69 years ago on January 3rd, 1949, the quiet Bradley County town of Warren was in the direct path of a ferocious and deadly storm. At approximately 5:43 PM, an EF-4 tornado struck the city. The tornado began 10 miles north of Shreveport, Louisiana and began moving northeast sadly killing two citizens in the city of El Dorado. The strong violent tornado cut a sharp path through the southern portions of Warren as it remained on its northeast track. Some famous tornadoes are found to take similar tracks of other deadly tornadoes. This tornado oddly remained on the general track of the deadly Warren tornado of 1975.
Bradley Mill (Warren) destroyed due to the tornado
According to newspaper reports, this tornado destroyed 360 homes, while 450 buildings were struck, 56 people were left dead with over 300 injured. This tornado has since become the deadliest Arkansas tornado of the 20th century, overcoming the previous record of 55 fatalities (1898, Fort Smith tornado). The Bradley Lumber Mill (pictured above) was destroyed, this mill was said to have employed 1000 workers.
It was reported that overnight, 40 citizens bodies were already in place at a local funeral home in town. Doctors and nurses from surrounding cities rushed to the aid of the city, helping in different ways to save those who were severely injured.
We have posted a video above that documents the horrific damage that this city endured. Not much is known of the prior conditions before the tornado. However, one can agree that this tornado was certainly fueled and prime for destruction.
