Ott Gangl recalls 1974
Xenia super tornado

Retired BJ photographer Ott Gangl remembers the super tornado that ripped through Xenia, Ohio 40 years ago.

Ott’s Facebook post:

“I was on my way out of the office to go home after a long day when the city desk rerouted me via charter plane to Dayton where a rental car was waiting for me to drive to Xenia, OH where a deadly tornado had just struck.

“No sleep for two days or nights because I had to return to the Dayton papers to send wire photos back to the Beacon Journal after developing the films and making prints at night ( in the process ruining their darkroom).”

WKYC-Channel 3’s report on the supertornado anniversary:

April 3-4, 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the Super Tornado Outbreak of 1974, one of the worst in United States history. More than 148 tornadoes touched down in 13 states, including Ohio, killing 330 people, injuring more than 5,000 and creating a damage path of more than 2,500 miles.

One tornado caused significant damage in Xenia. The F5 tornado hit in the late afternoon, traveling southwest to northeast (earning the nickname of “the I-71 tornado”) across Xenia to Wilberforce. Along the path of the storm, more than 30 people were killed, more than 1,100 were injured and more than 1,000 homes were destroyed. 

According to the Ohio Historical Society, the storm also struck Wilberforce University and Central State University, shattering windows and destroying many campus buildings.

This horrific tornado event still resonates in the minds of Xenia citizens. On the third day of every month tornado sirens are tested across the city.

In 2013, Xenia for Moore, Oklahoma was formed by Xenia residents after the devastating tornado that struck Moore on May 20 of that year. The group, which can be found on Facebook and has members who survived the 1974 Xenia tornado, adopted 12 Moore families to help with their recovery. Xenia for Moore has held fundraisers and benefit concerts. They have also held "First Friday" events in Xenia in support of their cause.