Without Warning: The Tornado of Udall, Kansas

“For anyone . . . who has lost faith in America and its basic sense of seeking the common good, Without Warning is a reminder that regardless of our political leanings, we pull together during times of great crisis and need.”

     Then Toots asked Keely, “What are you going to do?”

     Keely said, “I’m gonna build somewhere else.”

     “The hell you are,” Toots answered. “You’re gonna build right back here.”

     Keely eventually agreed.

On the night of May 25, 1955, an F5 tornado struck Udall, Kansas, a town of 600 people planted halfway between Wichita and Winfield, the county seat. There was no warning, and the storm killed 77 residents, destroyed the elementary and high schools, the town hall, more than half the homes, most places of business, and the water tower occupying the center of town. Without Warning is the story of what happened that night and how a community set about recreating itself.

Jim Minick painstakingly pieced together the timeline of events of that evening—a wedding shower for Aileen Holtje in the community building, a paperboy making his rounds in the afternoon, and people going about their daily lives.

The storm tore people from their houses. One woman found herself carried more than 100 feet from her bedroom. A few people survived in the community building, even when it had been complete destroyed. Another survived by sheltering in a car, while another person barely avoided being killed when the car she had just been in was destroyed and tossed 25 yards. Less fortunately, several men who had gone to the local bar while their wives attended Aileen’s shower were killed when the tap room was demolished.

Among those the author tracked were brothers Gary and Bobby Atkinson, and their stories form a thread running through Minick’s account. So, too, does the story of Earl “Toots” Rowe, the congenial mayor of Udall, a man whose courage and determination helped a revitalized, modern town rise from the rubble. Minick turns these and other stories into a gripping portrait of great tragedy and amazing resilience.

When the tornado struck, there were few storm shelters. Nor was there a dependable warning system of approaching twisters. When it arrived, there were just seconds for people to scurry for shelter, and where the storm scored direct hits, there were scant chances of survival. That many survived was a combination of a miracle of nature and the result of an enormous outpouring of emergency aid from everywhere within 20 miles.

As a result of what befell Udall, weather forecasting improved dramatically, warning sirens that were triggered automatically were designed, and storm shelters were included in most building plans. Thousands of lives have been saved as a result.

For anyone of us who has lost faith in America and its basic sense of seeking the common good, Without Warning is a reminder that regardless of our political leanings, we pull together during times of great crisis and need. Udall, Kansas stands as a shining example. 

What happened to Gary and Bobby Atkinson? Read Jim Minick’s book to find out.