Four persons were killed and 76 injured as a result of a tornado that cut a 200 yard path through Hale Center, striking the city of 2,500 persons about 9:25pm. One of the deaths and five of the injuries occurred when the tornado completely demolished two farm homes two mies east of the Cotton Center community, southwest of Hale Center. Total property damage was estimated at $8 million.
The tornado was first observed near Spade in Lamb County about 9:00pm. The business section of Hale Center was hardest hit with seven buildings completely destroyed. Twenty-five other business buildings were damaged seriously. Damage in the residential areas covered ten city blocks.
The American Red Cross reported 66 homes in Cotton Center and Hale Center were destroyed, 35 others suffered major damage and 56 minor damage. 55 other buildings also had damage. All houses on one entire block of fifth Street in Hale Center were obliterated.
A large number of the injuries resulted when a church was demolished while services were being held. Residents, for the most part, were well aware that the tornado was coming and had taken shelter. More than 100 automobiles, most of them 1965 models, were heavily damaged or destroyed at the Fisher Ford Sales Company. The tornado moved from southwest to northeast.
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