Photos: Omaha tornado of 1975
From Ralston north to the Benson Golf Course, the tornado exceeded $1 billion in inflation-adjusted damage, mostly between 96th and 72nd Streets.
1975 twister.jpg
The front page of The World-Herald the day after the tornado hit.
1975 tornado --- Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack
Bob Dunn took this photo of the tornado from the Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack.
1975 tornado Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack
Another view of the tornado from the Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack.
1975 tornado - 71st and Howard Streets
Homeowners on the southeast corner of 71st and Howard Streets display a bit of humor with a sign attached to the remains of their house. The sign reads "House for Rent," then in smaller letters, "Good to the last drop."
1975 tornado - 72nd and Seward
This aerial photo shows homes moved off their foundations at 72nd and Seward Streets, just east of Creighton Prep.
1975 tornado - 2302 N. 70th St.
Mr. and Mrs. John Schulte at their house at 2302 N. 70th St. Mrs. Schulte answers their telephone while her husband sorts through their possessions on May 13, 1975.
1975 tornado - Downtowner
The Downtowner Motor Inn at 69th and Dodge Streets. Looking south at Dodge from Temple Israel.
1975 tornado - Downtowner
The Downtowner Motor Inn at 69th and Dodge Streets.
1975 tornado - Omaha Playhouse
The Omaha Community Playhouse, at 69th and Cass Streets, lost most of its roof as the twister plowed north from the Downtowner Motor Inn.
1975 tornado - Nebraska Furniture Mart
Inside Nebraska Furniture Mart at 700 S. 72nd St. Total damage was estimated at $5 million.
1975 tornado - Nebraska Furniture Mart
Cars are smashed against the rear of Nebraska Furniture Mart at 700 S. 72nd St.
1975 tornado - Nebraska Furniture Mart
Nebraska Furniture Mart on the South 72nd Street strip. Sofa cushions are among the roof debris in the foreground.
1975 tornado
A view of the storm taken from 89th and F Streets looking southeast toward 84th and L Streets.
1975 tornado - Sidles
Overturned cars in the parking lot near Sidles Company Warehouse at 74th and Pacific Streets. This view is looking west.
1975 tornado - 800 S. 72nd St.
The West Omaha Postal Station at 800 S. 72nd St.
1975 tornado - curfew map
This map shows the area with a 7:30 curfew enforcement after the tornado. The dotted lines mark the tornado-stricken area. Only people with specific business were allowed there and anyone trying to enter was checked.
1975 tornado - Westgate
Pfc. Richard Lange, a Nebraska National Guardsman, had night duty protecting the tornado-damaged Westgate area.
1975 tornado - Westgate
Westgate residents dig out from damage after the tornado. This photo looks north toward 83rd and Nina Streets.
1975 tornado - Westgate
Damage at Westgate School.
1975 tornado - Westgate
This view of tornado damage is from Interstate 80 looking toward Nina Street in the Westgate neighborhood.
Westgate area
This table saved the lives of brothers Don and Bill Roark when they took cover under it as the tornado swept through Omaha in 1975.
1975 tornado - Westgate
The Westgate area as seen from Interstate 80.
1975 tornado - Westgate
Joan Potts waits with her possessions in front of the wreckage of her Westgate home near 78th and Hascall Streets.
1975 tornado - Westgate
An aerial photo of the Westgate area taken on May 7, 1975.
1975 tornado
Debris defines the tornado as it moves northward near Mercy Road and 72nd Street. Thomas Beno, an advertising account executive, took this picture looking west from an office building at 7171 Mercy Road.
1975 tornado - bergan
The remains of a large portion of Bergan Mercy's self-care unit on July 16, 1975, shortly before it was finally demolished after being struck by the May tornado. The unit was relocated in the wing of the new east tower of the hospital.
1975 tornado - bergan
Tom Thibodeau, 12, was cut on the head with debris at his home at 3442 S. 78th St. Dr. Charles Fellows administers a Novocain shot before stitching the wound at Bergan Mercy Hospital.
1975 tornado - Bergan
Patients being taken to Bergan Mercy Hospital after the 1975 tornado.
Tornado sightings on May 6, 1975
Map showing area tornado sightings on May 6, 1975.
George Matuella
National Weather Service radar technician George Matuella, seen here in 1995, spotted the tornado on radar, helping to get an early warning out to residents.
1975 tornado - 6902 Maple St.
The Benson 400 service station at 6902 Maple St. Roy Lester Kremer was killed there; stories said he went up to the roof to watch the storm.
1975 tornado - near Lewis & Clark Junior High School
Damage seen north of Dodge, south of Maple, near Lewis & Clark Middle School.
1975 tornado - 1717 N. 70th Ave
The Adams children in front of their home at 1717 N. 70th Ave. on May 11, 1975. From left are Mary Jo, 15, Ann, 17, and Scott, 12.
1975 tornado - 2012 N. 70th St.
The foundation of the home of Margaret Baker, 86, at 2012 N. 70th St. Her body was found a quarter block away. Baker was one of the three people killed in the storm.
1975 tornado - 3325 South 79th St.
A gaping hole is all that is left of the Pistillo home at 3325 S. 79th St.
1975 tornado - 70th and Nicholas
Looking west from 70th and Nicholas Streets on May 6, 1975.
1975 tornado - 86th and Q Streets
The Wentworth Apartments near 86th and Q Streets.
1975 tornado - Berry Street and 92nd Circle
Storm damage at Berry Street and 92nd Circle.
1975 tornado - 7512 Walnut St.
The Dick Mendick home at 7512 Walnut St. The home had been built the previous December.
1975 tornado - 7080 Blondo St.
Joe and Marilyn Gasnick, owners of the J & M Laundromat at 7080 Blondo St., stand among what is left of it. There were five customers in the building when the tornado hit. Marilyn Gasnick had them all follow her to the basement of her home, located one door east of the laundromat. All of them came through the storm safely, despite heavy damage to the home and the destruction of the laundromat.
1975 tornado - 1624 S. 75th St.
Frank Wear, with shovel, gets help from the McGuire family: Art, the father of Dennis, 11, and Brian, 8. On the roof at 1624 S. 75th St. is Wear's son, Chris. The McGuires lived at 82nd and Arbor Streets.
1975 tornado - Pacific Street from 75th Street
Looking east on Pacific Street from 75th Street. Pamela Myers was killed at the El Matador restaurant on 78th and Pacific Streets.
1975 tornado - 7913 Nina St.
Tom Lindsay, 17, facing camera, is greeted tearfully by his father in front of their home. At his left is Mrs. Lindsay and daughter Rosann, 13. Tom wasn't home when five members of his family and a neighbor escaped injury in the basement as their home at 7913 Nina St. was damaged. Neighbors' homes are seen in the background.
1975 tornado - 1300 block of South 78th Street
A phonograph record lodged in a tree at the 1300 block of South 78th Street.
1975 tornado - 70th and Blondo
Michael Gasnick, left, and John McGann stand by the car they helped pry up to remove a crying woman who was trapped underneath at 70th and Blondo Streets. The unidentified woman, 23, told her rescuers that she had been driving down Blondo and was "sucked" out of her car.
1975 tornado - Ralston
Ralston Bank after the tornado.
1975 tornado
Aerial photo of the residential section south of Blondo after some cleanup. The smoldering fire at the upper right is at Bowling Green Park. St. Pius X School is to the left of the park.
1975 tornado - 8731 Q Plaza
The Wentworth Apartments at 8731 Q Plaza.
1975 tornado - 70th and Dodge Street
70th and Dodge Streets, looking west on May 7, 1975.
1975 tornado - 72nd and Western
A house north of Western Avenue, looking east across 72nd Street.
1975 tornado - 72nd and Lafayette
Destruction on 72nd Street near Lafayette Avenue.
1975 tornado - 5004 S. 86th St.
The Wentworth Apartments at 5004 S. 86th St.
1975 tornado - 7805 Hascall
Marilyn Potts and her daughter Maury keep their sense of humor on May 9, 1975. Their house at 7805 Hascall St. was underinsured and their two cars, both demolished, were not insured.
1975 tornado - 70th Street and Mayfield Avenue
Teenage volunteers clean up around 70th Street and Mayfield Avenue on May 13, 1975. Observers described this picture as a "cleanup caterpillar."
1975 tornado - 7907 Nina
Mrs. Glenn Meyer in front of her home at 7907 Nina St.
1975 tornado - 70th and Leavenworth
Tornado damage near 70th and Leavenworth Streets.
1975 tornado - Grant Street and 70th Avenue
Damage at Grant Street and 70th Avenue.
1975 tornado - Campbell
Omaha Police Officer David Campbell's cruiser was pummeled by debris thrown by the tornado he tracked up 72nd Street. Campbell's heroic radio reports proved pivotal in getting Omahans to take shelter.
1975 tornado - 2043 N. 70th Ave
The daughters of Mrs. Colleen Mau, 2043 N. 70th Ave., sift through the wreckage of her home. Mrs. Mau suffered a head cut when a car crashed through to the basement.
1975 tornado - 72nd and Western
Volunteers clean up in the 72nd Street and Western Avenue area. The view is from 70th and Nicholas Streets.
1975 tornado - 72nd and Dodge
Looking west on Dodge at 72nd Street on May 6, 1975.
1975 tornado
Michael Tompkins, at Empire Cleaners on 72nd and Blondo Streets, holds a quarter that was bent in half during the storm.
1975 tornado - Crossroads volunteers
Tornado cleanup volunteers sign up at the Crossroads and are formed into crews, then transported by bus to the work areas on May 14, 1975.
1975 tornado - cleanup
Boy Scout Brad Elliot found a child's piggy bank while volunteering to help clean up after the storm. John DeVoll's Scout troop members from Hartman school were just some of the volunteers helping to clear debris. The items found were taken to a lost and found exchange.
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