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Springfield Tornado: Seven Years Later

Story Created: Mar 13, 2013 at 9:37 AM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 13, 2013 at 10:42 AM CDT

Seven years ago today (3/12), the capital city was struck by not one, but two tornadoes.


It was a night that many of us will never forget. The F-2 storm also flattened homes in Jerome and littered neighborhoods in Southern View and beyond.


Dozens of businesses were destroyed. Many of them would rebuild, but not everyone was that fortunate. To this day, you can still see the signs of destruction left behind.


"We were very lucky," David Chiltin, who remembers the tornado, said. "It wasn't 'til the morning when I came out and I had a walk around in the morning, I realized just how bad it was. All the power lines down, all the fuel pumps on the Road Ranger petrol station were down, all the advertising poles were pulled. The houses--the further you got nearer to Wabash, the worse they were damaged."


Nineteen people were injured, but thankfully, no lives were lost. The twisters cost the city of Springfield more than $11 million.



Story by NewsChannel20.

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J.D. Young said on Wednesday, Mar 13 at 12:24 PM

After they passed, I and my neighbor went around the Holmes,Lowell,Outer Park neighborhood, cutting trees out of the streets and peoples driveways. I wore out 3 chainsaw blades, going until 2 AM. Thanks for the help, Larry.

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