1978 WHIPPOORWILL TORNADO DISASTER On June 17th 1978, a tornado
struck very near the Whippoorwill Showboat on Lake Pomona in
Osage county causing it to capsize. This very unusual and unique
disaster resulted in 16 deaths and 3 injuries among the 58
passengers and crew aboard. Although the deaths were due to
drowning when the vessel overturned, they were attributed to the
tornado; making it one of the worst tornado death tolls in
Kansas history. Nationwide media coverage was focussed on Kansas
and this tornado for many days after the tragic event. People
who boarded the Whippoorwill for an evening of fun and
entertainment, likely never imagined what a historical
catastrophe they were in for. The tornado formed very rapidly
around 7pm, cut an erratic but generally eastward path about 8
miles long before dissipating near the small community of
Michigan Valley. Witnesses sighted 3 funnels rotating around the
main vortex, which itself was no more than about 150 yards wide.
Some people reported more than one tornad