Historic Omaha

diagonal course through the residence district
to the northeast.” The storm entered Omaha
near Fifty-first and Center Streets, struck the
hill at Thirty-ninth and Farnam, and
continued on a northeastern path until it left
Omaha just south of Kountze Park before
entering Carter Lake and “wreaking its halfspent
fury” on Council Bluffs.
Unlike today, there was no early warning
system. The storm came as a total shock to
Omaha’s citizens. They considered their town
to be “tornado-proof,” protected by the
barricade of surrounding hills. The path of the
storm was two to four blocks wide and ripped
its way through the mansions of the rich and
the tenements of the poor with equal fury.
When it was all done, there were 111 dead in
Omaha. Another eighteen perished in the
small towns surrounding the city. More than
350 people were injured, 1669 homes were
destroyed, and thousands of Omahans were
homeless. Governor John Morehead called
out the militia and, while touring the scene of
destruction, said, “This is enough like my
conception of hell to suit me!”
There were many stories of narrow escapes
and heroic rescues. There were also tragic
tales. The Child Saving Institute, a local
✧
Above: A detachment from the Army Signal
Corps at Fort Omaha stands guard in Bemis
Park after the 1913 Easter Tornado.
COURTESY OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY COLLECTIONS.
Below: Courtland Beach amusement park
was built on the shores of Cut-Off Lake
(later Carter Lake). The Carter Lake Club
bought out the amusement park in 1912.
COURTESY OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY COLLECTIONS.
CHAPTER III
49