1956-58, when I was a young boy, we lived in Hickman Mills south of Kansas City. A monster tornado that started in Kansas and had been on the ground for 50 miles, last moment, in sight, suddenly turned east, crossed the hiway into Ruskin Heights, and killed over 50 people. This seems to have been forgotten.
The Ruskin Heights F-5, yup - it hasn't been totally forgotten but it's one of the earliest F-5s on record with the old rating system, so it isn't talked about a whole lot. Meteorology and tornado tracking was so much more primitive back then.
@@brandonvescovo1735 Thank you. One of those who died was a teammate on a championship Little League baseball team I played for. We were practicing that day at the Ruskin High School when the word came to head for home. It missed our house by a quarter-mile or less. My father was a military weather officer who talked of someday their being able to see and do better. In the early '60s we were at a remote airbase in Canada where he was working on ways to improve the accuracy of radar which in those days could be fooled by bad weather. One day it was announced the U.S. had put up it's first weather satellite which suddenly obsoleted their work. Today it's reached the point where I have an app in my phone that real time shows me the same weather today's satellites are seeing.
@@brandonvescovo1735 I did see something online that it has been preserved via some kind of plaque honoring the dead at the high school. I have a newspaper clipping of our team with our championship trophies. I hope to someday donate both in person.
I remember driving through 3- f4's that day and 2- f3's! first time I had ever seen a tornado let alone be less then 1 mile away from 3 of them! the carnage and devastation was overwhelming! the worse feeling in my life going through it at night and not knowing if I would make it home to my sons. cant imagine what y'all do that live in that yearly
I remember that day well. I was in my basement doorway that went to my backyard watching it destroy Carriage Hills. We had finals at Park University and I learned some of my classmates had either lost their homes or had very badly damages homes from the tornado.
I remember this. I was supposed to be in the middle of this but by pure luck we changed plans and went 20 miles south and missed the whole thing. I drove threw the aftermath and got some good photos
I was at my nana's when i was 4. We ate mash patatoes and pork chops. The sheriff came by and told us to get inside, so we got into the basement. That damn thing shook the house so bad my plate vibrated in my hands! But only ended up knocking to my grandmas tree. I cried for the tree lol
I was in the 2nd grade going on to 3rd grade when this tornado happened. I was so terrified, and still terrified til this day. I was at a birthday party at Bonner Springs Park, and it seemed like the tornado followed my grandmas car. We thought that because every where that we had went thw tornado was there. I believe the tornado was about 20 - 30 mins behind us. My grandma waa trying to take me home, because my parents had a basement. I still remember EVERYTHING that had happened that day. Now that I am 22 turning 23, I still get terrified if I hear anything about tornadoes. Weither its messages on the phone, messages on the TV, and the sirens.
I was driving near downtown KCMO and heard the warnings come on over the radio. Then the sirens came on. I turned around and drove back to Independence. Put the TV on, sat on the sofa, and cried as I watched the tracking of the tornadoes. My area was fine. No problems.
1956-58, when I was a young boy, we lived in Hickman Mills south of Kansas City. A monster tornado that started in Kansas and had been on the ground for 50 miles, last moment, in sight, suddenly turned east, crossed the hiway into Ruskin Heights, and killed over 50 people. This seems to have been forgotten.
The Ruskin Heights F-5, yup - it hasn't been totally forgotten but it's one of the earliest F-5s on record with the old rating system, so it isn't talked about a whole lot. Meteorology and tornado tracking was so much more primitive back then.
@@brandonvescovo1735
Thank you. One of those who died was a teammate on a championship Little League baseball team I played for. We were practicing that day at the Ruskin High School when the word came to head for home. It missed our house by a quarter-mile or less. My father was a military weather officer who talked of someday their being able to see and do better. In the early '60s we were at a remote airbase in Canada where he was working on ways to improve the accuracy of radar which in those days could be fooled by bad weather. One day it was announced the U.S. had put up it's first weather satellite which suddenly obsoleted their work. Today it's reached the point where I have an app in my phone that real time shows me the same weather today's satellites are seeing.
@@brandonvescovo1735
I did see something online that it has been preserved via some kind of plaque honoring the dead at the high school. I have a newspaper clipping of our team with our championship trophies. I hope to someday donate both in person.
@@brandonvescovo1735
Do you know of any film or video? I cant find any online.
@@joestephan1111 I don't think any was captured, no, just photos
I remember driving through 3- f4's that day and 2- f3's! first time I had ever seen a tornado let alone be less then 1 mile away from 3 of them! the carnage and devastation was overwhelming! the worse feeling in my life going through it at night and not knowing if I would make it home to my sons. cant imagine what y'all do that live in that yearly
I remember that day well. I was in my basement doorway that went to my backyard watching it destroy Carriage Hills. We had finals at Park University and I learned some of my classmates had either lost their homes or had very badly damages homes from the tornado.
I remember this. I was supposed to be in the middle of this but by pure luck we changed plans and went 20 miles south and missed the whole thing. I drove threw the aftermath and got some good photos
I was at my nana's when i was 4. We ate mash patatoes and pork chops. The sheriff came by and told us to get inside, so we got into the basement. That damn thing shook the house so bad my plate vibrated in my hands! But only ended up knocking to my grandmas tree. I cried for the tree lol
Good thing you survived
I was in the 2nd grade going on to 3rd grade when this tornado happened. I was so terrified, and still terrified til this day. I was at a birthday party at Bonner Springs Park, and it seemed like the tornado followed my grandmas car. We thought that because every where that we had went thw tornado was there. I believe the tornado was about 20 - 30 mins behind us. My grandma waa trying to take me home, because my parents had a basement. I still remember EVERYTHING that had happened that day. Now that I am 22 turning 23, I still get terrified if I hear anything about tornadoes. Weither its messages on the phone, messages on the TV, and the sirens.
Brandi Warren i'm happy nobody was killed this last one. I had to drive through it to my family's house. I was terrified for them. Glad we're okay.
@@deadrook5274 glad you made it safely
One of the events that sparked my interest weather and helped in making me a storm chaser
Worked near Kansas Speedway... it was terrifying..
I remember this day like yesterday was a scary day ill always remember
I was driving near downtown KCMO and heard the warnings come on over the radio.
Then the sirens came on. I turned around and drove back to Independence.
Put the TV on, sat on the sofa, and cried as I watched the tracking of the tornadoes.
My area was fine. No problems.
Gladstone tornado jumped over our house. Never forget. Hit my uncle's house.
we need a documentary about this
i wasn't alive then
I lived in Riverside then. Not to far from the High School.
that beat is cool
I wasn't alive :0
This tornedo was in my back yard and destroyed my home !!!
Waertmoya
DID ANYONE SEE THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST? MUST BE SCARY THE TORNADO NOT THE WITCH