The Super Outbreak of April 3 and 4, 1974, was one of the worst tornado outbreaks in history.
There were 148 tornadoes in 13 states, and 12 touched down right here in Ohio, including an F-5 that destroyed the town of Xenia. Some around the Tri-State region refer to the event as the “Xenia Outbreak” because of the extreme damage and loss of life suffered there.
The Xenia tornado was one-half mile wide and cut a path 32 miles long through Xenia and Wilberforce. It killed 32 people, damaged at least 10,000 buildings and destroyed 1,000 homes.
RELATED: Tom McKee recalls covering the Tornado Super Outbreak of 1974
Nine churches and seven schools were also destroyed in the area.
A tornado on the west side of Cincinnati killed two people in Sayler Park.
Tornadoes also touched down and caused damage in London, Mason and rural areas of Adams County.
In total, the Super Outbreak of 1974 killed 315 people and injured more than 6,000.
