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Deadly Tornado Strikes Indiana, Kentucky
Written by
Lesly C. Simmons
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Monday, November 07, 2005 — Residents along the Indiana-Kentucky border are cleaning up today after a massive tornado moved through the region around 2 am on Sunday morning, killing at least 22 people and injuring hundreds of others.
At least 17 people are confirmed dead in Evansville, In., and another five are confirmed dead in neighboring Warrick Co., making this the deadliest tornado in Indiana since 1974. Officials are still looking for survivors but believe they have reached everyone who was trapped by the storms. No deaths have been reported in Kentucky.
Despite warning sirens that sounded just before the tornadoes reached the Eastbrook Mobile Home Park in Evansville, the time of night and a lack of places for people to evacuate probably contributed to the large number of deaths and injuries.
“I heard the sirens, they woke me up right before we were dispatched,” said Dale Naylor, incident commander for the Knight Township Fire Department, which responded immediately and began searching for survivors. Naylor said his team probably pulled 40 people from the wreckage within the first hour after the tornado hit.
The American Red Cross is responding along with local law enforcement and safety officials. The Southwestern Indiana chapter in Evansville responded immediately, opening shelters to house residents who cannot go back to their devastated community.
The Evansville chapter of the Red Cross has a list of people who are okay after the tornado. The area is still off limits to residents because of the extent of the damage, but officials say they may allow people to come back on Tuesday to gather some personal effects.
This tornado stretched for about 20 miles and cut a path ¾ of a mile wide. More than 20,000 residents are without power due to downed power lines.
Tornadoes can occur at any time throughout the year, but the peak activity period is March through early July, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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