was the First National Bank of Omaha building, built in 1916 at 1603 Farnam Street. The 14-story building was built in a "U"-shape.

• List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
  • List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of tornadoes striking downtown areas
• Timeline of North Omaha, Nebraska history

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• (n.d.) Omaha's Terrible Evening. Tragic Story of America's Greatest Disaster.

v • d • e North Omaha, Nebraska
Main article: North Omaha, Nebraska History • Timeline • Neighborhoods • Landmarks • Parks • Architecture • Culture Education • People • Politics • Civil rights

v • d • e 25 deadliest US tornadoes
Rank	Name (location)	Date	Deaths
1	"Tri-State"	March 18, 1925	695
2	Natchez, MS	May 6, 1840	317
3	St. Louis and East St. Louis	May 27, 1896	255
4	Tupelo, MS	April 5, 1936	216
5	Gainesville, GA	April 5, 1936	203
6	Woodward, OK	April 9, 1947	181
7	Amite, LA and Purvis, MS	April 24, 1908	143
8	New Richmond, WI	June 12, 1899	117
9	Flint, MI	June 8, 1953	116
10 - - -	Waco, TX Goliad, TX	May 11, 1953 May 18, 1902	114 114
12	Omaha, NE	March 23, 1913	103
13	Mattoon, IL	May 26, 1917	101
14	Shinnston, WV	June 23, 1944	100
15	Marshfield, MO	April 18, 1880	99
16 - - -	Gainesville and Holland, GA Poplar Bluff, MO	June 1, 1903 May 9, 1927	98 98
18	Snyder, OK	May 10, 1905	97
19	Natchez, MS	April 24, 1908	91
20	Worcester, MA	June 9, 1953	90
21	Starkville, MS and Waco, AL	April 20, 1920	88
22	Lorain and Sandusky, OH	June 28, 1924	85
23	Udall, KS	May 25, 1955	80
24	St. Louis, MO	September 29, 1927	79
25	Louisville, KY	March 27, 1890	76
Source: Storm Prediction Center