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The Tornado That Changed America

What was it like to live through the deadliest single tornado strike in U.S. history?

By Lauren Tarshis | From I Survived: Tornado Terror

From the February 2023 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will identify and analyze examples of descriptive writing in an article about the Tri-State Tornado, the deadliest tornado in American history.

Lexile: 700L-800L, 600L-700L

Guided Reading Level: S

DRA Level: 40

Other Key Skills: vocabulary, figurative language, cause and effect, text evidence, key details, inference, author’s purpose, explanatory writing

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UP CLOSE: Descriptive Writing

As you read, look for the ways the author describes the tornado. How does she help you picture what it was like to live through it?

Eleven-year-old Adrian Dillon had heard stories about terrifying monsters near his hometown of Parrish, Illinois. One was the Ozark Howler, a bearlike creature with razor-sharp teeth.

But Adrian was about to come face-to-face with a real monster—one far scarier than any from a story. He was about to face the Tri-State Tornado, one of the worst twisters ever to strike the United States.

The Tri-State Tornado roared out of the sky on March 18, 1925. In roughly three hours, it ripped through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. It killed nearly 700 people.

Entire towns were sucked into the sky.

Parrish was one of those towns.

Eleven-year-old Adrian Dillon had heard stories about frightening monsters near his hometown of Parrish, Illinois. One was the Ozark Howler, a creature like a bear with razor-sharp teeth.

But Adrian was about to meet a real monster—one far scarier than any from a story. He was about to face the Tri-State Tornado. That’s one of the worst twisters ever to strike the United States.

The Tri-State Tornado roared out of the sky on March 18, 1925. In roughly three hours, it ripped through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. It killed nearly 700 people.

Entire towns were sucked into the sky.

Parrish was one of those towns.

An Exciting Day Ahead

Not much ever happened in Parrish. It was just a tiny speck of a town, nestled within the grassy hills of southern Illinois. But on the morning of March 18, Adrian woke up with a jolt of excitement.

Today was the day of the town’s big marbles tournament.

At the time, marbles was one of the most popular games in America. Adrian and his friends played every day at recess. They would try to knock one another’s marbles out of a ring they had drawn in the dirt.

Adrian was one of the best players at Parrish School. If he did well in the tournament, he’d be the town’s marbles champion. His photo would be in the newspaper. He’d be famous!

He lay under his quilt, smiling. But suddenly, the sound of his father’s voice snapped him out of his happy spell. Even a marbles champ had to do his morning chores.

The Dillon family lived on one of the many small farms that surrounded Parrish. There was always work to be done.

That morning, Adrian and his 13-year-old brother, Leonard, milked the cows. Ten-year-old Ruie helped prepare oatmeal and bacon for breakfast. Little Wendell and Faye pitched in by feeding the family’s pet rabbits.

At 8 a.m., Adrian, Leonard, and Ruie left for school. Adrian waved to his mom and little brother and sister.

He’d never see his house again.

Not much ever happened in Parrish. It was just a tiny town in the grassy hills of southern Illinois. But on the morning of March 18, Adrian woke up full of excitement.

Today was the day of the town’s big marbles tournament.

At the time, marbles was one of the most popular games in America. Adrian and his friends played every day at recess. They would draw a ring in the dirt. Then they would try to knock one another’s marbles out of it.

Adrian was one of the best players at Parrish School. If he did well in the tournament, he’d be the town’s marbles champion. His photo would be in the newspaper. He’d be famous!

He lay under his quilt, smiling. But suddenly, his father’s voice snapped him out of his happy spell. Even a marbles champ had to do his morning chores.

The Dillon family lived on one of the many small farms that surrounded Parrish. There was always work to be done.

That morning, Adrian and his 13-year-old brother, Leonard, milked the cows. Ten-year-old Ruie helped prepare oatmeal and bacon for breakfast. Little Wendell and Faye helped out by feeding the family’s pet rabbits.

At 8 a.m., Adrian, Leonard, and Ruie left for school. Adrian waved to his mom and little brother and sister.

He’d never see his house again.

The Raging Storm

The Dillon kids walked to school under a bright-blue sky. The day was warmer and more humid than usual. Wildflowers were starting to peek their bright heads up through the tall grass. Ruie’s braids danced around her shoulders in the breeze. All seemed peaceful.

Meanwhile, more than 100 miles away, a monstrous storm was brewing. It was moving at 70 miles per hour, as fast as a speeding train. And it was headed toward Illinois.

Those summery breezes that had followed the Dillon kids to school would make the storm more dangerous. Warm, moist air adds power to thunderstorms. It makes tornadoes more likely.

But the people of Parrish did not know that a tornado might be coming. The weather report that morning had said only that rain was possible. In 1925, the science of weather, called meteorology, was still new. There were no high-tech tools to track storms. Weather forecasts were more guesses than scientific predictions.

And so, on March 18, thousands of people in the storm’s path went about their day.

Adrian, Leonard, and Ruie settled in at Parrish School. Like most country schools in the 1920s, Parrish was a one-room schoolhouse.

One teacher was in charge of about 40 kids ages 6 to 14. The youngest children practiced their letters. Older students worked on grammar and math. At recess, Adrian practiced his marbles shots.

No one had any idea that disaster was about to strike.

The Dillon kids walked to school under a blue sky. The day was warmer and more humid than usual. Wildflowers were starting to grow in the tall grass. Ruie’s braids danced around her shoulders in the breeze. All seemed peaceful.

But more than 100 miles away, a huge storm was forming. It was moving at 70 miles per hour. That’s as fast as a speeding train. And it was headed toward Illinois.

Those summery breezes would make the storm more dangerous. Warm, moist air adds power to thunderstorms. It makes tornadoes more likely.

But the people of Parrish didn’t know that a tornado might be coming. The weather report that morning had said only that rain was possible. In 1925, the science of weather was still new. There were no high-tech tools to track storms. Weather reports were mostly guesses.

And so, on March 18, thousands of people in the storm’s path went about their day.

Adrian, Leonard, and Ruie sat at their desks at Parrish School. Like most country schools in the 1920s, Parrish was a one-room schoolhouse.

One teacher was in charge of about 40 kids ages 6 to 14. The youngest children practiced their letters. Older students worked on grammar and math. At recess, Adrian practiced his marbles shots.

No one had any idea that disaster was about to strike.

The First Victims

The Tri-State Tornado was born at about 1 p.m. in a Missouri forest 150 miles west of Parrish. It was just a ropy little funnel when it dropped from the sky. But it was powerful enough to chew apart trees and scatter branches.

The tornado sped northeast. At about 1:15 p.m., it reached the small town of Annapolis, Missouri.

Whoosh!

In less than 60 seconds, the tornado destroyed all but 7 of the town’s 85 homes. Annapolis School, a small stone building, was smashed to rubble with all 32 students inside. Shops and restaurants were swept away.

Incredibly, the tornado took the lives of only four people in Annapolis. All 32 schoolchildren climbed from the wreckage alive.

The Tri-State Tornado was born at about 1 p.m. It started in a Missouri forest 150 miles west of Parrish. It was little when it dropped from the sky. But it was powerful enough to chew apart trees and scatter branches.

The tornado sped northeast. At about 1:15 p.m., it reached the small town of Annapolis, Missouri.

Whoosh!

In less than 60 seconds, the tornado destroyed all but 7 of the town’s 85 homes. Annapolis School was smashed to rubble with all 32 students inside. Shops and restaurants were swept away.

Incredibly, the tornado took the lives of only four people in Annapolis. All 32 schoolchildren climbed from the wreckage alive.

A Hungry Beast

More than an hour after the tornado formed, it was still on the ground. This was highly unusual. Of the more than 1,200 tornadoes that strike the U.S. every year, most blow over a few trees and mailboxes and then quickly fall apart. A typical tornado stays on the ground for about 10 minutes before losing strength.

What made the Tri-State Tornado so unique and horrifying was that it did not lose strength. Like a hungry beast, it grew larger and stronger as it devoured everything in its path.

Back in Parrish, Adrian kept his eyes glued on the clock. School let out at 3:15 p.m., but he and four other boys were being dismissed early for the marbles tournament.

Meanwhile, the tornado crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois. The twister was now nearly a mile wide. Its swirling winds carried tons of wreckage.

There were shards of glass, slabs of wood, and mud sucked up from the ground. There were thousands of objects ripped from homes, like pots and beds and quilts and toys. It all spun inside the tornado at 300 miles per hour.

The twister kept plowing through towns and cities. It killed hundreds of people and left behind a trail of ruin more than 100 miles long.

And it was about to take aim at Parrish.

More than an hour after the tornado formed, it was still on the ground. This was very unusual. More than 1,200 tornadoes strike the U.S. every year. Most blow over a few trees and mailboxes and then quickly fall apart. A typical tornado stays on the ground for about 10 minutes before losing strength.

The Tri-State Tornado was different and scary because it did not lose strength. Like a hungry beast, it grew larger and stronger as it devoured everything in its path.

Back in Parrish, Adrian watched the clock. School let out at 3:15 p.m. But he and four other boys were getting out early for the marbles tournament.

Meanwhile, the tornado crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois. The twister was now nearly a mile wide. Its swirling winds carried tons of wreckage.

There were shards of glass, pieces of wood, and mud sucked up from the ground. There were thousands of objects ripped from homes, like pots and beds and quilts and toys. It all spun inside the tornado at 300 miles per hour.

The twister kept plowing through towns and cities. It killed hundreds of people. It left behind a trail of ruin more than 100 miles long.

And it was about to hit Parrish.

Nothing Left

Just after 3 p.m., Adrian and four other boys arrived at the marbles tournament. By then, the skies had turned purplish black, like a huge bruise. Thunder growled in the distance. The boys groaned. Would the marbles tournament be canceled?

Then Adrian saw it: a roiling black cloud racing toward them. His blood turned to ice as he realized what he was looking at.

At first the boys thought to take shelter in a small store. But Adrian shook his head. “We have to get back to school!” he shouted. The school building was sturdier.

The boys sprinted back toward the school. Rain started to fall. The day turned to night. They made it inside just as the tornado hit.

Crash!

Every window shattered. The school shuddered. Dirt and wood flew through the air.

And then everything went still.

The tornado had passed.

On shaking legs, Adrian and the other students made their way outside. Adrian stared in shock: All he could see in any direction was wreckage. Not one building stood except the school and the church. The scene looked more like a bombed-out battlefield than a peaceful small town.

Clutching each other’s hands, the Dillon kids headed home. The path was filled with debris—wagon wheels, smashed furniture, torn fabric. They passed the spot where Adrian had stood moments before the tornado hit. The store where he and the other boys had almost taken shelter was gone.

But even that could not prepare the Dillon kids for what they found when they got home: nothing. The house was gone. So was the barn.

They called for their parents, for little Wendell and Faye. But there was only silence. Adrian fought back tears as one terrible thought clutched at his mind: Everyone must be dead.

Just after 3 p.m., Adrian and four other boys arrived at the marbles tournament. By then, the skies had turned a purple and black color, like a huge bruise. Thunder growled in the distance. The boys groaned. Would the marbles tournament be canceled?

Then Adrian saw it: a roiling black cloud racing toward them. His blood turned to ice as he realized what he was looking at.

At first the boys thought to keep safe in a small store. But Adrian shook his head. “We have to get back to school!” he shouted. The school building was stronger.

The boys ran back toward the school. Rain started to fall. The day turned to night. They made it inside just as the tornado hit.

Crash!

Every window shattered. The school shuddered. Dirt and wood flew through the air.

And then everything went still.

The tornado had passed.

On shaking legs, Adrian and the other students made their way outside. Adrian stared in shock: All he could see in any direction was wreckage. Not one building stood except the school and the church.

Holding each other’s hands, the Dillon kids headed home. The path was filled with debris—wagon wheels, smashed furniture, torn fabric. They passed the spot where Adrian had stood moments before the tornado hit. The store that he and the other boys had almost entered was gone.

Still, the Dillon kids weren’t prepared for what they found when they got home: nothing. The house was gone. So was the barn.

They called for their parents and for little Wendell and Faye. But there was only silence. Adrian fought back tears as he had one terrible thought: Everyone must be dead.

Amazement and Relief

The scene was the same across Southern Missouri and Illinois. Stunned survivors searched desperately for loved ones. They clawed through rubble to reach those who were trapped. And still the tornado roared on. It crossed into Indiana, hitting several more towns.

And then, at about 4:30 p.m., the monster faded to a ghostly swirl. It took its last breaths over a field in Southern Indiana before disappearing.

Finally, the Tri-State Tornado was dead.

For the rest of his life, Adrian would try not to think about those awful moments when he and Leonard and Ruie stood alone on their ruined farm. He would try to forget the sight of his shattered town.

But he would always cherish the memory of what came next: seeing his mother walking toward them with Wendell and Faye. The three had been carried away with their house—then dropped into a field without a scratch.

Not long after, a voice rang out: It was Adrian’s father. He had been inside a store when the tornado hit. He, too, had been lifted into the sky and then dropped into a field. His leg was injured, but he had managed to run back to the farm. The Dillons huddled together in amazement and relief.

Never before had a single tornado stayed on the ground for so long—three-and-a-half hours. Never before had one tornado killed so many and destroyed so much. To this day, the Tri-State Tornado remains the deadliest single tornado ever to strike the United States.

The disaster shocked the world and helped change ideas about the dangers of tornadoes. People from around the country—and the world—donated money to help the storm’s victims. Neighbors helped one another rebuild their homes and replant their fields.

As for Adrian? The Tri-State Tornado had taken everything he and his family owned. Adrian had lost his prized marbles collection.

But they still had what was most precious, the only thing that really mattered: each other.

The scene was the same across Southern Missouri and Illinois. Shocked survivors searched for loved ones. They dug through rubble to reach those who were trapped. And still the tornado roared on. It crossed into Indiana, hitting several more towns.

And then, at about 4:30 p.m., the monster faded to a ghostly swirl. It took its last breaths over a field in Southern Indiana before disappearing.

Finally, the Tri-State Tornado was dead.

For the rest of his life, Adrian would try not to think about the time he and Leonard and Ruie stood alone on their ruined farm. He would try to forget the sight of his destroyed town.

But he would always cherish the memory of what came next. He saw his mother walking toward them with Wendell and Faye. The three had been carried away with their house—then dropped into a field without a scratch.

Not long after, a voice rang out. It was Adrian’s father. He had been inside a store when the tornado hit. He, too, had been lifted into the sky and then dropped into a field. His leg was injured. But he had been able to run back to the farm. The Dillons hugged each other in amazement and relief.

The disaster shocked the world. It helped change ideas about the dangers of tornadoes. People from around the country—and the world—gave money to help people hurt by the storm. Neighbors helped one another rebuild their homes and replant their fields.

As for Adrian? The Tri-State Tornado had taken everything he and his family owned. Adrian had lost his prized marbles collection.

But they still had what was most special, the only thing that really mattered: each other.

Write to Win

How does author Lauren Tarshis make the Tri-State Tornado seem like a living monster? Answer with details from the article. Send your work to “Tornado Contest” by April 1, 2023. Five winners will each receive a copy of I Survived: Tornado Terror by Lauren Tarshis. Visit the Storyworks Contests page for more information.

Write to Win

^{_{This article was originally published in the February 2023 issue.}}

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1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

Close Reading, Critical Thinking

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Differentiate and Customize

Striving Readers, Advanced Readers, Multilingual Learners

5. Can’t-Miss Teaching Extras

1. Preparing to Read

Watch a Video, Preview Vocabulary, Set a Purpose for Reading

Show students the tornado scene from The Wizard of Oz (available on YouTube). Explain that though this is a fictionalized portrayal of a tornado, it is mostly realistic. Just like the twister in The Wizard of Oz, real-life tornadoes travel quickly, picking up large objects along their path. Ask students: What would it be like to survive a tornado? What emotions might you experience?

As a class, watch our video “Author Visit: The Tornado That Changed America” to learn how Lauren Tarshis wrote the article. Students can then discuss or write their answers to the Video Discussion Questions.

Show or digitally assign the Vocabulary Slideshow to introduce challenging words in the article. Most of the words have to do with tornadoes and their effects; students will learn shades of meaning of similar words. Follow up with the Vocabulary Skill Builder before or after reading. Highlighted words: twisters, humid, rubble, wreckage, devoured, shards, roiling, shuddered, debris, cherish.

Call on a student to read aloud the Up Close box on page 4 to set a purpose for reading.

2. Reading and Discussing

Read the article together as a class or in small groups. Students can read the on-level version (from the print magazine) or the lower-Lexile version. Alternatively, they can listen to the Immersive Read-Aloud together, enhanced with music and sound effects for extra engagement (on-level version only).

Put students into small groups or pairs. Ask them to discuss or write their answers to the close-reading and critical-thinking questions.

Close-Reading Questions

Reread the opening section of the article. What are some examples of strong verbs that author Lauren Tarshis uses? Why do you think she includes them? (descriptive details) Tarshis uses strong verbs, such as roared, ripped, and sucked, to help readers visualize the Tri-State Tornado and to show that it was dangerous, frightening, and fast. They are interesting, specific verbs that catch the readers’ attention and draw them into the article.

Personification is the description of a nonhuman thing as if it were a person. What are some examples of personification at the beginning of the section “The Raging Storm”? (figurative language) One example of personification is in the description of wildflowers. Tarshis says they “were starting to peek their bright heads up through the tall grass.” This wording makes it sound as if the wildflowers are people. Another example is “Ruie’s braids danced around her shoulders . . .” Dancing is something humans do.

According to the section “The Raging Storm,” how did “summery breezes” and humid air affect the Tri-State Tornado? (cause and effect) Summery breezes made the storm more dangerous. Humidity makes thunderstorms more powerful and makes tornadoes more likely to occur. If it had not been for these weather features, the Tri-State Tornado might not have happened.

According to the section “A Hungry Beast,” what was unusual about the Tri-State Tornado? (text evidence) The Tri-State Tornado was still on the ground an hour after it formed, and it was growing larger and more powerful. Most tornadoes are on the ground for only about 10 minutes before losing strength.

What words or phrases does Tarshis use to make the tornado seem alive in the section “A Hungry Beast”? (figurative language) The section header, “A Hungry Beast,” makes the tornado seem alive by calling it a beast. This comparison is used in the section also. Tarshis says that this hungry beast “devoured everything in its path.” It also “kept plowing through towns and cities.” These are actions that a living creature does.

Reread the first two paragraphs of “Nothing Left.” How does Tarshis use figurative language to create a dark, suspenseful mood? (figurative language) Tarshis uses a simile to create a dark, suspenseful mood: “the skies had turned purplish black, like a huge bruise.” This eerie, threatening image of the sky alerts readers that the tornado is near, and readers worry for Adrian and his friends. Tarshis also uses personification and hyperbole: “Then Adrian saw it: a roiling black cloud racing toward them. His blood turned to ice as he realized what he was looking at.” These lines take the suspense a step further by showing that the boys have little time to escape the tornado. Readers can infer that they are in danger of injury or even death.

According to the section “Nothing Left,” what damage occurred to the town of Parrish? What damage occurred to Adrian’s house? (key details) The town was almost entirely destroyed: “Not one building stood except the school and the church. The scene looked more like a bombed-out battlefield than a peaceful small town.” Debris such as wagon wheels, smashed furniture, and torn fabric littered the ground. Adrian’s house and the barn were gone. Presumably, the tornado swept them away.

In the section “Amazement and Relief,” Tarshis writes, “The Dillons huddled together in amazement and relief.” Why do you think they felt amazed and relieved? (inference) The Dillons felt extremely lucky that their entire family survived the tornado— especially since their home was destroyed. Adrian, Leonard, and Ruie were fortunate to have taken shelter in the school, one of the only two buildings in town that remained standing. Wendell, Faye, and their mother and father were all lifted into the sky and dropped into a field. Wendell, Faye, and their mother were miraculously OK, and though the father’s leg was hurt, the injuries their family suffered could have been much worse!

According to the section “Amazement and Relief,” what were the effects of the tornado? (cause and effect) The article states, “The disaster shocked the world and helped change ideas about the dangers of tornadoes.” People realized how devastating tornadoes could be and that they could last much longer than initially thought. The tornado inspired sympathy, compassion, and goodwill; people everywhere helped the victims by donating money, and “neighbors helped one another rebuild their homes and replant their fields.”

Critical Thinking Question

What lessons do you think Adrian learned from the disaster? (theme) Answers will vary. Students will likely say that Adrian learned the importance of family. Though it was horrible for the Dillons to lose their home to the tornado, it was better than losing a family member. Human life is more precious than anything. Another possible response is that life is unpredictable; we never know exactly what the day will bring, so it is important to be grateful for what we have and not take anything or anyone for granted.

3. Skill Building and Writing

Featured Skill: Cause and Effect

Distribute the Cause and Effect Skill Builder (available on two levels) or assign the Slide Deck.

As a class, read the writing prompt in the “Write to Win” box on page 9. Have students use their completed Cause and Effect Skill Builder to help them respond to the prompt. Then you can send their essays to our writing contest (see page 2 of the magazine for details)!

Differentiate and Customize

For Advanced Readers

Have students write a newspaper article about the Tri-State Tornado, pretending it is a few days after the tornado destroyed Parrish. The reporter should be sure to include the 5 W’s (who, what, when, where, why) and incorporate imagined quotations from Adrian and his family and friends.

For Multilingual Learners

This article presents an exciting opportunity to introduce descriptive words and phrases to multilingual learners. As you read the article as a group, have students collect words and phrases that describe the Tri-State Tornado. When you’re finished reading, have students reflect on what they’ve read by brainstorming other words they know that could be used to describe the tornado. They might suggest scary, frightening, powerful, strong, destructive, spinning, whirling, and so on.

Can't-Miss Teaching Extras

Explore the Storyworks Archive

Check out these other captivating nonfiction articles by Lauren Tarshis about natural disasters: “White Death” (the Wellington Avalanche of 1910) and America’s Deadliest Disaster” (the Galveston Hurricane of 1900).

Watch a Video

This video from Britannica explains how the Tri-State Tornado changed the way weather reports warned the public.

Learn More About Tornadoes

This webpage from Home Advisor is packed with information about tornadoes, such as what tornadoes look like, how they are formed, and how to stay safe in an emergency.

Text-to-Speech

The Tornado That Changed America

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

Close Reading, Critical Thinking

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Differentiate and Customize

Striving Readers, Advanced Readers, Multilingual Learners

5. Can’t-Miss Teaching Extras

1. Preparing to Read

Watch a Video, Preview Vocabulary, Set a Purpose for Reading

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Skill Building and Writing

Help/Support

Help/Support

About Us

Subscriber Information

The Tornado That Changed America

Table of Contents

1. Preparing to Read 2. Reading and Discussing Close Reading, Critical Thinking 3. Skill Building and Writing 4. Differentiate and Customize Striving Readers, Advanced Readers, Multilingual Learners 5. Can’t-Miss Teaching Extras

1. Preparing to Read

Watch a Video, Preview Vocabulary, Set a Purpose for Reading

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Skill Building and Writing

Help/Support

Help/Support

About Us

Subscriber Information

Connect with Us

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

Close Reading, Critical Thinking

3. Skill Building and Writing

4. Differentiate and Customize

Striving Readers, Advanced Readers, Multilingual Learners

5. Can’t-Miss Teaching Extras