Portal:Tornadoes/Anniversaries/May 5

May 5

• 1933 – Strong tornadoes killed 44 people in the Southeastern United States as part of a larger outbreak sequence. A nighttime F4 tornado devastated Helena, Alabama, killing 14 people and leaving most of the survivors homeless. The same tornado killed 7 others near Brent and Colemont. An F3 tornado hit Anderson, Belton, and Barksdale, South Carolina, killing 19 people, most in poorly built homes in Belton. Four others were killed by an F3 tornado in Demopolis, Alabama and near Edna. The roar of the tornado woke many Demopolis residents, likely saving lives.
• 1960 – On the second day of a three-day outbreak sequence, tornadoes killed 32 people across Oklahoma. An F4 tornado or tornado family destroyed a two-block-wide portion of Wilburton, where 13 people died, and killed 3 more in Keota. An F5 tornado killed five people as it swept away homes near Iron Post and devastated the north part of Sapulpa. Another F4 tornado killed five people in one home near Roland.
• 1961 – Part of an outbreak sequence, an F4 tornado caused major damage in Reichert and Howe, Oklahoma, killing 16 people and injuring 58. One other person was killed by an F2 tornado near Dover, Arkansas.