FLOYD COUNTY GENEALOGY

 

CHARLES CITY TORNADO
1968

 

The Charles City Tornado
of May 15, 1968

On the afternoon of May 15, 1968, an F5 tornado moved through Butler, Chickasaw, Floyd, Franklin, and Howard Counties in northeast Iowa. The tornado moved northeast from north of Hansell, passing east of Aredale, west of Greene, east of Marble Rock, and devastating Charles City (Fig. 2).
FIGURE 1

The tornado grew larger and more intense as it approached Charles City (Fig. 1), striking the city at approximately 4:50 p.m. The huge tornado passed directly through town, destroying 337 homes and 1250 vehicles, and causing about $30 million in damage. Ironically, the tornado damaged 8 churches in town, but left the bars standing. Debris from Charles City was found as far away as LeRoy, Minnesota, nearly 35 miles to the north.

FIGURE 2
The tornado continued to the northeast hitting Elma, where it caused another $1.5 million in damage. From Elma the tornado turned to the north and dissipated south of Chester, 4 miles south of the Minnesota border. The tornado was on the ground for 65 miles, reaching a width of 400 yards. Nearly 2000 homes were damaged or destroyed. All 13 deaths occurred in Floyd County. 450 injuries were reported in Floyd County and 12 injuries in Howard County.

[Above text from Iowa History Project on IAGenWeb]

 

 

Charles City Deaths

The following is a list of the individuals who died as a result of the May 15, 1968 tornado which struck Charles City and vicinity.

1. Murray Loomer

2. Sadie (Mrs. Raymond) Chambers

3. Harry Hall

4. Arthur Jacobs
The Social Security Death Index says: ARTHUR JACOBS was born on 05 Jul 1885, and died May 1968, last residing at ZIP CODE 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN: 484-36-6554 issued in Iowa.

5. August Merten
The Social Security Death Index says: AUGUST MERTEN was born 07 Oct 1900 and died May 1968 residing at 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN 484-36-6180 issued in Iowa.

6. May (Mrs. James) Gault

7. Lela (Mrs. Carl) Wolff

8. Florine (Mrs. Leland) Leach, 55

9. Tom Hall, 16

10. Marie Greenlees
The Social Security Death Index says: MARIE GREENLEES was born on 27 Oct 1885, and died May 1968, last residing at ZIP CODE 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN: 479-30-6550 issued in Iowa.

11. John Kneisel
The Social Security Death Index says: JOHN KNEISEL was born on 12 Aug 1878, and died 15 May 1968, last residing at ZIP CODE 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN: 482-32-8136 issued in Iowa.

12. Minnie (Mrs. John) Kneisel
The Social Security Death Index says: MINNIE M. KNEISEL was born on 04 Jun 1885, and died 15 May 1968, last residing at ZIP CODE 50616 (Charles City, Floyd, Iowa); SSN: 478-66-6454 issued in Iowa.

13. Robert Stotts, 22 (U.N.I. student; not from Charles City)

14. Mrs. Virval Dawson, 45

RE: Iowa City Press-Citizen Iowa 1968-05-16

NOTE: The Charles City Press has a Blog, where people can
enter comments and life experiences regarding the tornado.
Many of the comments entered there are interesting to read.