1. 1908 – Dixie Tornado Outbreak
Our first destructive tornado outbreak might have incorrect fatality numbers even though the outbreak produced at least 31 tornadoes in 13 states, each rated F4 on the Fujita scale, between April 23–25, 1908, 324 tornado-related deaths were recorded.
The reason the numbers might be in doubt is due to the fact that not only did these events take place across Midwestern and Southern United States in rural areas, but most of the people affected were also African Americans. So it is therefore believed that there could have been many more fatalities but the numbers were undercounted as the deaths of many African Americans didn’t warrant being recorded for posterity.
