Guthrie & Sons market, 216
Gutierrez, Dominic, 215–17, 224, 294
Gutierrez, Rosemary, 216
H
Hale, Tessa, 217–18, 223–24, 235–37
Harrison, William Henry, 59–60
Hart, J. B., 265
Hathaway, David “Dave”
assignment to Burnett’s Mound, 88
biographical info, 29–30
under the bridge, 107–8
on Burnett’s Mound, 90, 91–93
on Gage Boulevard, 96–97, 102–3
recovery and new life, 288
as tornado survivor, 124–26, 247
Hatke, Mary, 31, 170, 174, 178–79, 293–94
Hatke, Roy, 170, 174, 178–79, 293–94
Hays, Kansas, 15
Hernandez, Phillip, 233
Heumann Dental Laboratory, 197, 198
highway overpass safety myth, 299–300
Hillebert, Irma, 37, 136–37, 149, 163
Hillebert, Roy, 149
Holden, Edward S., 50
Holliday, Cyrus K., 69, 70
HomeSafe Tornado Detector, 158
Hood, Marc, 88, 92, 124–25
horses, Nicely’s, 10, 283
House, Johnny, 94
Hudkins, Dan, 94, 265
Huffman, Harold, 106–7, 110, 128–29
Huffman, Joanna, 35, 106–7, 110, 128–29
Huffman, Tami, 34–35, 106–7, 110, 128–29
Huffman, Teri
biographical info, 34–35
effect of tornado, 289–90
and tornado, 106–7, 110, 128–29
tornado warning and tornado, 264–65
human nature, 17–18. See also tornadoes: mesmerizing nature of
Hummer, Dana, 246
Hurricane Alma, 5
hurricanes, 41
Husky, Ferlin, 276
Hutton, Bill, 139–41, 147–49, 159–60, 166, 247–48
Hutton, Chris, 139–41, 147–49, 159–60, 166, 247–48
Hutton, Craig, 139–41, 147–49, 159–60, 166, 247–48
I
Idlet, Charles, 228–29, 241
Idlet, Velma, 218–19, 228–29, 241
Idlet, Wanda, 84, 218–19, 228–29, 241, 302
Illinois, 51–52
Indian Removal Act (1830), 60, 69
industry in Topeka, 4
infrasound, 157–58
Internal Revenue Service, 290–91
Iowa, 48
Irish, Clarence, 100, 123
J
Jackson, Norma, 217–18, 223–24, 235–37, 301
Jackson, Paul, 217
Jackson, Paul Frederick, 217–18, 223–24, 301
Jackson, Pete, 183–84, 189–90, 193, 201–5
Jackson, Shane, 205
Jackson, Trish, 205
Jayhawkers, 66
Job’s Daughters (singing group), 25, 26
Johnson, Bob, 171, 173–74, 178
Johnson, Darrell, 221–22, 234–35
Johnson, Lyndon B., 272
Johnson, Pauline, 171, 173–74, 178
Jones, Linda, 227
Jones, Robert, 81
Jorgensen, Jerry, 166
Junction City, Kansas, 33
K
Kansa nation, 58
Kansas
EF-5s in, 48, 78–79, 259, 295
and Native Americans, 57–62, 67, 68–69
settlement of, 64–66
statehood, 66
See also specific cities and towns
Kansas Avenue, Topeka, 184–85, 187
Kansas City, Missouri, public works department volunteers, 270–71
Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI), 142
Kansas State Health Laboratories, 264
Key, William H., 273–75
Knoffloch, Mary, 62
K-TOP AM radio, 19–20
Kurtis, Bill, 22–23, 91, 117–18, 257–58, 286–87
Kurtis, Helen, 287
L
Laird, Carol, 227, 240–41
Laird, David, 194–95
Laird, Edna Mae, 227
Lake Sherwood Estates, 89
Lamley, Carl, 166
Landon, Alfred M., 71
Lattimore, J. L., 259–63
law library, Washburn University, 146, 150, 163
Lebo, Kansas, 15
Lee, Gareford, 262
Legend of Burnett’s Mound, 57, 58–60, 75, 302–4 63
Lindley, Richard Allen, 156
Lollar, Albert, 111–12, 129–30
Lollar, Darlene, 111–12, 129–30
looters, 128, 237, 244, 246, 252–53
Louisiana, 51
Luksa, Mark, 127
Lux, Tom, 108
Lyle, Tim, 186–87, 189, 193–94, 207–8, 297
Lyons, Edward J., 261
M
MacVicar Chapel, Washburn University, 136–37, 149, 160, 163–64. See also Snyder, Robert and Jackie
mammatus clouds, 135
Manhattan, Kansas, 34
maps, xvi, 104, 134, 168, 182, 214, 242
Marmet, Paul, 29, 95–96, 116–117, 133, 290–91
Marmet, Peg Griebat, 28–29, 95–96, 116–117, 133, 290–91
Martin, Carol, 25–26, 142–43, 248–50, 297
Martin, Cleve and Hazel, 25–26, 143, 249–50
Martin, John and Elaine, 137–38, 151, 164–65
Marvin, Edward “Ted,” 269–70
Maude Bishop Elementary School, 252
Maxon, Pete, 171, 174–75, 179, 294–95
McCall, Connie Lee, 72
McCoy, Rev. Isaac, 62
McDiffett, Norma, 143, 161
McDiffett, Pat, 143, 161
McDiffett, Patti, 143, 161, 249
McKinney, Dorothy, 124
Means, Johnny, 206
Meinholdt, Jean, 31, 34
Meinholdt, John
biographical info, 34
on Burnett’s Mound, 37, 87, 88, 90, 92
commendation from the mayor, 288
VEST assignment, 34
watching the tornado, 110
Menninger Foundation, 246–47, 273
Mennonites, 184–85, 255, 266–67
Meredith, James H., 4–5
mesocyclone, 46
Miller, Robert C., 52–56
Milton, Oliver Jacob, 262
Mississippi, 47, 51
Missouri, 48, 51–52
Mize, Ted, 73–74, 265–66
Monthly Weather Review, 279
Morgan Hall, Washburn University, 139, 148–49
Moriarty, Father, 211
N
Natchez, Mississippi, 47
National Guard, 245, 291
National Reserve Life Insurance building, 196
National Weather Service, 48–51, 299–300. See also U.S. Weather Bureau
Native Americans, 57–62, 67, 68–69
Nauman, Jill, 198–99, 212–13, 298–99
Nebraska, 48
New Richmond, Kansas, 51
Nicely, Angie, 9, 11–12, 40, 41
Nicely, Glenn
driving home, 7, 8–9
employment, 1–3
finding father’s gun collection, 264
horses of, 10, 12
rebuilding, 283–84
and tornado, 11–12, 39, 41
Nicely, Hazel, 11–12, 260
Nicely, Inge, 8–11, 39–41, 276, 284
Noack, Connie Lee McCall, 72, 127, 244–45, 264, 288–89
Noack, Tom
biographical info, 71–72
and Burnett’s Mound reservoir, 73
inviting survivors to his home, 244–45
and looters, 128, 244
on Red Cross and Salvation Army, 275–76
shutting down gas mains, 127–28
tornado and damage, 109–10, 127
O
Oakland district, 16, 221–41
Odell, Paul, 32
Ohio, 50–51
Oklahoma, 48, 78
Olson,
India, 119
Olson, Linda, 118–20
Olson, Ron, 118–20, 131, 252–53, 264, 291
Olson, Tawnia, 118–20
Osburn, Lester, 38
P
“Paint It Black” (Rolling Stones), 26
Parsons Sun, 281
Perkins, Dave, 38, 215, 230–31
Pla-Land bowling alley, 183–84, 189–90, 201–2
ponies, 99–101, 123
Poole, Jill. See Nauman, Jill
Potawatomis tribe
and Abram Burnett, 60–62, 63–64, 66–67
overview, 59
refusing to leave Kansas, 69
Trail of Death, 60–61
Powell, Lorene, 237
Prairie Vista, 96, 124
prayer, power of, 152–53, 229, 241, 292
prediction models
Finley’s, 49–50
for flooding, 77
Garrett’s work on, 77–80
military, 52–56
overview, 51
radiosonde, 16–17, 23–24
Severe Local Storms Forecast Center, 15–16, 24, 56, 78
premonitions, 31, 35, 36, 223–24
public awareness, 82–85. See also tornado preparedness; tornado warning systems
Q
Quantrill, Bill, 66
R
radar set, WSR-3, 32
radiosonde, 16–17, 23–24
Rainey, Barbara, 263, 298
Rainey, Joyce, 264
Ramirez, Joe, 190
rear-flank downdraft, 46, 243
Red Cross, 275–76
Reichelderfer, Francis W., 52, 56
Rice Hall, Washburn University, 160, 165
Richardson, Gaylord, 238
Riddle, Perry, 112–14
Roacha, Phyllis, 233
Robbins, Bonnie, 238
Robbins, Connie, 238
Robbins, Olen, 225, 237–38, 301
Robbins, Randy, 238
Rooney & Rooney law firm, 27
ROTC building, Washburn University, 147–48
Rubber Soul (Beatles), 26
Russell, Jim, 108
Rutherford, Ed, 90–91
S
Salvation Army, 275–76
Samaras, Tim, 155–56
Santa Fe Railroad
General Office Building, 185–87, 189, 193–94
shops, 4, 224–25, 237
Saylor, Lester, 298
Scheibe, Glen, 144, 161
Scheibe, Johnny, 144, 161, 255–56
Scheibe, Kert, 292
Schmidt, Catherine, 300
Schmidt, Delmar, 167
Sellen, Patty, 249–50
Severe Local Storms Forecast Center, Kansas City, 15–16, 24, 56, 78
severe weather warnings, 21, 56, 282
Sharon Springs, Kansas, 15
Shawnee County Civil Defense headquarters, 246
Shideler, Phil, 79, 80, 83
Shuck, Guy, 295
Shuck, Jean, 295
sightseers, 275
Sims, Kitty, 227
Sklenicka, George, 261
smell of/from tornadoes
battery acid and gasoline, 165
Fernstrom on, 162
gas leakage, 127, 202, 205
in skin of survivors, 285
Smith, Joe, 184–85, 190–91, 205–6, 266–67
Snyder, Robert and Jackie, 136, 138–39, 149
Sommers, Catherine, 196–97, 209–11
Southerland, Steve, 97
southwest corner myth, 278–81
Southwestern Bell
building and employees, 188, 194, 251, 296–97
repair services, 272
Spanish explorers, 58
spotter networks, 52, 78, 88, 92–93, 257
Staggs, Donald, 32–33
Stallard, Al, 97–98
Stallings, Robert, 281–82
Stars and Stripes (military newspaper), 269
state capitol building and grounds, 195
Steele, Terry, 190–91, 205–6, 250–51
Stein, Tony, 169–70, 172–73, 176–77, 294
Steuri, Grace, 120, 131–32
Steuri, John, 120, 131–32
St. Francis Hospital, 246
Stoffer Science Hall, Washburn University, 138, 151, 164–65. See also Martin, John and Elaine
Stormont-Vail Hospital, 165–67, 246–47
Storm Prediction Center statistics, 48
Strategic Air Command (SAC), 71
suction vortices, 42
Summerville, Ward, 146, 163
supercell thunderstorms, 44–47, 87, 96
T
Tarnower, Doris, 164
Tarnower, Jean, 138, 139, 149
Taylor, Fern, 219–20, 226–27, 239–40, 301–2
Taylor, Harry, 219–20
Taylor, James B., 273–75
Taylor, Leon, 141, 146–47, 150, 161–62
Taylor, Sterling “Chick,” 219–20, 226–27, 239–40
Tennesseetown, Kansas, 70
Texas, 47–48
Thomas Women’s Gymnasium, Washburn University, 147, 160
Thunderbolt sirens
Bartley response, 170
Benge response, 296
Civil Defense Administration installation of, 80–81
Decker response, 298
Esquivel response, 225
Fernstrom and test-takers’ response, 138
Garden Park neighborhood response, 227
Ginter response, 222
Goodin response, 93–94
Guthrie response, 217
Hatke response, 174
Idlet response, 218–19
Irish and White response, 100
Johnson response, 171
Lollar response, 111
Lyle response, 297
Marmet response, 96
Martin response, 137–38
McDiffett response, 143
overview, 81–82, 90–92, 258, 281
Smith and Estes response, 185
Snyder response, 138
Sommers response, 196–97
Stein response, 172–73
Steuri response, 120
Summerville response, 146
Torrence response, 142
Ward response, 96
Warfel response, 144
Weather Bureau decision to deploy, 90–92, 258, 304
thunderstorms
formation of, 24, 46–47
and mammatus clouds, 135
overview, 41, 44
supercell thunderstorms, 44–45, 87, 96
and tornadoes, 15–16, 24–25, 33–34, 38, 53–56, 243
tracking system, 32–33
warning system, 21
Tibbets, Paul W., Jr., 71
Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, 52–55
Tom Mix Rambler Ranch, 203
Topeka, Kansas
demographics, 4
maps, xvi, 104, 134, 168, 182, 214, 242
rebuilding, 270–75, 304–5
school district alert system, 80
settlement of, 65–66, 69–71
storms building, 33–34, 36–37
tornado route, 15–16, 38, 243–44
tornado size and velocity, 90, 97–98, 109–10, 120–21, 142, 148
Topeka Daily Capital, 4–5, 82–83
Topeka Daily State Journal, 70
Topeka Transportation Company bus storage warehouse, 192
Topeka West High School, 28, 278
tornadic sound, 155–58
Tornado: A Community Responds to Disaster (Taylor, Zurcher, and Key), 273–75
Tornado Alley, 48
tornadoes
destructive abilities, 41–43, 103, 209
explosion within, 141
mesmerizing nature of, 90, 105–6, 120–21, 141, 146–47, 175, 189
retraction into the sky, 243
sound of, 155–58
southwest corner myth, 278–81
and thunderstorms, 15–16, 24–25, 33–34, 3
8, 53–56, 243
See also devastation; smell of/from tornadoes
Tornadoes of the United States (Flora), 76, 83
tornado forecasting. See prediction models
tornado forecasting, U.S. Weather Bureau ban on, 50–51, 52, 56
tornadogenesis
mammatus clouds, 135
overview, 15–16, 41–48
rear-flank downdraft, 46, 243
updraft, 41, 45–46, 47, 155
weather related to, 23–25
tornado preparedness
Garrett’s involvement, 78–85, 139, 258–59, 281
interstate highway overpass safety myth, 299–300
opening a window myth, 280
severe weather warnings, 21, 56, 282
southwest corner myth, 278–81
See also tornado warning systems; U.S. Weather Bureau
tornado warning systems
HomeSafe Tornado Detector, 158
infrasound pilot project, 158
shift-change whistles, 78
spotter networks, 52, 78, 88, 92–93, 257
utilizing thunderstorm tracking system, 32–33
See also Thunderbolt sirens
tornado watch, 24
Torrence, Elon, 251
Torrence, Mary, 142
Trail of Tears, 60–61
trees, 13, 194, 277, 304–5
And Hell Followed With It: Life and Death in a Kansas Tornado Page 34