F4 Tornado Rips Through Capital City of Alberta - 1987
This is the final episode of the story of the deadliest natural disaster to hit Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Welcome to Edmonton Alberta (my hometown) in the year of '87.
This final episode shares stories from this terrifying afternoon as the Black Friday Tornado tore through the Evergreen Community Mobile Park.
Sources for this series on the Black Friday Tornado:
Wikipedia:
Edmonton Sun:
Commemorative edition Black Friday print with proceeds to tornado relief fund - Paul Stanway
Edmonton Journal
CTV Edmonton
CBC
UPI Archives
Evergreen Mobile Park
It’s now 4 pm and while the tornado has come down in intensity to somewhere between an F2 and F3 - it is cutting a path directly to a small mobile park with 1700 residents.
Most residents have no idea that a tornado is screaming towards them, they describe the sound as if it's a dozen freight trains bearing down on them.
As the tornado strikes, homes are picked up and tossed, rolled, crumpled and some flattened.
Evergreen Mobile Park After the Storm. Photo Credit: Paul Wodehouse
The photos are shocking - the absolute destruction as it tore right through the center. It's a nightmare for residents who are now injured and buried in the rubble.
The neighbourhood comes together and there's many stories of strangers pulling people from their now destroyed homes.
15 of the residents are killed on that horrifying afternoon, 4 members of one family. More than 200 of the 600 trailers are destroyed or damaged beyond repair, including 91 which are flattened outright.
Path of Destruction
PATH OF F4 EDMONTON TORNADO. MAP OF THE TORNADO (IN LIGHT GREEN), MAJOR RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND HOSPITAL SITES (APSS, 1988).
The image above is a good visual of the path the tornado carved through the East side of the city, hitting parts of Strathcona County to the West as well.
Almost immediately after devastating the Evergreen Mobile Park, the tornado finally dissipates after over an hour of rampaging destruction through populated urban areas. Looking at the final path of this tornado, it’s incredible that it’s as if it left the most intense and final blow for this small community.
City of Champions
The tornado took 27 lives, injured 300 and left at least 750 families homeless.The estimated cost of destruction is $150 million in 1987 - adjusting for today - it’s about $340 million. It is the worst natural disaster to hit Alberta in history.
The community rallied support for the survivors, the families who lost loved ones and those who were left homeless.Â
Strangers were opening their doors to those who needed a place to stay and relief agencies were overwhelmed by the amount of donations of food, clothing and cash.Â
The Alberta Government promises to cover the costs for anyone who wasn’t insured or covered from the incident. Just days after the storm, Edmonton’s Emergency Relief Service had 100,000 square feet of its warehouse space filled to capacity with donated goods.Â
Edmonton has been known as The City of Champions due to their winning sports teams but this city’s motto takes on a whole other meaning after July 31st, 1987.
Reference in Media
Rural Alberta Advantage released a track on their 2011 album called Tornado 87 that is inspired by singer Nils Edenloff's experience as a child surviving the tornado.
Learnings
The Emergency Public Warning System, now Alberta Emergency Alert, was developed as a result of the 1987 tornado disaster. The warning system breaks into private and public broadcasts on radio, tv and cable. This is the first warning system of its kind, using existing media outlets to broadcast critical life-saving information directly to the public as a joint operation between government and broadcasters.
Also, the first implementation of the updated doppler weather radar concept was implemented in the early 90s in Canada in response to this event. This system is set up to better warn for flooding, hail and other severe weather events.Â
Safety Tips
Tips to be prepared and know what to do in case of a tornado:
Watch the skies.
Tornadoes often develop in the presence of severe thunderstorms. Look for dark, greenish skies, large hail and a rotating wall cloud.
Stay informed.
Use local weather apps and pay attention to weather warnings.
Seek shelter.
Get indoors. If you’re caught outdoors or in a vehicle, seek shelter in sturdy buildings if possible. Avoid overpasses and bridges.
Stay away from windows, as they can shatter during high winds and flying debris can pose a serious threat.
Protect your head and use blankets or mattresses for extra protection.
Post-tornado.
After the tornado has passed, be cautious of downed power lines, broken glass, and other hazards. Wait for official all-clear signals before leaving your shelter.
Be prepared.
Emergency kit with essential items: flashlights, first aid kits, nonperishable food and water.
Know where the nearest storm shelter.
Know the safest spot in your home. Best option is a small, windowless interior room on the lowest floor of your home.
Have a plan in place for where to go and what to do during a tornado. Practice this plan with your family, including children, so everyone knows how to respond quickly and safely.
As we close out, it's been an emotional journey for me as I read through all the human stories - both heartbreaking and miraculous. This series on the Black Friday Tornado is respectfully dedicated to the memory of all who perished, and to the courage of those who survived.
And don't forget - kiss, squeeze, hug your loved ones.