Picture the chilling aftermath of a single tornado, then consider that in 2011 alone, a historic super outbreak of 368 tornadoes unleashed over $11 billion in destruction, illustrating the staggering and repeated economic toll these violent storms exact on our communities.
Key Takeaways
- The 2011 Super Outbreak produced 368 tornadoes causing $11 billion in total damages across the southeastern US.
- The 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore, Oklahoma EF5 tornado inflicted $1 billion in damages primarily to residential properties.
- Joplin, Missouri EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011, resulted in $2.8 billion in insured losses alone.
- US tornadoes caused 90 fatalities in 2013, the highest since 1999.
- The 2011 Joplin EF5 tornado killed 161 people, the deadliest single tornado since 1947.
- 1925 Tri-State Tornado killed 695 people across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana.
- The 2011 Joplin tornado destroyed over 7,000 homes and businesses.
- 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado leveled 8,000 structures.
- Greensburg 2007 EF5 destroyed 1,225 homes (95% of town).
- The 2011 Joplin tornado destroyed the St. John's Regional Medical Center hospital.
- 2013 Moore EF5 damaged power infrastructure affecting 20,000 customers.
- 2021 Western KY tornado downed power lines for 400,000 outages.
- The 2011 Joplin tornado scoured topsoil and destroyed 1,000 farms.
- 1999 Oklahoma tornadoes damaged 10,000 acres of crops.
- 2013 El Reno EF3 tossed heavy farm equipment miles away.
Tornadoes have caused billions in damages and tragic loss of life throughout U.S. history.
Agricultural and Environmental Impact
- The 2011 Joplin tornado scoured topsoil and destroyed 1,000 farms.
- 1999 Oklahoma tornadoes damaged 10,000 acres of crops.
- 2013 El Reno EF3 tossed heavy farm equipment miles away.
- 2021 KY tornado destroyed 40,000 acres of farmland.
- 1974 Super Outbreak debarked trees and eroded soil across 2,500 sq mi.
- Greensburg 2007 EF5 stripped fields bare for 20 miles.
- 2013 Moore EF5 damaged irrigation systems on 5,000 acres.
- 2023 Rolling Fork MS EF4 destroyed cotton fields and livestock.
- 2019 Dayton OH tornado impacted orchards and rural lands.
- 1965 Palm Sunday scoured farmland in Ohio and Indiana.
- 1947 Woodward OK F5 killed thousands of livestock.
- 2024 Greenfield IA EF4 flattened cornfields over 10 miles.
- 1953 Worcester MA tornado defoliated forests.
- 2012 Henryville IN EF4 destroyed 1,000 acres of soy.
- 2010 Yazoo City MS EF4 hurled tractors 1 mile.
- 1966 Topeka KS F5 damaged wheat fields extensively.
- 1925 Tri-State Tornado denuded 200 sq mi of trees.
- 2016 Chapman KS EF4 shredded pivot irrigators.
- 2020 Eastern Iowa EF4 destroyed 2,000 acres of corn.
- 2015 Dallas TX tornadoes impacted cattle ranches.
- 1973 Union City TN F4 scoured cotton fields.
- 2004 Hallam NE EF4 flattened 5,000 acres.
- 2011 Philadelphia MS EF5 damaged poultry farms.
- 1998 Birmingham AL EF3 affected timberlands.
- 1985 Niles OH EF3 damaged orchards nearby.
- 2013 El Reno EF3 killed 100+ cattle.
- Tuscaloosa 2011 EF4 eroded riverbanks and farms.
- Parkersburg 2008 EF5 destroyed rural barns and fields.
Agricultural and Environmental Impact Interpretation
These statistics reveal that tornadoes are not just urban destroyers but also ruthless agricultural accountants, relentlessly subtracting crops, livestock, and topsoil from the national ledger.
Direct Economic Losses
- The 2011 Super Outbreak produced 368 tornadoes causing $11 billion in total damages across the southeastern US.
- The 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore, Oklahoma EF5 tornado inflicted $1 billion in damages primarily to residential properties.
- Joplin, Missouri EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011, resulted in $2.8 billion in insured losses alone.
- The 2013 Moore, Oklahoma EF5 tornado caused $2 billion in damages to homes and businesses.
- El Reno, Oklahoma EF3 tornado on May 31, 2013, contributed $500 million in agricultural and property damages.
- The 1974 Super Outbreak generated 148 tornadoes with total damages exceeding $600 million (adjusted to modern dollars over $3 billion).
- Tuscaloosa-Birmingham, Alabama EF4 tornado on April 27, 2011, caused $2.4 billion in damages.
- The 2011 Philadelphia, Mississippi EF5 tornado resulted in $500 million damages.
- Greensburg, Kansas EF5 tornado in 2007 destroyed 95% of the town costing $250 million.
- Parkersburg, Iowa EF5 tornado on May 25, 2008, caused $200 million in damages.
- The 1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak cost $250 million across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.
- Average annual US tornado economic losses from 1996-2023 total $8.4 billion.
- 2021 Western Kentucky EF4 tornado caused $200 million in damages over 165 miles.
- The 1953 Worcester, Massachusetts F4 tornado inflicted $50 million damages (over $500 million adjusted).
- Dallas-Fort Worth 2015 tornadoes caused $200 million in metro area damages.
- The 1925 Tri-State Tornado caused $16.5 million damages (over $300 million adjusted).
- 2012 Henryville, Indiana EF4 tornado cost $300 million including schools and homes.
- Rolling Fork, Mississippi EF4 tornado in 2023 caused $100 million initial damages.
- The 1985 Niles, Ohio EF3 tornado resulted in $50 million damages.
- 2019 Dayton, Ohio EF4 tornado caused $170 million in damages.
- The 1998 Birmingham, Alabama EF3 tornado inflicted $100 million damages.
- 2007 Enterprise, Alabama EF5 school collapse contributed to $40 million total damages.
- The 2010 Yazoo City, Mississippi EF4 tornado cost $75 million.
- 2016 Chapman, Kansas EF4 tornado damaged 200 homes costing $50 million.
- The 1947 Woodward, Oklahoma F5 tornado caused $10 million damages (over $120 million adjusted).
- 2020 Eastern Iowa EF4 tornadoes caused $150 million damages.
- The 1966 Topeka, Kansas F5 tornado inflicted $100 million damages.
- 2014 Angus, Ontario EF3 tornado (US border impact) cost $40 million.
- The 1973 Union City, Tennessee F4 tornado caused $10 million damages.
- 2024 Greenfield, Iowa EF4 tornado caused $500 million in preliminary damages.
Direct Economic Losses Interpretation
The sheer weight of these numbers—billions upon billions spent scraping towns from the earth, rebuilding lives from splinters, and adjusting for inflation on pure devastation—is a sobering ledger written in wind and debris.
Human Casualties
- US tornadoes caused 90 fatalities in 2013, the highest since 1999.
- The 2011 Joplin EF5 tornado killed 161 people, the deadliest single tornado since 1947.
- 1925 Tri-State Tornado killed 695 people across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana.
- Average annual US tornado fatalities 1950-2023: 68 per year.
- 1974 Super Outbreak resulted in 335 fatalities from 148 tornadoes.
- 2011 Super Outbreak caused 324 deaths across 368 tornadoes.
- 1999 Oklahoma Bridge Creek-Moore EF5 killed 46 people.
- 2013 Moore EF5 tornado resulted in 24 fatalities.
- 2021 Western Kentucky EF4 tornado killed 57 people.
- 1953 Worcester F4 tornado killed 90 in Massachusetts.
- 2013 El Reno EF3 tornado killed 8, including storm chasers.
- 1947 Woodward F5 killed 181 in Oklahoma.
- 1965 Palm Sunday outbreak killed 266 across Midwest.
- 1985 Niles, Ohio EF3 killed 18.
- 2019 Dayton EF4 killed 3 but injured 200+.
- 2007 Greensburg EF5 killed 11.
- 2011 Philadelphia, MS EF5 killed 3.
- 2023 Rolling Fork, MS EF4 killed 26.
- 2008 Parkersburg EF5 killed 9.
- 1966 Topeka F5 killed 17.
- 1973 Union City F4 killed 6.
- 2010 Yazoo City EF4 killed 10.
- 2012 Henryville EF4 killed 11.
- 2024 Greenfield, IA EF4 killed 5.
- 1998 Spencer, SD F4 killed 6.
- 2016 Holdenville, OK EF3 killed 1 but injured dozens.
- 2020 Pilot Knob, IA EF4 injured 20+ with 0 deaths.
- 2004 Hallam, NE EF4 killed 1.
- 2015 Garland, TX EF4 killed 8.
- 1936 Gainesville, GA F4 killed 203.
- Joplin 2011 tornado injured over 1,100 people besides 161 deaths.
- 2011 Super Outbreak injured 5,000+ across events.
- Moore 2013 tornado injured 377.
Human Casualties Interpretation
Nature's lottery is terrifyingly random, where a single day's rage can eclipse decades of quiet, reminding us that the capricious finger of fate points just as often at sleepy towns as it does at historically prepared cities.
Infrastructure and Utility Damage
- The 2011 Joplin tornado destroyed the St. John's Regional Medical Center hospital.
- 2013 Moore EF5 damaged power infrastructure affecting 20,000 customers.
- 2021 Western KY tornado downed power lines for 400,000 outages.
- 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore EF5 destroyed Oklahoma's water treatment plants.
- Greensburg 2007 EF5 knocked out power to entire town for weeks.
- 2011 Super Outbreak disrupted rail lines and highways across 15 states.
- 1974 Super Outbreak damaged 30 hospitals and power grids.
- 2019 Dayton EF4 destroyed a nursing home and disrupted gas lines.
- 2023 Rolling Fork EF4 destroyed water tower and substation.
- 2007 Enterprise EF5 damaged school and local roads.
- 1965 Palm Sunday outbreak closed major interstates for days.
- 1947 Woodward F5 destroyed gas lines causing fires.
- 2024 Greenfield IA EF4 damaged courthouse and power poles.
- 1953 Worcester F4 downed transmission lines for 10,000 outages.
- 2012 Henryville EF4 destroyed bridges and culverts.
- 2010 Yazoo City EF4 disrupted phone and power for 5,000.
- 1966 Topeka F5 damaged dams and reservoirs.
- 1925 Tri-State Tornado destroyed railroads and telegraph lines.
- 2016 Chapman KS EF4 twisted metal bridges.
- 2020 Eastern Iowa EF4 damaged wind turbines and silos.
- 2015 Dallas tornadoes caused 100,000 power outages.
- 1973 Union City F4 damaged airport hangars.
- 2004 Hallam NE EF4 disrupted highways 77 and 34.
- 2011 Philadelphia MS EF5 destroyed fire station.
- 1998 Birmingham AL EF3 damaged water mains.
- 1985 Niles OH EF3 collapsed steel mill sections.
- 2013 El Reno EF3 destroyed highway overpasses.
- 2021 Western Kentucky tornado destroyed candle factory employing 100+.
- Tuscaloosa 2011 EF4 damaged University of Alabama power plant.
Infrastructure and Utility Damage Interpretation
These statistics paint a terrifyingly clear picture: a tornado doesn't just topple homes, it deliberately targets the very systems we rely on for safety, health, and survival, leaving a community not just homeless but helpless.
Property and Structural Damage
- The 2011 Joplin tornado destroyed over 7,000 homes and businesses.
- 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado leveled 8,000 structures.
- Greensburg 2007 EF5 destroyed 1,225 homes (95% of town).
- 2013 Moore EF5 damaged or destroyed 1,000+ homes.
- 2011 Super Outbreak destroyed over 20,000 structures across 15 states.
- Parkersburg 2008 EF5 wiped out 200 homes.
- 2021 Mayfield, KY EF4 destroyed 100+ homes.
- 1974 Super Outbreak damaged 15,000 structures.
- Tuscaloosa 2011 EF4 destroyed 1,500 homes.
- 2007 Enterprise High School EF5 collapsed killing 9 students, total 300 structures gone.
- 2019 Dayton EF4 damaged 300 buildings.
- 2023 Rolling Fork EF4 leveled entire town center with 300 homes damaged.
- 1965 Palm Sunday destroyed 800 homes across states.
- 1947 Woodward F5 destroyed 1,000 homes.
- 2012 Henryville EF4 destroyed 150 homes and schools.
- 2024 Greenfield IA EF4 destroyed 150+ homes.
- 1953 Worcester destroyed 600 homes.
- 2010 Yazoo City EF4 damaged 300 structures.
- 1966 Topeka F5 destroyed 400 homes.
- 1925 Tri-State destroyed 15,000 homes.
- 2016 Chapman KS EF4 destroyed 50 homes.
- 2020 Eastern Iowa EF4 damaged 200 farmsteads.
- 2015 Dallas-Fort Worth tornadoes damaged 1,000+ structures.
- 1973 Union City F4 destroyed 50 homes.
- 2004 Hallam NE EF4 destroyed 100 homes.
- 2011 Philadelphia MS EF5 destroyed 200 homes.
- 1998 Birmingham AL EF3 damaged 1,000 structures.
- 1985 Niles OH EF3 destroyed 400 homes.
- 2013 El Reno EF3 damaged 100 structures but few total losses.
Property and Structural Damage Interpretation
The relentless math of tornadoes shows that whether it’s a single home or an entire town, each number is a subtraction from someone’s world.