N1: Few forces in nature are as powerful as a tornado.

N2: For those who live through one, a tornado changes everything.

N3: There is life before and life after.

N1: The destruction left behind tells a story.

N2: Telling that story was the life’s work of a meteorologist named Tetsuya Theodore “Ted” Fujita. 

N3: Like a detective, Fujita would gather clues.

N1: His goal was to solve the mysteries of these storms. 

N2: He studied tornado damage. He talked to survivors.

N3: But after 10 years, there was one clue he still hadn’t found.

N1: Then came the Super Outbreak of 1974.

Nine Years Before the Super Outbreak 
Greentown, Indiana, April 12, 1965

N2: Ted Fujita sits in a small plane. He is with a pilot and his assistant Henry Miller.

Pilot: How many tornadoes did you say hit?

Fujita (looking out the window): Sixty-three across the Midwest. See those trees? They’ve been ripped out by their roots.

Miller: And look at that house. The roof was torn off.

N3: Miller points down toward a cornfield.

Miller: What are those corkscrew marks?  

Fujita: Most scientists think they’re caused by a tornado dragging heavy objects over the ground. But I have a different theory. I think that within a tornado there are mini-funnels—or vortices [VOR-tuh-seez]. 

Miller: So tornadoes within a tornado? 

Fujita: Exactly.

Pilot: Interesting. But . . . can I ask why it matters?

Fujita: Of course. There is still very little we understand about tornadoes. But the more we understand, the more we can prepare for them. 

Miller: Have you presented your theory to anyone?

Fujita: Not yet. I need more proof.

N1: Fujita motions to the pilot. 

Fujita: Can we land? I’d like to get a closer look. 

Four Years Before the Super Outbreak
University of Chicago, June 1970 

N2: A group of meteorologists sit in a room.

N3: Fujita stands at the front. Next to him are photos and maps pinned to corkboards.

N1: He points to a photo of corkscrew-like marks in a field. 

Fujita: These marks show up a lot during my research.

Dryers: These aren’t new, Fujita. 

Fujita: Yes, I know that. But I have a new theory about them.

N2: The scientists all look skeptical.

Henson: What’s your theory?

Fujita: I believe these marks are made by what I’m calling “suction vortices.” These are like mini-tornadoes within the larger tornado. 

Henson: So tornadoes can have other tornadoes inside?

Fujita: Yes. These vortices spin around the main funnel. They suck things up like superpowered vacuums. 

N3: The other scientists try to hide their laughter.

Dryers: Do you have any photos of these vortices?

Fujita: Not yet. But it adds up. Sometimes one house is destroyed by a tornado while the one right next to it is untouched. Multiple vortices would explain why.

Dryers: But you’ve never actually seen this.

Fujita: Not to have seen something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

N1: The room is silent. 

N2: Finally, Henson speaks.

Henson: Interesting. Let’s talk more when there’s proof.

Dryers (quietly): If there’s ever proof.

N3: The room mostly clears. Fujita and Miller gather their things.

Miller: Doesn’t it bother you that they don’t believe you?

Fujita: Not at all. Scientists should never be scared to have new ideas. 

The Day of the Super Outbreak
Millburn, Ohio, April 3, 1974 

N1: A teenager named Pam sits on a swing in her grandmother’s yard. She looks out at the gray sky.

N2: Her grandmother walks up behind her. 

Grandma: You know, staring at storm clouds all the time won’t make you feel better. 

Pam: I miss home. I miss Dad. 

N3: Grandma frowns. 

Grandma: I’m sorry, honey. It just made sense to move here for a bit. I can help your mom while your dad is deployed. 

Pam: I know, Grams. 

Grandma: Why don’t you come in for a snack?

Pam: I need some time to think. I’ll be in soon.

N1: Grandma walks back to the house. 

N2: About a minute later, Pam looks up. She sees a large, dark cloud in the distance. 

N3: Lightning flashes across the sky. 

Pam: Wow, this looks like some storm. I need to get my video camera! 

N1: Pam runs inside. She grabs the camera her dad gave her before he left.

N2: Back outside, the wind is whipping. Pam starts to film.

N3: The dark cloud spins into a funnel.

N1: It destroys a barn in the distance. 

Mom: Pam! Inside—NOW! 

N2: Pam turns and runs. Dirt and dust fly through the air, making it hard to see. 

Mom: Pam! Where are you? To the cellar!  

N3: Pam struggles against the wind. Finally, she makes it to the cellar door. Her mom pulls her inside.

Grandma: Pam! Thank goodness. 

N1: The house shakes. A roar fills the room. 

Pam: What’s happening?

N2: Pam closes her eyes. Her mom holds her tight.

N3: After a few minutes, the shaking stops.

N1: Pam and her mom and grandma slowly make their way outside. 

N2: They look up at their home. 

Mom: I can’t believe it!

N3: Grandma’s house hardly has any damage. 

N1: But the neighbors aren’t as lucky.

Grandma: Oh no. The Donohues’ house . . .

N2: Pam looks to her right. An older couple is standing on the curb, in shock. Their house has been destroyed.

Mom: I’m going to make sure they’re OK. 

N3: Sirens can be heard in the distance.  

The Day After the Super Outbreak
Millburn, Ohio, April 4, 1974

N1: A reporter and a cameraman are filming near Pam’s house.

Reporter: We’re coming to you live from Millburn. A powerful tornado struck here yesterday. The storm was one of more than 100 tornadoes in 13 states since yesterday morning. 

N2: Pam stands outside her house. A sign reads: “Water and food inside.”

N3: Across the street, Fujita studies the damage. Then he walks over to Pam.

Fujita: Hi there. Are your parents home? 

Pam: No, sorry. My mom and grandmother are helping at the hospital. 

Fujita: I see. Can I ask you some questions?

Pam: Are you a detective?

Fujita: In a way. My name is Ted. I study tornadoes. I look for clues that help me piece together what happened.

Pam: Any idea why our house is still standing and others aren’t?

Fujita: I have a guess, but I can’t say for sure. Do you mind if I take some photos?

N1: Suddenly, Pam remembers her video camera. 

Pam: Wait here! 

N2: Pam runs into her house. She grabs a roll of film and brings it back to Fujita.

Pam: I was filming when the storm hit. 

Fujita: Really? Why?

Pam: My dad is deployed overseas. Before he left, he asked me to film what he’s missing. We don’t get storms like this back home in California.

Fujita: Well, thank you! With any luck, you’ve just handed me a very important clue. 

Pam: You think? Our neighbors have lost everything. I hope this never happens again.

Fujita: As a scientist, I can’t stop nature. But I can study this tornado to learn all that we can about these storms. Maybe that can help people in the future. 

Three Months After the Super Outbreak
University of Chicago, July 1974

N3: Fujita sits at a desk covered with photos and papers. 

N1: He pulls a film reel out of a box. It’s labeled “Pam, April 3, Millburn, Ohio.” 

N2: Fujita turns out the lights and projects the footage on the wall.

N3: Dryers walks into the room. As he does, a tornado appears on the white wall.

Dryers (carrying papers): Ted, these images just came in . . .

N1: Dryers stops to watch the footage.

N2: The large funnel cloud sweeps across a field toward a barn. Then another, smaller funnel appears next to the larger one. 

Dryers: Multiple vortices! You were right! How did you get this?

Fujita: Someone was in the right place at the right time.

Twenty Years After the Super Outbreak
Ohio State University, 1994 

N3: After the Super Outbreak of 1974, Fujita traveled more than 10,000 miles to record the damage. He collected thousands of photos and talked to survivors.  

N1: He proved his theory of multiple vortices. But he didn’t stop there. 

N2: Throughout his life, he changed tornado science—

N3: And inspired others to study nature’s greatest mysteries—

N1: Including Pam.

Pam: OK everyone, today we’re going to continue our unit on tornadoes. 

N2: Pam stands in front of her students. “Mr. Tornado” is written on the blackboard behind her. 

Pam: Can anyone tell me who Ted Fujita is? I’m excited to tell you about him.

N3: Pam looks up at a photo of Fujita that hangs on her classroom wall and smiles.