1957 Ruskin Heights tornado


In the evening hours of May 20, 1957, a large, long-tracked and deadly tornado moved through portions of eastern Kansas and western Missouri, killing forty-four people and injuring over five hundred. The tornado is the deadliest to strike the Kansas City metropolitan area, and was the deadliest worldwide in 1957. The tornado was rated F5 on the Fujita scale, the first of three worldwide in 1957 to receive this rating.
The tornado touched down near Williamsburg at 7:15 p.m., headed northeast. As the tornado neared Homewood, it took on a multi-vortex shape and lofted gravestones in the air. As it passed near Spring Hill, the tornado leveled numerous buildings and killed seven people before crossing state lines into Missouri, where the worst damage was observed in the Martin City area. The tornado left an estimated eighty-five percent of Martin City "uninhabitable", and killed another thirty-seven people before dissipating at 8:53 p.m., over an hour after touching down.

Meteorological synopsis

Early on May 20, a mid-level jet stream bisected dew points of, coincident with a low-pressure area and warm front over southeastern Nebraska. Soundings and surface weather observations indicated a robust, unstable warm sector, showing 3,000 J/kg of surface-based convective available potential energy and the presence of strong wind shear, all which favored the development of supercells. At 17:00 UTC the Severe Local Storms Unit in Kansas City had already issued a severe weather watch, mentioning tornadoes, for the Kansas–Nebraska state line and its environs. Subsequent updates covered much of the eastern Great Plains, from the Green Country to southeastern Nebraska. Upon formation, severe thunderstorms traveled at up to, attended by extremely large hail.

Tornado summary

The tornado, which was likely a family of tornadoes, was first seen as it was forming near Williamsburg, it then moved northeastward through several counties, producing near-continuous damage; a single tornado was likely present for or more. Around Homewood, the tornado was attended by up to 10 tentacle-like vortices or satellite tornadoes, producing major damage to rural property and carrying gravestones miles away. Near Homewood, it was determined from ground surveys that two tornadoes were on the ground at the time, with the second one being rated F3. Passing near Ottawa, Rantoul, and Spring Hill, it leveled many homes and caused seven fatalities. South of Wellsville, the tornado may have dissipated and reformed; it then continued uninterrupted for the rest of its life.
Along the Kansas–Missouri border the tornado followed a near-straight line, causing $1 million in losses in Kansas, along with seven deaths. Affecting the southern suburbs of Kansas City, it entered Missouri, tearing through Martin City, Hickman Mills, and Ruskin Heights, along with the northeastern side of Grandview. An occupied car was thrown into a water tower; the occupants survived. Ground scouring was observed near Hickman Mills, and large trees were snapped. Housing incurred F5 damage, besides some businesses at a shopping center. Some areas were reportedly "swept clean", and a newly built brick school in Ruskin Heights was badly damaged; 85% of Martin City was uninhabitable. In total, over 800 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. The tornado claimed 37 lives in Missouri and injured 500 or more people. Debris from Hickman Mills was found in Iowa, away, and other debris was carried aloft.
Historically, the 1957 F5 was not the only significant tornado to affect the area: an F3 tornado also affected Martin City and nearby Holmes Park on May 23, 1946, destroying or damaging chicken coops, silos, a marketplace, barns, and homes. The tornado killed a couple and injured five people.

Aftermath

Martial law was declared in Ruskin Heights and neighboring areas. National Guard troops were called in in order to assist with rescue and cleanup operations. In total, the tornado caused $2,500,000 in damage in Kansas and Missouri. A memorial was constructed to honor the victims of the tornado; it was completed in May 1958. In September 2024, the memorial was damaged due to a car crash.
NameAgeStateCity
Gladys Erwin54MissouriHickman Mills
Linda Sue Stewart0MissouriHickman Mills
Goldie Marie Taylor49MissouriHickman Mills
Caroline Kay Taylor3MissouriHickman Mills
Cornelia Davis25MissouriHickman Mills
Katherine Sue Davis7MissouriHickman Mills
Marjorie Wackemagle Hower31MissouriHickman Mills
Oral Glenn Hower35MissouriHickman Mills
John Hower9MissouriHickman Mills
Lena Rucker39MissouriHickman Mills
Gerald Rucker41MissouriHickman Mills
Dorothy Lavonne Leopold31MissouriHickman Mills
Harold Keith Leopold11MissouriHickman Mills
Charles Johnston36MissouriRuskin Heights
Catherine Armon31MissouriRuskin Heights
Alta Guyll41MissouriRuskin Heights
George Kildow45MissouriRuskin Heights
Robert W. Yost, Jr9MissouriRuskin Heights
Diane Boyd-Rossi7MissouriRuskin Heights
Hester Timm39MissouriRuskin Heights
Denise Woodling3MissouriRuskin Heights
Maxine Nehring30MissouriRuskin Heights
Jeanette Nelson Dorris79MissouriRuskin Heights
Arthur Frechette80MissouriRuskin Heights
Charles Thompson50MissouriRuskin Heights
Amma Marsh78KansasOttawa
James A. Marsh84KansasOttawa
Isham Davis34KansasSpring Hill
Barbara Davis31KansasSpring Hill
Pamela Davis7KansasSpring Hill
Tamera Davis5KansasSpring Hill
Lowell Atkinson43MissouriMartin City
Margaret Erlene Smith24MissouriMartin City
Joseph Vinchier78MissouriGrandview
Randall McGill0MissouriGrandview
Edward S. Henton50MissouriGrandview
Bessie Knorpp Smith50MissouriGrandview
Maybelle Gabbert73MissouriKnob Town
Henry Gabbert71MissouriKnob Town
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