State Historical Society of Iowa

"Tornado Rips Oelwein" Newspaper Article, May 16, 1968

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Courtesy of The Oelwein Daily Register, Mahoney, Mike, "Tornado Rips Oelwein," The Oelwein Daily Register, Vol. 61, No. 164, 16 May 1968

Description

This is a newspaper article published in The Oelwein Daily Register on May 16, 1968, that details the story of a destructive F-5 tornado that ravaged Oelwein, Charles City and Maynard, Iowa. The tornado killed four people in Oelwein and caused an estimated $10 to $30 million dollars of damage.

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Transcribed Excerpts from "Tornado Rips Oelwin"

Source-Dependent Questions

  • In what ways did this tornado impact the infrastructure of the city of Oelwein? What textual evidence can you use to describe the extent of the damage?
  • What was the governor’s reaction to the situation? Did any of his comments surprise you? Why or why not?
  • Using the text, as well as the photos and the captions, how devastating was this tornado to the city of Oelwein? Do you think that this tornado dramatically impacted its citizens? If so, how?

Citation Information

Mahoney, Mike, "Tornado Rips Oelwein," The Oelwein Daily Register, Vol. 61, No. 164, 16 May 1968. Courtesy of The Oelwein Daily Register