OHIO — Tuesday’s storms came one day before the 50th anniversary of a deadly tornado that tore apart a small Ohio Community.

What You Need To Know

  • On Wednesday, Xenia hosted a special event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1974 tornado  

  • On April 3rd, 1974, a tornado struck the town, leaving 32 people dead and hundreds more injured

  • The city is working on a memorial to help honor the lives lost 

On April 3rd, 1974, 32 people died in Xenia and hundreds more were injured. The storm was a part of a series of nearly 150 tornadoes that touched down in 13 states over a 24-hour period. Fifty years later, the community is coming together to honor the lives lost and the work the city did to get it to where it is today.  

On Wednesday, Xenia hosted an event took to honor the lives lost in the 1974 tornado, and help remember how the community came together afterward. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service shared how the tornado helped them better develop warming systems and the forecast with tornados.

Attendees also heard from Xenia Mayor Sarah Mays, who discussed how the community came together then and continues to come together.

Gov. Mike DeWine, who was in Xenia that day, also shared his thoughts. 

“I think that’s the first time I ever thought you know, it was possible that I was going to die,” said DeWine. “I think everybody in that basement felt the same way. We were very fortunate. The roof was off the building when we came out.” 

The city is working on putting together an art memorial to help remember the lives lost in the tornado.