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“Tornadoes
are not just a part of Texas culture; they are a part of the history
of many towns and communities throughout the state. The more than
fifteen thousand tornadoes that have touched down somewhere within
the boundaries of the Lone Star state since 1880 have claimed nearly
eighteen hundred lives. Most were so weak the only evidence of their
brief existence was a few displaced shingles or scattered tree branches.
A few, however, left behind such destruction that just a mention of
them sends chills down the spines of survivors: Waco,
Wichita
Falls, Saragosa,
Jarrell.
Texas Tornadoes details these storms that have claimed more than ten
lives or are historically significant such as achieving a rare F5
rating.” - Marlene Bradford
From Texas Escapes:
It would be hard to imagine a more detailed, complete and factual
book on Texas tornadoes. Included is a list of the top ten worst storms
to have hit Texas with the rest distributed in chapters noting the
most historically significant or most destructive. The rest are listed
chronologically and are richly described through fact, anecdote and
eye witnesses or survivor accounts. From the source of the word itself,
to myth and folklore and historic developments in forecasting: it’s
all here. Texas Tornadoes is an important book that entertains, informs
and educates – without ever sounding like a textbook – which is what
it’s qualified to be. - Editor
Tornado Accounts:
Editor: Our special
thanks to author Bradford who has generously passed on eleven stories
of towns that didn’t make it into the book. These accounts will be
published separately:
Hale
Center (Hale County) Tornado - 1965
Eagle
Pass, TX, Maverick County, EF3 Tornado - 2007
Hurricane
Carla, Galveston (Galveston County) - 1961
Olney
(Young County) Tornado - 1951
Wills
Point (Van Zandt County) Tornadoes - 1890, 1901, 1907
Henderson,
(Rusk County) Tornado - 1866
Mineola
(Wood County) Tornado - 1887
Hubbard
(Hill County) Tornado - 1973
Vaughn/Bynum
(Hill County) Tornado - 1959
Cedar
Hill (Dallas County) Tornado - 1856
Avinger
(Cass County) Tornadoes - 1885 and 1921
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Dr.
Marlene Bradford retired from teaching and lecturing in June of 2013
and is now able to spend more time researching and writing about tornadoes.
She is the author of Scanning the Skies: A History of Tornado Forecasting
published by the University of Oklahoma Press and the editor of Salem
Press's Natural Disasters encyclopedia. She also works with school
severe weather safety (writing a book on schools and tornadoes).
In an email to the editor she said: “As I told my students, teaching
was my profession but tornadoes are my passion.” -
6-1-14 |
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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