1982 — May 29, F4 Tornado, Marion, Williamson County, Illinois — 10
—>12 Sunday Herald, Chicago. “Downstate tornado toll as 12.” 5-30-1982, p. 1.
— 10 AP. “Ten die in storm.” Daily Republican Register, Mt. Carmel, IL, 6-1-1982, p1.
— 10 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1243.
— 10 NCDC/NOAA. Event Record Details, Tornado, Illinois, 29 May 1982.
— 10 NCDC. “Illinois Tornadoes on May 29, 1982.” Storm Data, Vol. 24, N. 5, May 1982, p. 8.
Marion (10)
–10 Daily Register, Harrisburg, IL. “Several from county helped in Marion…” 6-1-1982, p. 1.
–10 Marion IL History Preservation. 1982 Tornado Kills 10 and Creates Major Damage to Marion.
–7 Shawnee Village Apartments.
James Gulledge, 17 (visiting friends at the apartments).
Lynn Moore, 18 (visiting friends at the apartments along with James Gulledge).[1]
Fern Kobler, 67.
Pauline Pearson, 63.
Mae E. Rader, 79.
Helen White, 62.
Leona White, 96 (mother of Helen White).
–1 James Bryan Simmons, 11, while shopping with mother at P. N. Hirsch store.[2]
–1 Effie Jan Wilson, 59, working in the P. N. Hirsch store.
–1 Zelma Latham, 79, in her home at 905 East Boulevard.
— 8 Assoc. Press. “Ten die in storm.” Daily Republican Register, Mt. Carmel, IL, 6-1-1982, p1.
Fern Cobler [or Kobler], 67.
James Gulledge, 17 (Shawnee Village Apartments). Marion Illinois History Preservation.
Zelma Latham, late 70s.
Pauline Pearson, 62.
May [or Mae] Rader, 79.
Leona White, 96.
Helen White, 62 (Leona White’s daughter).
Effie Jane Wilson, 61.
— 1 Female. Sunday Herald, Chicago. “Downstate tornado toll as 12.” 5-30-1982, p. 1.
— 1 Daughter, 8, of female fatality. Sunday Herald. “Downstate tornado…” 5-30-1982, p. 1.
Narrative Information
Grazulis: “IL MAY 29, 1982 1405 10k 181inj 400y 17m F4. WILLIAMSON — Moved from 3m NW of Carterville, through downtown Carterville, then to Crainville, Marion, and to 8m E of Marion. This tornado cut a path through three towns in Williamson County, and showed evidence of three separate vortices rotating around the main tornado. The initial touchdown was approximately 4m NW of Carterville. As it skipped into a Carterville subdivision, it destroyed two homes and damaged several others. Moving to the E and ESE, the funnel damaged homes in Crainville. Increasing in size, the funnel struck the airport and followed Hwy-13 through Marion. In western Marion, it destroyed a truck plaza and a motel, and damaged three shopping centers. Passing through Marion, it destroyed 161 homes and 47 businesses. Outside Marion, another 100 homes were destroyed. $100,000,000.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes, 1993, p. 1243.)
NCDC “Illinois Tornadoes on May 29, 1982: “Two major tornadoes occurred in southern Illinois on May 29th. The first, an F3, almost completely destroyed the small rural community of Conant, The second tornado carved a swath of F4 destruction through the north side of Marion, leaving 10 dead and 181 injured…” (NCDC. “Illinois Tornadoes on May 29, 1982.” Storm Data, Vol. 24, N. 5, May 1982, p. 8.)
NCDC. Storm Data: “1405 to 1432 CST…Ten persons were killed and 181 persons were injured when a massive tornado cut a path through 3 towns in Williamson County and contained 3 separate vortices rotating around the main tornado. The initial touchdown was approximately 4 miles northwest of Carterville and 1 mile north of Crab Orchard Lake. It lifted briefly, touched down in a subdivision of Carterville demolishing 2 homes and causing damage to several others. The tornado again lifted briefly and touched down again in Carterville. It traveled through the east section of town and through Crainville where several homes, business buildings and many trees were damaged. The tornado then increased in size and several funnels were observed within the tornado. Extensive damage occurred at the Williamson County Airport between 1410 and 1415CST. Then the tornado either changed course or formed a new funnel as it followed highway 13 through Marion. A truck plaza near Interstate 57 in western Marion was demolished. A car was struck on Interstate 57 and exploded. A motel and 3 shopping centers were damaged. Two of the 39 motel occupants were injured. The Shawnee Village 190 unit apartment complex was destroyed and 2 schools were severely damaged. One person died when a wall fell and 2 more died when they were literally blown out of their homes. In Marion a total of 161 homes and 47 businesses were destroyed; 59 homes and 29 businesses suffered damage. In Williamson County, 52 businesses were destroyed and 37 were heavily damaged. In total, 648 homes were damaged with 40% of these destroyed and 23% suffering major damage. Many persons were trapped under rubble. Over 200 cars were damaged or destroyed. The tornado lifted approximately 1 mile east-southeast of Routes 166 and 13; and the estimated damage was between 85 to 100 million dollars. The total homeless was approximately 1,000.” (National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 24, No. 5, May 1982, p. 15.)
Newspapers
May 30: “Marion — Tornadoes ripped through Southern Illinois Saturday killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 100. Hardest-hit was Marion, a community of 13,000, where an 8:30 p.m. curfew was called. About 100 National Guard troops were called into the area…State troopers from two divisions and all available sheriff’s department personnel also were called out….
“Gov. James R. Thompson declared the region a disaster area late Saturday, and state officials said they would ask for a federal declaration….
”National Weather Servicer officials said at least 12 people were killed in Marion from the tornado, but state officials remained hesitant in confirming the number of deaths. Williamson County Coroner James Wilson confirmed that at least 10 people, including a woman and her 8-year old daughter, were killed in Marion. Eight bodies were taken to a temporary morgue set up at Marion Junior High School and two other victims were reported dead on arrival at Marion Memorial Hospital. Marion Memorial spokeswoman said as many as 100 people were being treated there. The hospital was operating on emergency power because of storm damage to power lines.
“The Marion twister cut a 300- to 400-foot wide swath through the Sherman housing project in Marion, devastating 240 low- and middle-income homes. Hundreds of rescuers were combing the rubble trying to find survivors. Emergency shelters were set up at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
“Witnesses said one southbound car on Interstate 57 was touched by the funnel and appeared to have exploded like a bomb. The driver was presumed dead….” (Sunday Herald, Chicago. “Downstate tornado toll as 12.” 5-30-1982, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Ten die in storm.” Daily Republican Register, Mt. Carmel, IL, 6-1-1982, p. 1. Accessed 5-14-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mount-carmel-daily-republican-register-jun-01-1982-p-1/?tag
Daily Register, Harrisburg, IL. “Several from county helped in Marion…” 6-1-1982, p. 1. Accessed 5-14-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/harrisburg-daily-register-jun-01-1982-p-3/?tag
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993.
Marion Illinois History Preservation. 1982 Tornado Kills 10 and Creates Major Damage to Marion, Illinois (webpage). 1-26-2013. Accessed 5-14-2017 at: http://www.mihp.org/2013/01/1982-tornado/
National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Details, Tornado, Illinois, 29 May 1982. NCDC, NOAA, Department of Commerce. Accessed 2-4-2009 at:
http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~
National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 24, No. 5, May 1982. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 50 pages. Accessed 5-14-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-B3BA3717-EEC8-492E-9BBC-A5A5E779CB83.pdf
Sunday Herald, Chicago. “Downstate tornado toll as 12.” 5-30-1982, p. 1. Accessed 5-14-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-herald-suburban-chicago-may-30-1982-p-98/?tag
[1] Apparently of Herrin, in that the AP article of June 1 (“10 die in storm,” Daily Republican Journal, IL, notes Herrin after her name in its listing of deaths.
[2] Apparently of Johnston City, in that the AP article of June 1 (“10 die in storm,” Daily Republican Journal, IL, notes Johnston City after his name in its listing of deaths.