It was Monday June 8, 1953 when one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S history touched down in Genesee County.

The F5 tornado ripped through the Beecher community, killing 116 people and destroying nearly 350 houses. There were also 844 injuries and an estimated $19 million in damage.The tornado ranks in as one of the top ten single deadliest tornadoes in United States history.

While most of the tornado’s 27 mile path went through rural farmland, most of the devastation was concentrated in the Beecher district. 113 of the 116 fatalities from the tornado occurred in Beecher. Multiple deaths occurred in 20 families and the victims ranged in age from 5 months to 80 years old.

There is also a new documentary that was put together locally called 'The Screaming Sky' and is available here.

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