AP Was There: A 1974 tornado in Xenia, Ohio, kills 32 and levels half the city

EDITOR’S NOTE — On April 3, 1974, a fierce tornado barreled through Xenia, Ohio, without warning, killing 32 people, injuring hundreds and leveling half the city of 25,000. Hundreds were left homeless. Nearby Wilberforce, home to Central State University, was also hit with deadly force. Afterward, President Richard Nixon made an unannounced visit to Xenia as the Watergate scandal unfolded in Washington.

The Xenia tornado was the deadliest and most powerful of what was later labeled the 1974 Super Outbreak, a series of 148 tornadoes that touched down across 13 states over 24 hours between April 3 and April 4. It was considered the worst such outbreak in U.S. history for nearly 40 years. It’s now second behind a 2011 outbreak. State and federal weather warning systems, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio, were both improved after the 1974 event.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine was in Xenia during the storm. The 77-year-old Republican told The Associated Press that he was working in the city as an assistant county prosecutor that day. From the porch of their building, his group saw the funnel on the horizon and moved to take cover in the basement. “It sounded like a freight train coming through,” he said. When they emerged, the structure’s roof was gone and the city lay in ruins.

DeWine’s wife was at home on their Cedarville farm with three young children and one on the way. “It was just really dark and windy,” she said. “It wasn’t your normal storm, we knew that. So that’s why we thought we should take cover.” The strength of the winds made it impossible for Fran DeWine to open the door that allowed access to the cellar, so they hunkered under a dining room table. Both her neighbors’ barns were demolished when she emerged.

The DeWines joined the rescue and cleanup operation over the ensuing days, gathering home movie footage that they provided to AP. That included very close access to Nixon as he moved through the streets. “I think what you take away from it is just how fragile life is, and how things can change just so very, very quickly,” the governor said.

On the 50th anniversary of the Xenia tornado, AP is republishing a version of its original, unbylined report from the scene.

Ohio Storms Kill at Least 35

Spring tornadoes mowed a murderous swath across southwestern Ohio Wednesday night, killing at least 35 persons, injuring about 500 and destroying millions of dollars in property.

The toll appeared likely to mount.

The Ohio Highway Patrol said it had unconfirmed reports of 40 to 50 persons missing in this Greene County city of 25,000 and reported five more deaths than rescue workers listed.

At mid-morning workers picking through the debris of Xenia said 30 had died in the twister that demolished an estimated half of the city.

Another funnel storm killed five persons in Cincinnati and hurt more than 200.

One, perhaps two, persons were killed when the twisting funnel smashed Central State University one mile northeast of Xenia.

Five persons were killed at Cincinnati and more than 200 injured.