Created and maintained by Homer G. Ramby Waynesville, Ohio USA

On April 3, 1974 at 4:20 pm, my wife Terry and I were taking Rob, our son, around on his paper route in Waynesville, Ohio, along with my daughter Shari, our oldest son Don and Larry Smith, when I heard on a fire radio that a tornado had touched down in southern Montgomery Co.

I went home and picked up my camera and we headed toward Centerville, All the time as we were driving I noticed a dark cloud hanging down from the storm cloud, then all of a sudden to the east of our location at Royal Woods Ln. and Wilmington Pike , (we were 8.3 miles from Arrowhead and 14.3 miles from Wilberforce), we saw a tornado whip up from the ground up then it would disappear, then another one would appear then disappear, then one started then it formed 2 tornados side by side, then the 2 joined together to make the big one   that hit Xenia, Ohio.

Our Fire Dept., Wayne Twp. Fire Dept., was dispatched to Xenia, Ohio, so I left there and went straight to Xenia, and helped out with the Fire Dept. and Life Squad.......Photos courtesy of and © 2019 by Homer G. Ramby - Waynesville, Ohio

The Xenia Tornado was F5   Length 32 miles  33 killed    1,150 injured

Memorial

Map of our location  This is where I took the photos

Homer Ramby  Photo's

Larry Houghton  Photo's

Julie Steinhilber  Photo's

Southwest Ohio Fire & EMS - Dispatch   to Listen to Live Radio broadcast

WARNINGS AND WATCHES

TORNADO WARNING -   A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar TORNADO WATCH -   Tornadoes are possible in your area. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING -   Severe thunderstorms are occuring SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH -   Severe thunderstorms are possible in your area.

SUPEROUTBREAK April 3-4, 1974

The April 3-4, 1974 SUPEROUTBREAK, produced 148 tornadoes within a 24 hour period. This is the largest number on record. During the height of activity, 15 tornadoes were on the ground simultameously.  315 persons were killed,  5484 were injured within the 13 states and Canada in which tornadoes occurred. With a total 2598 miles the tornadoes traveled.

Immediately after the outbreak, an aerial survey team was organized. Up to five aircraft were used to survey the entire damage area. Unexpectedly, continuous damage paths were found up and down steep slopes, across mountain tops, and through deep gorges. Press  HERE  for a list of All the States that were hit by Tornadoes

Tornado that hit Xenia on Sept. 20, 2000

Press HERE WHIO 7 radar April 3, 1974

Press HERE to hear the actual 1974 Xenia Tornado

Press   to see the Xenia Tornado

Press   to see "The Day of the Killer Tornados"

Video clip from the History Channel (2.78mg)

A Face in the Xenia Tornado

Video clip from Bruce Boyd, a 16-year-old Xenia High School student, captured the tornado on 8 mm film and still feels the lasting effects of grabbing the family's new movie camera. 1974 Xenia tornado (2.70MB)    Before & After photo  sent by Ben Faltinowski

Meteorologists   Don E. Halsey, that was on duty at the Vandalia Weather Service Office that fateful day

Lisa  Irene (Pagett) Hale who was in the Xenia Tornado

Lori   J. Hellmund - Lori was 6 years old that day

William   J. Brock - was 10 years old that day

Kelli   Mendenhall - Lisa Hale's cousin

Pilot  Robert Schwarts, who was flying in the area on that day

Shirley  Stamps, who was in the Xenia tornado

Tornado in Xenia This photo might be what Shirley Stamps saw (Photographer Unknown)

Rick   Hoag of Xenia, Ohio , who was in the Xenia tornado

Terry  G. Hunter, who was in the Xenia tornado

I will try to get photos of my destruction photos as it looks today

 

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Waynesville, Ohio

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