2000 Xenia tornado

For other uses, see Xenia tornado.
2000 Xenia tornado
Damage to homes in Xenia following the tornado
Meteorological history
DateSeptember 20, 2000
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds>207 mph (333 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities1
Injuries100
Areas affectedXenia, Ohio
Power outages10,000
Houses destroyed321+
Part of the Tornadoes of 2000

In the evening hours of September 20, 2000, a violent tornado would touch down southwest of Xenia, Ohio before tracking directly towards the town and killing one person as it moved over. The tornado was on the ground for 9 miles (14 km), and along this path it destroyed numerous buildings and damaged hundreds more. The tornado was the first violent tornado to hit the city since 1974, when an F5 tornado would move along a near-parallel path, devastating Xenia. Safety actions taken by the city of Xenia prior to the event were highly criticized after only a single siren located in the town sounded as the tornado approached.

Tornado summary

The tornado first touched down near a golf course located southwest of the Green County Airport, and it would begin to track to the northeast, heading directly for Xenia. Ground scouring[note 1] was noted as the tornado moved towards Xenia, and the tornado exhibited frequent "skipping" as it damaged trees and other structures it impacted. A home located on Van Eaton Road near Xenia was damaged as the tornado moved over; several outbuildings nearby were also heavily damaged.[1] As the tornado continued to move to the northeast, it would cross an overpass that connects Highway 35 and several cars that were stopped over the overpass were lofted in the air and thrown into ditches. A short distance to the north, the tornado would continue to produce deep ground scouring as it moved over crop fields.[1]

The tornado would then cross over Hedger Street, where a Walmart was damaged and several other businesses sustained some degree of damage. A tire store located on Hedger Street was directly impacted, and as a result was almost completely destroyed. The tornado would continue to damage structures as it moved toward Xenia while retaining an estimated forward speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h).[2] As the tornado struck a fairground northwest of Xenia, it reached its maximum width of 400 yards (370 m) while heavily damaging rows of homes at F3 intensity.[1] A home a short distance to the north was destroyed at F4 intensity, an intensity that the tornado briefly retained.[1]

Moments after striking more homes, a row of businesses were directly struck by the tornado and completely detroyed. Four trailers that were located in adjacent parking lots were tossed by the tornado and one was found 400 yards (370 m) away on the fairgrounds.[1] It would continue to damage several structures as it moved out of Xenia, and dissipated to the northeast after being on the ground for 9 miles (14 km).[3][4] One person was killed, and 110 others would be injured by the tornado.[5]

Aftermath

Damage and casualties

One person was killed when the tornado moved over the fairgrounds and subsequently downing a tree, which fell on a man who later died.[6] Over 100 people were injured by the tornado, and fifteen people were admitted to the Miami Valley Hospital for injuries ranging from broken bones to head wounds.[7][5] One person who was injured was in critical condition but would recover.[5]

Xenia suffered heavy damage from the tornado, which inflicted some form of damage to an estimated 300 businesses located along the tornado's 9 miles (14 km) path. An additional 30 homes would be destroyed as the tornado moved over, and the only Walmart located within Xenia was heavily damaged. In Sugarcreek Township, fourteen homes were damaged and crops were ripped out of the ground while the tornado retained a narrow path.[2] Deep cyclonic ground scouring produced by the tornado was documented during damage surveys, and was highly visible from the air.[3] 10,000 people suffered power outages in the immediate aftermath of the tornado.[3] Governor Bob Taft would declare a state of emergency for Xennia immediately following the event.[8]

Siren controversy

After the 1974 tornado, five tornado sirens were located across the city to warn residents of an oncoming tornado. When the 2000 tornado hit the town, only one of these sirens would be functional; the tornado had cut power to four of the sirens.[8] An assessment conducted after the tornado concluded that authorities in Xenia had failed to activate the sirens within time, and as a result only one was sounded.[6] In 2022, a resolution was set in place to add more sirens in the town, and to update existing ones.[9]

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ "Ground scouring" refers to dirt or other material being ripped out of the ground by a tornado, typically producing a visible path.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Narramore 2019.
  2. ^ a b National Weather Service 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "September 20th, 2000 Xenia F4 Tornado". National Weather Service. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  4. ^ "23 years later: Speaking with a victim of the 2000 Xenia tornado". WDTN. 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  5. ^ a b c "2 Twisters Leave 1 Dead in Ohio". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  6. ^ a b Halasz, Scott (2020-04-03). "Xenia tornado remembered 46 years later". Fairborn Daily Herald. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  7. ^ staff, CBSNews com staff CBSNews com (2000-09-21). "In Xenia, Warning Bells Silenced - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  8. ^ a b "Ohio town's warning sirens quiet as fatal tornado hits". Deseret News. 2000-09-22. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  9. ^ "City approves purchase of new tornado sirens". The Xenia Gazette. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2024-11-28.

Sources