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Hoisington 1919 and 2001 Tornadoes

Address:
Hoisington, KS 67544

About this Exploration:



Hoisington has felt the wrath of two devastating tornadoes. The first, on October 8, 1919, came near 4:00 in the afternoon from the southwest, touching down at the Lou Durand farm four miles southwest of town and entering the city limits on Railroad Street. The twister caused extensive damage to the YMCA near the railroad tracks, as well as many businesses along Main Street, before moving into the residential area. Three lives were lost on that fateful afternoon.

Another tornado ripped through the heart of Hoisington on April 21, 2001 at 9:13 p.m., the night of the High School Junior-Senior Prom, which was being held at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Main Street. The F4 tornado with over 200 mph winds formed southwest of town, entered near the 700 block of West 2nd St. and cut a four-block-wide path of destruction completely across the town. The destruction was brutal and took you breath away. For a two block width and several miles long, homes were completely destroyed, nothing was left except for holes where basements were located. Debris was everywhere and trees were completely stripped of vegetation and limbs, most had twisted metal and cars wrapped around them. For another two blocks on either side of where the tornado touched down the homes were either partially destroyed or heavily damaged. Hoisington High School and Clara Barton Hospital received extensive damage. The Hoisington Dairy Queen, Cardinal Plaza, Town and Country Supermarket and several other businesses were completely destroyed along with many homes. Gerald Tauscher died of injuries sustained in the tornado; he was the only fatality. We invite you to see how the community has come together to rebuild.Though both disasters were life changing for the residents of Hoisington, the hard-work ethic, determination, pride, and faith in God of Hoisington’s residents raised Hoisington from the debris and destruction as her people moved forward to rebuild.
Photo by Mark Adams