Nine Tornadoes Recorded in Moore County
As the weather changes from winter's cold and snow, residents of the Texas Panhandle realize that it can sometimes bring storms, filled with blowing winds and hail.
The rolling storm clouds can also turn into tornadoes. Nine tornadoes have been recorded in Moore County, the earliest on August 19, 1964. The tornado was 33 yards wide when it touched down and was measured as an EF2 showing winds between 111 and 135 miles per hour.
The following year, two tornadoes touched down, both in June. The first was on June 9, the second on June 14. Both were recorded as EF2 tornadoes.
Another EF2 tornado, a couple of years later, on May 5, 1967. This twister was 67 yards wide.
In June of 1972, a tornado struck the south side of Dumas, damaging businesses and tearing down signs and electric poles. One of the businesses damaged was Philips Manor Motel (now Super Inn) and neighboring restaurant, Duffer's (now Big Country).
One of the guests in the motel pulled a mattress over him and when the tornado passed, he was covered in hail. The guest was an Air Force officer from Denver. His comment was, "I've been through two wars, been shot at, but I've never been this close to death." Twenty units in the motel were destroyed, but none of the 35 overnight guests were injured.
Next door at the restaurant, 70 customers huddled under tables. One customer suggested that the southwest corner might be safest. Restaurant owner, Wydle Duffer, advised everyone to stay away from windows.
Across the street at the Kona Kai Motel (now Motel 6), manager Clayton Frazier said he saw two funnels just before the roof over the swimming pool exploded. The motel lost all of the rooms on the north side of the building. Guests were moved to drier rooms, given candles for light and hot coffee to drink. One guest, Mrs. W.V. Webb of Center, Texas, was on her way to Green River, Wyoming. She arrived at the motel just as the storm hit. She parked in one spot, then changed her mind and moved to another spot just in time to see an air conditioner land in the first spot. She commented, "When my little dog heard the roar, he got under the seat. And I would have been there with him if I could."
The rolling storm clouds can also turn into tornadoes. Nine tornadoes have been recorded in Moore County, the earliest on August 19, 1964. The tornado was 33 yards wide when it touched down and was measured as an EF2 showing winds between 111 and 135 miles per hour.
The following year, two tornadoes touched down, both in June. The first was on June 9, the second on June 14. Both were recorded as EF2 tornadoes.
Another EF2 tornado, a couple of years later, on May 5, 1967. This twister was 67 yards wide.
In June of 1972, a tornado struck the south side of Dumas, damaging businesses and tearing down signs and electric poles. One of the businesses damaged was Philips Manor Motel (now Super Inn) and neighboring restaurant, Duffer's (now Big Country).
One of the guests in the motel pulled a mattress over him and when the tornado passed, he was covered in hail. The guest was an Air Force officer from Denver. His comment was, "I've been through two wars, been shot at, but I've never been this close to death." Twenty units in the motel were destroyed, but none of the 35 overnight guests were injured.
Next door at the restaurant, 70 customers huddled under tables. One customer suggested that the southwest corner might be safest. Restaurant owner, Wydle Duffer, advised everyone to stay away from windows.
Across the street at the Kona Kai Motel (now Motel 6), manager Clayton Frazier said he saw two funnels just before the roof over the swimming pool exploded. The motel lost all of the rooms on the north side of the building. Guests were moved to drier rooms, given candles for light and hot coffee to drink. One guest, Mrs. W.V. Webb of Center, Texas, was on her way to Green River, Wyoming. She arrived at the motel just as the storm hit. She parked in one spot, then changed her mind and moved to another spot just in time to see an air conditioner land in the first spot. She commented, "When my little dog heard the roar, he got under the seat. And I would have been there with him if I could."
A second tornado touched down in Moore County that same night. This one was about two miles south of FM 1913 and about three miles east of Four Way. It dissipated near State Highway 152 east of Dumas.
March 18, 1982, saw an EF4 tornado that did $2,500,000 in damage. The storm was 800 yards wide.
Two tornadoes were recorded on June 27, 1992. One was a EF3, was 300 yards wide and did $250,000 damage. The other was an EF4 and was 1583 yards wide and did $25 million in damages.
The most recent damaging tornadoes were on Saturday, April 21, 2007, when two touched down. One came across the city of Cactus, injuring 14, one critically. There were 16 report of tornadoes across the Panhandle that day, with Cactus receiving the most damage. The storm reached wind speeds of 130 miles per hour. One-third of Cactus was either destroyed or damaged. Luckily the two largest employers, Swift & Co. and Cactus Feeders did not have severe damage.
When the storm died down, cars were found piled on the rubble of destroyed homes. Firefighters from Skellytown, Borger and Fritch helped search for victims in the rubble.
Electric service to 20,000 customers across the Panhandle was out. Xcel restored service to all but 400 customers by late Sunday and others by Monday.
Both north and south lanes of 287 were closed through Cactus until noon on Sunday. Dumas school buses wee used to transport people to the Sunray Community Building and Moore County Community Building on Saturday. A total of 309 homes reported damage. Nine businesses were damaged and 100 power poles had to be replaced. County Agent Marcel Fischbacher reported that 100 pivot sprinklers were destroyed at a cost of $40,000 each.
The disastrous tornado in the Panhandle was in Higgins on April 9, 1967 when the storm killed about 50 people.
Compiled from USA.com Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Moore County News-Press, June 23, 1972
Amarillo Globe News, April 23, 2007
Moore County News, April 26, 2007
March 18, 1982, saw an EF4 tornado that did $2,500,000 in damage. The storm was 800 yards wide.
Two tornadoes were recorded on June 27, 1992. One was a EF3, was 300 yards wide and did $250,000 damage. The other was an EF4 and was 1583 yards wide and did $25 million in damages.
The most recent damaging tornadoes were on Saturday, April 21, 2007, when two touched down. One came across the city of Cactus, injuring 14, one critically. There were 16 report of tornadoes across the Panhandle that day, with Cactus receiving the most damage. The storm reached wind speeds of 130 miles per hour. One-third of Cactus was either destroyed or damaged. Luckily the two largest employers, Swift & Co. and Cactus Feeders did not have severe damage.
When the storm died down, cars were found piled on the rubble of destroyed homes. Firefighters from Skellytown, Borger and Fritch helped search for victims in the rubble.
Electric service to 20,000 customers across the Panhandle was out. Xcel restored service to all but 400 customers by late Sunday and others by Monday.
Both north and south lanes of 287 were closed through Cactus until noon on Sunday. Dumas school buses wee used to transport people to the Sunray Community Building and Moore County Community Building on Saturday. A total of 309 homes reported damage. Nine businesses were damaged and 100 power poles had to be replaced. County Agent Marcel Fischbacher reported that 100 pivot sprinklers were destroyed at a cost of $40,000 each.
The disastrous tornado in the Panhandle was in Higgins on April 9, 1967 when the storm killed about 50 people.
Compiled from USA.com Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Moore County News-Press, June 23, 1972
Amarillo Globe News, April 23, 2007
Moore County News, April 26, 2007