1964 Harpersville tornado
 A destroyed residence near Harpersville | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Date | January 24, 1964 |
| F4 tornado | |
| on the Fujita scale | |
| Max width | 100 yd (0.057 mi; 0.091 km) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 10 |
| Injuries | 6 |
| Areas affected | Shelby County, Alabama |
Part of the Tornadoes of 1964 | |
In the afternoon hours of January 24, 1964, a small but highly-deadly and powerful tornado moved near Harpersville, a town located in the U.S. state of Alabama. The tornado killed 10 people and injured six others along a 3.3-mile (5.3 km) path that spanned 100 yards (91 m) in width.
Tornado summary
The tornado first touched down approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) to the southwest of Harpersville, tracking to the northeast.[1] On County Road 25 a barn was destroyed, with the pieces being found in a grove 0.25 miles (0.40 km) away.[2] It entered Harpersville from the southwest;[3] in town, three homes were destroyed, 12 suffered "major" damage, and 20 suffered minor damage. Multiple trailers and farmhouses were additionally destroyed in the area.[4] At the Garden of Memories Cemetery, most gravestones were destroyed.[5] All 10 fatalities from the tornado were caused in three demolished homes along U.S. Route 280.[1][6] Additionally, power lines in town were downed and damaged.[7] It lifted after being on the ground for 3.3 miles (5.3 km), with a maximum width of 100 yards (91 m).[2]
Rescue efforts immediately following the tornado were delayed by both significant power line damage and heavy rainfal that flooded streets;[8][9] Civil defense authorities brought in power generators to provide light during initial rescue efforts.[7] Communication with the town was cut at around 7:00 p.m.,[note 1] shortly after the tornado had moved through the area.[10]
| Name | Age | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Kathy Brewer | N/A | [11] |
| Ed Kelley | ||
| Virginia Kelley | ||
| Essie Mae Kelley | ||
| Cheryl Kelley | 8 | |
| Betty McCall | N/A | |
| Mike McCall | ||
| Kathy Brewer | ||
| Stella Thomas | 15 |
See also
- 1973 Central Alabama tornado, an F4 tornado that passed near Harpersville nine years later
References
Notes
- ↑ For consistency, all times in the article are in Central Daylight Time.
Citations
- 1 2 Grazulis 1990, p. 443
- 1 2 "Harpersville F-4 Tornado (Shelby County) - January 24, 1964". National Weather Service. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ↑ "3 Tornadoes Hit Alabama; 9 Killed". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. January 25, 1964. p. 1.
- ↑ "Damage detailed". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. January 26, 1964. p. 8.
- ↑ "Ranking worst tornadoes in Shelby County history". Shelby County Reporter. March 17, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Alabama Tornadoes 1964". National Weather Service. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- 1 2 "Tornado Kills Nine". The Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. January 25, 1964. p. 1.
- ↑ "Rescuers Probe Tornado Rubble". The Pensacola News. Pensacola, Florida. January 25, 1964. p. 1.
- ↑ "Nine Are Killed and Nine Hurt As Tornado Strikes in Alabama; Four Homes Are Destroyed — Heavy Rain Hampers Rescue Operations". The New York Times. January 25, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Eight Killed As Tornado Shatters Harpersville". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. January 25, 1964. p. 1.
- ↑ "Harpersville tornado kills 9". Birmingham Post-Herald. Birmingham, Alabama. January 25, 1964. p. 1.
Sources
- Grazulis, Thomas P. (May 1984). Violent Tornado Climatography, 1880–1982. OSTI (Technical report). NUREG. Washington, D.C.: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. OSTI 7099491. CR-3670.
- — (November 1990). Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989. Vol. 2. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 978-1-879362-02-4.