1938 Rodessa, Louisiana tornado
{{Short description|Violent F4 tornado in Louisiana, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = 1938 Rodessa tornado
| image = File:Rodessa, Louisiana tornado damages.jpg
| caption = Aerial view of Rodessa after the disaster.
| formed = February 17, 1938, 9:45 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00)
}}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| fujita-scale = F4
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| fatalities = 21 fatalities, ≈40 injured
| damages = $250,000 in 1938:{{cite web |last1=Grazulis |first1=T. P. |title=DAPPL v'05 |url=https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2009/ML20091F891.pdf |website=nrc.gov |publisher=U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission |date=1984}} $5.6 million in 2025
| affected = Rodessa, Louisiana
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
The Rodessa tornado was a destructive tornado that hit Rodessa, Louisiana on February 17, 1938. This F4 tornado left an estimated 21 people dead and upwards of 24 people injured.
Meteorological synopsis & Tornado summary
The rural location of the event has left a lot of the facts up for speculation. Despite this, it is believed that the tornado began forming five miles northeast of the town near the border of Caddo Parish and Miller County, Arkansas. The tornado moved south before changing direction, touching down, and striking the town from the east at 9:45 p.m. The tornado destroyed the entire southeastern portion of the town or what was once known as "Supply House Row", knocking over power lines and leaving an estimated 200 yard path of decimation in its wake. It is stated that the tornado only lasted two minutes, but was followed by heavy rains that would impede the search for victims amongst the rubble.{{cite web |author1=GCWX Director of Public Relations |title=85th Anniversary of F-4 Tornado, in Rodessa, La. |url=https://stormcastforums.com/thread/6920/85th-anniversary-tornado-rodessa-la |website=stormcastforums |publisher=Gulf Coast Weather, GCWX |access-date=December 21, 2024 |date=February 18, 2023}} Only one tornado was confirmed. Despite the damage to power lines, the telephone lines were fully operational and residents began phoning nearby villages for assistance.
Aftermath
Immediately following the event, residents began carrying the injured to nearby settlements such as Vivian to the south and Atlanta, Texas to the west for medical care. By 10:30 p.m. 16 medical staff in three ambulances were sent from the Charity Hospital in Shreveport. By 2:00 a.m. on February 18, the power was restored. It is thought around this time that then Governor of Louisiana Richard W. Leche was informed of the situation in Baton Rouge. He was known to have said to the Shreveport Times "That was an awful thing―a terrible disaster. Anything the state can do to help the people up there, we will be glad to do".{{cite web |title=Tornado Kills 25; Injured 41 |url=https://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1938/di1938-02-19.pdf |website=dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu |publisher=The Daily Iowan |access-date=December 21, 2024 |date=February 19, 1938}} At 2:45 a.m. twenty national guardsmen were sent to assist with patrol work in conjuction with local and state police.
File:Shreveport medical staff in 1938.jpg
Later into the morning and the subsequent days the true destruction of the tornado was revealed. Multiple homes and businesses were flattened, with one car being picked up and thrown on top of the wreckage. A doctor from Vivian named Edgar Galloway said that some of the dead were so disfigured that identification would be difficult. It is thought that the final death toll was 21 ±1-2 people with the number of injuries being less certain. The Shreveport Times claims that the injury count following the event was 24, while other sources state that the number was as high as 60.{{cite web |title=20 DIE IN LOUISIANA TORNADO: RIPS THROUGH OIL TOWN; SIXTY ARE INJURED Many Crushed Under Wrecked Buildings. |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/182006497 |website=ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Tribune |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=December 21, 2024 |date=February 18, 1938| id={{ProQuest|182006497}} }} These numbers were likely worsened by the weak infrastructure of the town as it was observed that the pieces of sheet metal that made up many homes played a roll in much of the disfigurments.