One might say Olen and Betty Robbins are cursed- another might say the retired couple are blessed.
The Robbins' survived two EF-5 tornadoes- the one on June 8 1966 that sliced through Topeka KS and the Joplin Tornado on May 22.
The couple was uninjured in both storms.
Their story is found in Wednesday morning's online edition of the TOPEKA (KS) CAPITAL-JOURNAL.
The couple had moved to Lakeland Florida in 2002 after retiring- Olen from the Santa Fe railroad and Betty as a registered nurse.
But the couple moved to Joplin to be near family after experiencing 3 hurricanes in 2004.
Today is the 45th anniversary of the Topeka Tornado that struck during the 7 p.m. hour- and sliced a diagonal path of destruction through the Capital city.
Sixteen people were killed- and the tornado was the first to cause at least $100-million in damage.
Prompt and dire warnings of the approaching tornado by electronic news media- particularily WIBW-TV 13's Bill Kurtis- was credited for saving many Topekan's lives.
____________
1 comment:
We lost dad May 10, 2015. We all miss him dearly! My stepmother Betty, remains in the new home they built following the tornado (2135 Brownell), just a few blocks west of where they survived the storm! My family and I, lived 2 blocks East of mom and dad at 22nd and Arizona. We rode out the tornado in our bathroom as well! I still remember the Topeka tornado in detail, though I was only 4 years old! My father and I are only a few people known to have survived two EF-5 tornadoes! No more storms in Heaven! Love you Dad! Randy Robbins
Post a Comment