Topeka Kansas Tornado

June 8, 1966

Now this is some really cool rarely-seen footage of the Topeka twister and its aftermath. The thing was frigging massive. From Wikipedia:

On June 8, 1966, Topeka, Kansas was struck by an F5 rated tornado. It started on the southwest side of town, moving northeast, passing over a local landmark named Burnetts Mound. According to a local Native American legend, this mound was thought to protect the city from tornadoes. It went on to rip through the city, hitting the downtown area and Washburn University. Total dollar cost was put at $100 million making it, at the time, one of the costliest tornadoes in history. Even to this day, with inflation factored in, the Topeka tornado stands as one of the costliest on record.

Background music is "Respect the Wind" by Van Halen. This song can be heard during the end credits of - what else - the movie "Twister".

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tornado
• tornadoes
• twister
• twisters
• topeka
• kansas
• footage
• clip
• video
• june
• 1966
• disasters
• storms
• thunderstorms
• supercells

[TarinBardsley]

idiot dakokid.

[dakokid]

White trash music? You have Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers blaring in your background slut

[TheRadicalreels]

I was almost six when this hit! Missed us by one block too.

[reymatt76]

@RFDbehindme oh then in that case, I should really be taking my complaint to the Twister producers. I guess I'm about 15 years too late for that one!

[RFDbehindme]

@reymatt76 actually, the music is from the closing credits of Twister... somewhat appropriate! lol

[RFDbehindme]

I just finished the book "and Hell Followed With It" which was all about this Topeka tornado... it mentions this footage a lot. Thanks for sharing!! and FYI, the music is from the closing credits of Twister... quite appropriate to me!

[reymatt76]

@DannyDaBaddy Even the tornado didn't want to go anywhere near them!

[reymatt76]

I could've done without the white trash death rock instrumental ballad, completely inappropriate for the footage and the era, but good video.

[SubTerraMetalFencer]

It's hot in Topeka

[funmover2006]

I was right in the middle of it. My senior year, house we were in was tore all to he**.

We were in the area that is shown about the 3 minute mark into the video. Below Burnett's mound just past Gage st and 30th st