In the afternoon hours of January 24, 1964, a small but highly-deadly and powerful tornado moved near Harpersville, a town located in the U.S. state of Alabama. The tornado killed 10 people and injured six others along a path that spanned in width.
Tornado summary The tornado first touched down approximately to the southwest of Harpersville, tracking to the northeast. On County Road 25 a barn was destroyed, with the pieces being found in a grove away. It entered Harpersville from the southwest; in town, three homes were destroyed, 12 suffered "major" damage, and 20 suffered minor damage. Multiple trailers and farmhouses were additionally destroyed in the area. At the Garden of Memories Cemetery, most gravestones were destroyed. All 10 fatalities from the tornado were caused in three demolished homes along U.S. Route 280. Additionally, power lines in town were downed and damaged. It lifted after being on the ground for , with a maximum width of .
Rescue efforts immediately following the tornado were delayed by both significant power line damage and heavy rainfal that flooded streets; Civil defense authorities brought in power generators to provide light during initial rescue efforts. Communication with the town was cut at around 7:00 p.m., shortly after the tornado had moved through the area.
+List of fatalities attributed to the tornadoNameAgeKathy BrewerN/AEd KelleyVirginia KelleyEssie Mae KelleyCheryl Kelley8Betty McCallN/AMike McCallKathy BrewerStella Thomas15
See also
1973 Central Alabama tornado, an F4 tornado that passed near Harpersville nine years later
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