Antlers, Oklahoma is a small community of about 3000 or so in Southeast Oklahoma. It is known as the “Deer Capital of the World” because of the large population of White Tail Deer in the surrounding area. It has a fine restored Railroad Depot home of the local Historical Society and the Chamber of Commerce. There are not too many other buildings of note in town.
What Antlers is really known for is having the biggest disaster that nobody ever heard of.
On April 12, 1945 an F5 tornado hit Antlers and killed 63 people. The same tornado continued on to the northeast eventually getting to Muskogee, Oklahoma. All told killing 86 people and injuring 690. It pretty much wiped out most of the buildings in town, except for the railroad depot.
You wonder why this didn’t get much publicity? Because President Franklin Roosevelt died the same day.
You want to know something more amazing? Especially about the weather here in Oklahoma? The Antlers tornado is rated only 16th on the worst weather disasters to hit Oklahoma in a list published by the National Weather Service. Its only number 3 on the tornado list. The worst tornado in Oklahoma was in Woodward, in the northwest part of the state, on April 9, 1947. It killed 181 people.
The Woodward tornado is rated only number 4 in the list of top Oklahoma weather disasters. The dust bowl during the depression is number 1.
Now you know why I get real nervous during tornado alerts. By the time Sweetie gets SuperPizzaBoy, the dogs, the cats, and her wedding glassware in our “safe place” she locks me out and wishes me luck! No room at the inn. That’s just one reason I call her Sweetie. She has her priorities in order.
I grew up just east of Tornado Alley. And I’ve been through OK during them. I’d be scared,too, but I’m glad Sweetie can think straight in a crisis.
Your Africanized Bee post made me laugh!
Really amazing indeed!
Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week.
Mary Elizabeth Now and Then.
Tornadoes are so scary. I understand why you would get nervous. Interesting post and great shot of the railroad depot.
We just don’t get them here. Scary and fascinating.
Nature can be devastating, but I still prefer us to fight against natural disasters rather than against each other on small or large scale.
We seldom get them here but I’m so scared just by the looks of it. But that building looks neat.
Very interesting, you’re right I had never heard of this tornado! When you get over this way, they have a wonderful exhibit at the Woodward Museum about the 1947 tornado.
and it is getting to be that time of year…my dad has footage of a sometime in the 70s tornado(the destruction) I will have to see if I can find it
I think you’re getting funnier or my mood is improving: “The biggest disaster nobody ever heard of…”