1938 Rodessa, Louisiana tornado: Difference between revisions
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== Aftermath == |
== Aftermath == |
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Immediately following the event, residents began carrying the injured to nearby settlements such as [[Vivian, Louisiana|Vivian]] for medical care. |
Immediately following the event, residents began carrying the injured to nearby settlements such as [[Vivian, Louisiana|Vivian]] for medical care. By 10:30 pm 16 medical staff were sent from the Charity Hospital in [[Shreveport]]. By 2:00 am on February 18th, the power was restored. It is thought around this time that then Governor of Louisiana [[Richard W. Leche]] was informed of the situation in [[Baton Rouge]]. He was known to have said to the [[Shreveport Times]] "That was an awful thing―a terrible disaster. Anything the state can do to help the people up there, we will be glad to do". |
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At 2:45 am, twenty national guardsmen were sent to assist with patrol work in conjuction with local and [[Louisiana State Police|state police]]. |
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Revision as of 17:25, 21 December 2024
 Front page of the Shreveport Times the morning after the tornado struck. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | February 17, 1938, 9:45 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) |
| F4 tornado | |
| on the Fujita scale | |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 21+ fatalities, 24+ injured |
| Damage | Uknown |
| Areas affected | Rodessa, Louisiana and parts of Caddo Parish. |
The Rodessa, Louisiana tornado hit Rodessa on Thursday, February 17, 1938. Believed to be one of the ten earliest calendar year tornados in Louisiana history, the F4 left an estimated 18-21 people dead and upwards of 24 people injured.
Event description
The rural location of the event has left a lot of the facts up for speculation. Despite this, it is believed that the tornado formed in the northern portion of Caddo Parish or possibly Miller County, Arkansas around 9:40 pm. The tornado moved south before changing direction and striking the town from the east at 9:45 pm. The tornado destroyed the entire southeastern portion of the town or what was once known as "Supply House Row", knocking over power lines and leaving an estimated 200 yard path of decimation in its wake. It is stated that the tornado only lasted two minutes, but was followed by heavy rains that would impede the search for victims amongst the rubble.[1] Despite the damage to the power lines, the telephone lines were fully operational and residents began phoning nearby villages for assistance.
Aftermath
Immediately following the event, residents began carrying the injured to nearby settlements such as Vivian for medical care. By 10:30 pm 16 medical staff were sent from the Charity Hospital in Shreveport. By 2:00 am on February 18th, the power was restored. It is thought around this time that then Governor of Louisiana Richard W. Leche was informed of the situation in Baton Rouge. He was known to have said to the Shreveport Times "That was an awful thing―a terrible disaster. Anything the state can do to help the people up there, we will be glad to do".
At 2:45 am, twenty national guardsmen were sent to assist with patrol work in conjuction with local and state police.
- ^ GCWX Director of Public Relations (February 18, 2023). "85th Anniversary of F-4 Tornado, in Rodessa, La". stormcastforums. Gulf Coast Weather, GCWX. Retrieved December 21, 2024.