Tornados, the Ice Storm of ‘91, Blizzards in ‘77 and ‘78, damaging straight line winds, first responders, EMA, Weather forecasters and storm chasers, an author on the Palm Sunday Tornado, WILO “war stories”, it all converges at the Frankfort Library starting tomorrow, Friday May 9th at 3:30 PM in the Skanta Theatre.
Check out the information below and discover and revisit what Indiana weather can do, and more importantly, what we, as a community of caring people, can do about it.
You’ll see pictures, videos, recordings, paper clippings, stories told from people who were actually “there” behind a microphone, behind the forecast releases or reporting first hand on twisters and other weather events as they ripped through our county.
May at the Frankfort Community Public Library (FCPL) will be filled with programs and activities revolving around the Indiana Historical Society’s (IHS) traveling exhibit “Indiana Disasters.” The exhibit, made possible by Kroger, covers a variety of natural and manmade disasters as well as how Indiana communities remember them. Images, newspaper articles, illustrations, and survivors’ accounts will be on display to show how Hoosiers persevered in the face of disaster. Guests will also see newspaper coverage of local disasters provided by FCPL’s genealogy staff along with information on a few historical tragedies from the Purdue University Archives.
Special activities to mark the exhibit’s opening will be held in conjunction with the Friends of the Frankfort Library’s Annual Meeting on May 9. The exhibit will be on display through May 30.
Schedule of Events for May 9
3:30 p.m.—Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame writer, author, and Purdue University historian, John Norberg will discuss how Purdue’s early tragedies transformed the university by helping students find strength in one another while leading the way as one of the safest colleges in the United States. Books will be available to purchase.
4:30–8 p.m.—Educational/Vendor Booths for all ages
4:30 p.m.—Russ Kaspar of WILO and Shan Sheridan will present historical extreme weather radio recordings and video footage collected throughout many years of reporting. Kaspar and Sheridan will also showcase memorabilia and artifacts that have been used in weather forecasting and broadcasting.
5:30 p.m.—Award-winning author Janis Thornton will discuss the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes. Audience members will have an opportunity to share personal stories as well. Books will be available to purchase.
6:15–6:30 p.m.—Friends Annual Meeting
6:30 p.m.—Sam Lashley of the National Weather Service will share his experiences covering the weather as well as changes in meteorological technology. He will also discuss historical weather events, including the 1965 and 1974 tornado outbreaks and the 1978 blizzard.
7:15 p.m.—Indiana Storm Chasers will share exciting video footage and photos from live storm chasing as well as engaging life-saving weather information.
This event is made possible by our generous sponsors:
Primary Sponsors: Industrial Federal Credit Union and VFW POST #1110 & Auxiliary
Co-Sponsors: Encompass Credit Union and Wampler’s Disposal Service & Recycling
General Sponsors: Advanced Computer & Communication Systems and Gangwer Powers Insurance.
Visit the library events calendar at myfcpl.org/calendar for additional weather-related programs during the month of May. For more information, contact Mindy Emswiller at (765) 654-8746, ext. 1125 or memswiller@myfcpl.org.
