Petersburg resident reflects on 35th anniversary of EF-4 tornado
PETERSBURG, Ind. (WEHT) — It's been 35 years since an EF-4 tornado tore through Petersburg, killing six people and injuring dozens of others.
Residents say it is a day they will never forget.
'I was about five miles away and the weather was very eerie that night,' says Brent Beck.
Beck was 18 years old at the time and remembers seeing the damage a day after it happened. He says the community he loves was ripped apart.
'My dad and I got in the truck and came into town. I think we had to take several different routes… It was still dark at the time, so we could not get a real feel for it until the next day, when we came into town, and it was just total destruction. At the time, I had never seen anything like it in my whole life, I mean, the whole town was kind of in disbelief actually,' Beck says.
The tornado was part of a statewide outbreak. 37 tornadoes were reported across Indiana, setting the record for the most tornadoes in a single day in state history. Petersburg was one of the areas hardest hit.
The tornado destroyed 168 homes and damaged hundreds of buildings. Beck says the town was unrecognizable.
'The hardest part was Petersburg Elementary. The school basically imploded. It was a miracle that school was not in session that day; the school was gutted. It was quite a sight,' Beck says.
Each year, the city places a wreath near the tornado memorial along Main Street, to recognize the lives lost.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Storm Team 3: Scattered rain likely again on Thursday
The coastal low-pressure system that we have been tracking for several days will continue to spin over the southeastern U.S. on Thursday. This will lead to more scattered rain and some isolated thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and into the evening. Heavy rainfall is expected at times Thursday afternoon and evening. Localized rain totals may be between 1-2″ with the highest totals being along the coast or just inland. Western counties, more toward middle Georgia, will receive less rain. A strong southerly to onshore flow will continue to lead to dangerous surf and rip currents for Georgia and South Carolina beaches. If you are heading out on a smaller watercraft, exercise cautions as seas will be around 3-5.' Winds offshore will be SW 10-20 kts. A slightly drier pattern will begin to set up on Friday and will continue into Saturday. Afternoon highs will be able to reach the low to mid 90s both days which may lead to isolated strong to severe storms late Friday and again on Saturday. At this time, damaging wind gusts will be the main concern. An unsettled pattern will begin to set up on Sunday with slightly higher rain chances staying with us. Scattered rain is expected Sunday through Wednesday with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Keep the latest Storm Team 3 forecast with you anytime by downloading the WSAV Weather NOW app. You can track storms with VIPIR Radar and can also receive critical weather alerts directly to your mobile device anywhere you are. It is free and is available in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
All Hands Community Camp empowers kids with diverse activities
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — From first aid training to free meals, one Wichita Falls summer camp is doing a whole lot more than just keeping kids busy. This summer, kids in Wichita Falls have the chance to dive into more than just fun. The All Hands Playwell Summer Camp is packed with activities designed to support kids emotionally, socially, and academically, all for just $20. WFISD awarded best communities for music education All Hands Community Camp Leader, Eternity Jackson, said it's more than just a summer camp; at All Hands Cultural Community Center, it's a place where kids come to grow. 'Relationships come first with the students, and we just empower individuals to grow personally, grow spiritually, kind of establish their identity and who they are. And then also on top of that, just having that career readiness,' Jackson said. For just $20 per child, campers can choose from a variety of activities, including swimming, cosmetology, gardening, math lessons, Bible study, and more. 'Culinary arts, first aid, cosmetology, art classes, gardening, reading, math, gym and life skills, as well as spiritual classes like bible study,' Jackson said. One of the most pivotal classes is life skills, taught by Camp Leader Eternity Jackson. 'I teach everything from anger management, stress management, mental health classes, physical health, like nutrition. It ranges from the small things to the large things and there all hands on,' Jackson said. 'So it's not like, oh, they're just doing a worksheet. You know, they're actually going to walk through those scenarios and kind of teach it back to us like, okay, this is what I learned. And now I'm going to actually apply it to my life.' Free meals are also included, making this camp a lifeline for working families during the long summer months. 'In all honesty, we understand that people, especially in this area can't really afford it. So, even with the donations, like a lot of people donate to this program just because they have seen the results in the past, it doesn't only benefit their behavior here, it also benefits their behavior at school and in the community,' Jackson said. From swimming to school preparation, all hands are working together to ensure every child has a safe and supportive place to grow this summer. There is still time to enroll! For more information, please contact (940) 766-0259 or visit them in person at 302 Tulsa St. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Wednesday, June 4 forecast: Briefly drier ahead of another wave of storms Friday
Waves of heavy rain have left many areas waterlogged. This is especially true along and north of I-44, where 1 to 4″ of rain fell between Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon. Springfield saw the rain come in two bursts, one last night with another big wave early Wednesday afternoon. This rain stretched northeast into Marshfield, where rain totals over half a foot likely occurred. Download our KOLR 10 weather app Bands of showers will continue into the evening, mainly south of I-44. Rainfall rates of 1 to 2″ per hour will occur with the heavier pockets of rain, resulting in locally excessive rainfall amounts that could exceed 1 or 2″. We'll begin Thursday with cloudy skies and damp conditions, but it looks like Thursday as a whole will be drier. Morning clouds will give way to breaks in the clouds with sunshine pushing temperatures into the upper 70s and low 80s. It will be a warm and humid afternoon with spotty showers and thunderstorms possible. Most of this pop-up activity will develop south of a Harrison to Eminence line, with most locations remaining dry throughout the day. A bigger wave of rain and thunder is expected to sweep through the region Friday. This round will arrive early in the day and depart during the afternoon. Heavy rainfall is likely, and this wave of storms could also bring a round of damaging winds to some areas. The morning wave of storms should depart fast enough for some afternoon sun. Some pop-up shower or thunderstorm activity is possible heading into the early evening, but most areas will remain dry. Another big wave or rain and thunder will likely develop Friday night across Oklahoma, shifting southeast through Arkansas Saturday morning. Right now, it looks like most of this storm complex will pass just to our south. Weekend weather will feature a mix of sun and clouds with warm and humid conditions. There will be a risk of scattered showers and thunderstorms both Saturday and Sunday, especially during the afternoon and evening. A stronger cold front may clear the area Monday, bringing a risk of scattered showers, followed by less humid and quieter weather Tuesday and Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
