2002 Van Wert–Roselms tornado
A photograph of the tornado taken by an Ohio State Trooper
Meteorological history
Duration70 minutes
FormedNovember 10, 2002, 3:15 p.m. EST (UTC−05:00)
DissipatedNovember 10, 2002, 4:25 p.m. EST (UTC−05:00)
F4 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Highest winds207–260 mph (333–418 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities4[1]
Injuries17[1]
Damage>$30 million (2002 USD)[2]
Areas affectedVan Wert and Roselms, Ohio
Part of the 2002 Veterans Day weekend tornado outbreak and tornado outbreaks of 2002

On November 10, 2002, a violent tornado struck the city of Van Wert and the community of Roselms in Ohio.[1][2][3] The tornado resulted in the death of four people and injuries to 17 others. The National Weather Service rated the worst of the damage F4 on the Fujita scale, with several homes and businesses sustaining F4 damage in the city of Van Wert.[1][4][5]

Tornado summary

The tornado touched down approximately four miles (6.4 km) northeast of the village of Willshire, Ohio in Van Wert County and began moving northeast towards the city of Van Wert.[1][2] Right after touching down, the tornado rapidly intensified to F4 intensity as it crossed Zook Road approximately five miles (8.0 km) southwest of Van Wert.[2] Around Zook Road, a 75-year-old man was killed when the tornado destroyed his house at F4 intensity.[2][3][6] The National Weather Service documented that he was attempting to shield his wheelchair-bound wife when the tornado struck.[3] As the tornado continued into Van Wert, it maintained F4 intensity.[2] In Van Wert, 43 homes and five businesses were destroyed and 164 homes and 27 businesses were damaged.[2] The Twin Cinemas and the five buildings in the Vision Industrial Park sustained F4 damage.[2] In the Twin Cinemas, 60 people, mostly children, were inside watching a movie when the tornado destroyed the building.[2] Vehicles from the cinema parking lot were thrown into the seats of the cinema.[2] An 18-year-old was killed after driving near the cinema and having his car thrown into the cinema seats.[2][3] Three county engineering buildings were also destroyed by the tornado in Van Wert.[2] After passing through the Vision Industrial Park, several homes and business in Van Wert sustained F3 to F4 damage.[2][7]

F4 damage to the Twin Cinemas in Van Wert

The tornado continued northeast out of Van Wert and crossed into Paulding County, where it struck the community of Roselms. Only one building remained standing in Roselms after the tornado.[2] Every structure in Roselms sustained up to F3 damage, and the entire nine-mile (14 km) track of the tornado through Paulding County was rated F3 by the National Weather Service.[2][8] The Dayton Daily Newspaper reported that in Paulding County, 23 homes, 32 barns, and a church were completely leveled and 19 additional homes were damaged.[9] The Washington Township building was also leveled by the tornado.[6] The tornado continued northeast at F3 intensity as it crossed into Putnam County.[8] In Putnam County, the tornado destroyed a mobile home in Continental, killing a man and his wife.[2][3] After traveling seven miles (11 km) through the county, the tornado rapidly weakened to F0 intensity just before it crossed into Defiance County.[2] While traveling three miles (4.8 km) through Defiance County, the tornado skipped and caused F0 damage to five homes and some outbuildings before crossing into Henry County.[2] In Henry County, the tornado continued to skip and caused F0 damage to outbuildings and trees along a path of 12 miles (19 km). The tornado lifted approximately two miles (3.2 km) southeast of Malinta.[2]

In total, the tornado killed four people and injured 17 others along a path of 53 miles (85 km), while reaching a peak width of 880 yards (800 m).[2][10] The tornado caused at least $30 million (2002 USD) in damage just in the city of Van Wert.[2]

Aftermath

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration later stated that out of the entire Veterans Day weekend tornado outbreak, which included a total of 76 tornadoes, the Van Wert–Roselms tornado was the most remembered, due to "the heroic efforts of [Scott Shaffer] at the Van Wert Cinemas. After hearing the tornado warning that was broadcasted over the county's warning system, the manager led sixty patrons to interior hallways and restrooms. This was only a few minutes before the tornado destroyed the theater. Besides leveling the building, three cars were tossed into the seats that were previously occupied by moviegoers, many of which were children."[5][11][12] It was also documented that the Van Wert County EMA Director Rick McCoy was able to give the city a 26-minute lead time for the tornado, by running Van Wert’s tornado sirens continuously for 26 minutes.[13] In the aftermath from this tornado, Van Wert County gave a NOAA Weather Radio to every business in the county.[13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service; National Climatic Data Center (November 2002). Angel, William; Hinson, Stuart; Mooring, Rhonda (eds.). "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena". Storm Data. United States Department of Commerce. 44 (11): 92–93. ISSN 0039-1972.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s damage survey by county:
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 National Weather Service in Northern Indiana; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Tornadoes devastate parts of northwest Ohio and eastern Indiana". Tornadoes devastate parts of northwest Ohio and east central Indiana. United States Department of Commerce. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Bentkowski, Grace (10 November 2022). "20 years since historic F4 tornado swept through northeastern Indiana, northwestern Ohio". WANE-TV. Fort Wayne, Indiana: CBS Broadcasting Inc. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 National Weather Service in Cleveland, Ohio; National Weather Service in Northern Indiana; National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio; National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Storm Prediction Center (10 November 2022). "A Trail of Death and Destruction" (StoryMap). ArcGIS StoryMaps. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023.
  6. 1 2 Narramore, Jen; Wilkes, Nick (10 November 2019). "Van Wert, OH F4 Tornado - November 10, 2002". Tornado Talk. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  7. ↑ The Delphos Herald staff (11 April 2023). "Tornado confirmed in Van Wert County". The Delphos Herald. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023. The massive storm system that hit the Midwest had been predicted by weather officials for up to four days ahead of time and was showing some similarities to the severe storms that produced the massive F-4 tornado that ripped through Van Wert County on November 10, 2002.
  8. 1 2 National Weather Service in Northern Indiana (12 November 2002). "Van Wert Tornado Determined To Be A Violent F4 Tornado". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  9. ↑ Bohman, Jim (13 November 2002). "Storm Damage In The State" (Newspaper). Newspapers.com. Columbus, Ohio: Dayton Daily News. p. 5. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Van Wert EF4 Tornado - Veterans Day Weekend, 2002" (Video). YouTube. Weatherbox. 9 December 2022. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  11. ↑ Seewer, John (12 November 2002). "Moviegoers survive tornado in bathrooms" (Newspaper). Newspapers.com. Chillicothe, Ohio: Chillicothe Gazette & Associated Press. p. 3. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  12. ↑ "Movie: Quick action saved lives" (Newspaper). Newspapers.com. The Cincinnati Enquirer & Associated Press. 12 November 2002. p. 6. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Blown away: Remembering the 2002 Van Wert tornado". Limaohio.com. Lima News. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
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