ANNIVERSARY OF KILLER TORNADO PROVIDES STARK REMINDER

Friday marked the 50th anniversary of a killer tornado that ripped through Cape Girardeau -- leaving millions of dollars and 22 dead in its wake. Perhaps the 50-year retrospect provided residents with a sigh of relief that last week's storm -- although damaging and widespread -- paled in comparison.

That 1949 twister struck without warning Saturday, May 21. It touched down near Gordonville Road and ripped a path through the city to Capaha Park, to Dunklin and New Madrid streets and through the Red Star district. The tornado cut a path of destruction 300 to 350-yards wide on its deadly trek through town.

More than 200 homes and 19 businesses were flattened. Hundreds of others were badly damaged during the six minutes the tornado was on the ground.

In 1949, there was no such thing as a tornado watch. Residents literally had no warning to take cover. Today's sophisticated weather monitoring systems at least provide some warning for those listening to radio or television. But recent killer tornadoes in Kansas and Oklahoma underscore the fact warnings don't necessarily provide the time to evacuate.

Thankfully, while last Monday's storm was damaging and inconvenient with loss of power, it wasn't deadly.