Tornado’s Damage to the Economy
- Tornado’s actual cost: $250,000,000
- Cost adjusted to 2019 dollars: $1,984,604,240
Classified as an EF5 tornado, the wind speeds were estimated to have exceeded 250 mph. Because the tornado cut a path through the city’s center, complete devastation occurred on an eight-block section. Every structure on the Washburn University campus sustained significant damage or was demolished, totaling $10 million in damage. Other sections of the downtown area, including the state Capitol dome, took damage from flying debris. Throughout the city, 3,000 homes were damaged and 800 were destroyed. In all, the tornado inflicted 550 injuries and caused 17 deaths.
