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Worcester, Massachusetts tornado disaster...



Item # 561153

June 10, 1953

THE NEW YORK TIMES, New York, NY, June 10, 1953

* Worcester, Massachusetts tornado disaster (1st report)


This 60 page newspaper has a two column headline on the front page: "TORNADO KILLS 69 IN MASSACHUSETTS; MIDWEST TOLL IS 139" with subheads that include: "Worcester Struck" and more with related photo. (see)

Report continues on page 41 with related photo and maps. (see)

Other news of the day throughout. Light browning with minor spine wear, otherwise in nice condition.

wikipedia notes: The Flint-Worcester Tornadoes were two tornadoes, one occurring in Flint, Michigan on June 8, 1953, the other in Worcester, Massachusetts on June 9, 1953. These tornadoes are among the deadliest in United States history and were caused by the same storm system that moved eastward across the nation. The tornadoes are also related together in the public mind because, for a brief period following the Worcester Tornado, it was debated in the U.S. Congress whether recent atomic bomb testing in the upper atmosphere had caused the tornadoes. Congressman James E. Van Zandt (R-Penn.) was among several members of Congress who expressed their belief that the June 4th bomb testing created the tornadoes, which occurred far outside the traditional tornado alley. They demanded a response from the government. Meteorologists quickly dispelled such an assertion, and Congressman Van Zandt later retracted his statement.

The Flint-Worcester Tornadoes were the most infamous storms produced by a larger outbreak of severe weather that began in Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin, before moving across the Great Lakes states, and then into New York and New England. Other F3 and F4 tornadoes struck other locations in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire and Ohio.

Category: The 20th Century