A tornado that stays on the ground for 135 miles sounds like something from a horror movie or the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. But that nightmare became a reality on April 30, 1924.
The Horrell Hill Tornado is considered one of the worst disasters and the longest in the state’s history. The disastrous twister from hell, which left a swath of death and destruction in its wake, began in Aiken County before the carnage finally ended in Darlington County. Modern-day records place the tornado at F4 on the Fujita scale, with an estimated wind speed in the 207–260 mph range.
You may ask why it is called the Horrell Hill Tornado. Almost half of the 67 people who died were in the Horrell Hill Community in Richland County.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
Image Credit: Columbia Star