Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Has a tornado ever hit Decorah?"

A damaged downtown building

Dale e-mails: "Our family was recently discussing tornadoes and weather-related storms and how we need to be prepared.  Our daughter brought up this question: "We live in a bowl, so when was the last time an actual tornado hit Decorah?"  Well, I couldn't answer that and neither could my wife.  I don't ever remember a tornado actually hitting the city of Decorah.  Did it ever happen?"

Mr Answer Person says, "I can remember a tornado that did damge just north of Decorah.  There have also been tornadoes near Spillville and Calmar.

But a tornado hitting downtown Decorah?  For that you'd have to go back more than 100 years.  On Saturday, June 20th, 1908, a storm front reported to be 20 miles wide roared through Winneshiek County--and a tornado touched down in Decorah.

Winneshiek County Historical Society member Midge Kjome has copies of news reports from that time that talk about broken windows throughout town, huge trees blown down and over one dozen bridges washed out in the rains that followed the twister.

The grandstand at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds was blown down and destroyed.  The roof of the Steyer OPera House was ripped off.  The Empire Theatre lost its roof and suffered severe water damage.  The Methodist, Episcopal, Catholic, Congregational and Unity church in Decorah suffered damages, while the Catholic Church in Bluffton was destroyed.

One of the biggest victims was Decorah Greenhouses, where 7,000 to 8,000 feet of glass were broken.

In addition, "Hail the size of walnuts" was reported.

So it has been more than a century since a tornado touched down in Decorah--but it CAN happen.  You're right to tell your daughter it's important to be prepared for a storm!

That pole probably shouldn't be leaning that way!