Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Relentless: The 1947 Woodward Tornado, Oklahoma's Deadliest, as Told by its Survivors. The April 9, 1947 tornado slashed a deadly 221-mile path across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. What Happened In Oklahoma In 1947 Is Terrifying And Tragic On April 9, 1947, the worst natural disaster to ever strike within the borders of the state of Oklahoma happened near Woodward. It began near Canadian, Texas, and after traveling for about one hundred miles reached Woodward. The tornado was a violent F5 storm, more than a mile wide, and it unleashed its worst destruction on Woodward, striking the city without warning at 8 P.M. Over one hundred city blocks on the west and north sides of the city were destroyed. In Woodward alone, more than 100 city blocks were destroyed, mostly on the north and west sides of the city. The Woodward Tornado of April 9, 1947 This tornado was considered to be the longest, widest, and most destructive ever to have occurred in this section of the country. Tornado "Longest and widest" The April 9, 1947 tornado slashed a deadly 221-mile path across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Did a 69-year-old Oklahoma City woman born Joan Gay Croft watch the TV reports on Saturday night's Woodward tornado and recall that city's previous devastating tornado of April 9, 1947? Along its journey of more than 200 miles, the twister continued to gain strength and reached a peak width of 1.8 miles. About 8:40 p.m. April 9, 1947, a tornado struck Woodward, killing 107 in the city of 5,500. Woodward County. WOODWARD, Okla. – 67 years ago today, a deadly twister tore through the quiet town of Woodward. In Oklahoma, 101 persons died--95 at Woodward, the others in Gage and Shattuck. Did a 69-year-old Oklahoma City woman born Joan Gay Croft watch the TV reports on Saturday night's Woodward tornado and recall that city's previous devastating tornado of April 9, 1947? The Crofts were wealthy residents of Woodward and Mrs. Croft lost her life to the twister’s rage that day. "The longest, widest and most destructive tornado ever to occur in this area" 169 dead, 890 injured, and $9,700,000 in estimated property damage. For the people of Higgins and Woodward, recovery was a long, slow, painful process. April 9, 2020 marks 73 years since the deadliest tornado Oklahoma has ever seen. Relentless: The 1947 Woodward Tornado, Oklahoma's Deadliest, as Told by its Survivors - Kindle edition by Kastl, Lakin Ragains. Tornado of April 9, 1947. The Woodward tornadic storm began in the Texas Panhandle during the afternoon of April 9, 1947, and produced at least six tornadoes along a 220 mile path that stretched from White Deer, TX (northeast of Amarillo) to St. Leo, KS (west of Wichita). The 1947 Woodward tornado began near Canadian, TX and continued on … The tornado ripped through three states in a 221 mile long path, leaving in its wake 169 killed, 980 injured, and a … The Woodward Tornado of April 9, 1947 This tornado was considered to be the longest, widest, and most destructive ever to have occurred in this section of the country. PHOTO PROVIDED. It came without warning, killing 185 (116 in Oklahoma) and injuring over 1,000. The tornadoes were at their worst in Oklahoma--this was the deadliest storm in that state's tornado-troubled history. Page 2 The Woodward County Courthouse is lone survivor of downtown. This Unsolved Oklahoma Mystery From 1947 Still Baffles People Today Oklahoma’s deadliest tornado wasn’t the only tragedy that struck Woodward, Oklahoma on April 9, 1947. Lives also were claimed in other communities that night.