THE COCHRAN CYCLONE OF 1958
January is supposed to be the coldest month in Georgia. Occasionally, there is a snow storm, an ice storm, or several cold, rainy days. January is not supposed to be a month for tornados. They usually come during meteorological spring. But such was not the case on January 24, 1958. The storm, no where near the strength of the killer storm which struck and killed hundreds of people in Georgia, including more than a dozen people in Bleckley County in April 1929, left the City of Cochran, Georgia and its residents injured, dazed, and devastated.
In five minutes it was over. No one in Cochran expected a super storm that day. It was mid afternoon when a cold air mass ran smack into a warm, wet air mass. A warning of severe storms was sent out by the Weather Service at noon, but the people in Cochran and Bleckley went about their usual business on a warm winter’s day.
One witness described the storm as “a great ball of smoke rolling across a field at the head of Limestone Road, which suddenly rose up funnel-wise and flipped over into the Edmonson Subdivision and began its writhing path across town.”
The Second Baptist Church was lifted up and deposited astride Jessup Street. The spinning storm ravaged one home after another which fell like dominoes as the conflagration swirled all around them.
Students were still in school, although the first and second grades were already sent home as usual on a school day. High School teachers warned students to lie on the floor head down. The heaviest winds went over athletic fields causing slight damage. At the school, no one was injured, only scared to death.
Downtown shoppers watched the dark snake-like cloud off to the south and southeast near Bethany Church and the homes of Fred Young, Junior Giddens, and Bill Lucas. Remarkably not a single witness from Middle Georgia College came forth to report any sighting of the ominous storm, although the college was right in its path. James Finney, student then off campus recalled, “the tornado swooped down out of nowhere and we were all cut off guard. No one at the college saw it.”
At 2:50 p.m., Cochran Police Chief John Etheridge saw pieces of wood and brush flying by his office, but was helpless to stop the raging, cataclysmic storm.
“Lord the house is blowing away!” exclaimed Policeman John Burkhalter, who spent a well deserved off duty day at home. Officer Burkhalter came running into his house, grabbed his two-year-old daughter, and clinched his arms around her until the storm went by.
The first word of a tornado in the area came in at 3:05 p.m. from the Georgia State Patrol Post in Perry, Georgia.
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Pridgett were severely wounded. Mr. Pridgett suffered a broken arm and back injuries. His wife was cut across her scalp and chest by flying debris. Their seven-year-old daughter, Mary Sue, suffered bruises and a broken collar bone. The Pridgetts were taken to Taylor Memorial Hospital in serious condition.
Mr. and Mrs. Allison Hill suffered severe bruises, but were soon released from the hospital. The injured treated at scene were: E.B. Godfrey, Joanne Ramage, Frances Bloodworth, and Myrtie Godfrey. Nine others for a total of sixteen reported that they were injured.
Young Alton Roland suffered potentially severe wounds when he stepped on a rusty nail while valiantly searching to rescue his two lost puppies.
As soon as the winds subsided, one by one neighbors climbed out of the rubble and began helping one another. Georgia Power crews jumped into action almost immediately and by the end of the day had most of the power restored to 4000 of their customers despite the massive amount of fallen trees and power lines. The telephone company was on the spot as well restoring service to the beleaguered neighborhood.
A few minutes later, Cochran residents, who dodged the storm’s terror, began running and driving in to help in away they could.
Cochran Mayor Pro Tem, Calvin Berryhill, reported that the major areas affected were located along Peach, Maple, Third, Fourth, and Peters Streets in southern Cochran as the tornado took a parallel path along the eastern side of West Dykes Street in a northeasterly direction.
By 4:oo p.m. city crews had cleared the main streets. Some of those who were not at home had to walk trough blinding rains to get back to their homes and families.
Neighboring counties jumped into action. Bleckley County Sheriff Gus Giddens accepted the officers of Dodge County Sheriff Lewis Mullis and Sheriff Andy Hill of Pulaski County for manpower and communications in and out of the city.
With no official call from the governor, members of the Hawkinsville, Georgia National Guard Post charged into action. Eventually, members of the Dublin National Guard Post were called in to aid and keep the scenes of the damage safe.
Naturally, the Georgia State Patrol was there in mass. Along side the Patrol were members of the Salvation Army and the Red Cross taking their usual place in the disaster relief effort. Members of the Middle Georgia Radio Club monitored radio communications as well.
Although estimates of the width and the length varied, Sheriff Giddens estimated the damage to be limited to about one square mile, three city blocks wide, between the southern city limits and the college. Early damages were estimated at a tremendously expensive quarter of a million dollars. Had the storm shifted more to the northwest and struck the downtown business community or had hit Middle Georgia College head on, the damage would have naturally been worse, much, much worse.
Approximately 48 houses (16 heavily) sustained moderate to major damages primarily on their roofs. One car was thrown six feet forward into the owner’s house. An estimated 150 persons were homeless.
“It is miracle that no one was killed,” Sheriff Gus Giddens sighed in exhausted relief.
Credit to: The Cochran Journal, The Macon Telegraph, The Dublin Courier Herald, The Augusta Chronicle.
One witness described the storm as “a great ball of smoke rolling across a field at the head of Limestone Road, which suddenly rose up funnel-wise and flipped over into the Edmonson Subdivision and began its writhing path across town.”
Students were still in school, although the first and second grades were already sent home as usual on a school day. High School teachers warned students to lie on the floor head down. The heaviest winds went over athletic fields causing slight damage. At the school, no one was injured, only scared to death.
Downtown shoppers watched the dark snake-like cloud off to the south and southeast near Bethany Church and the homes of Fred Young, Junior Giddens, and Bill Lucas. Remarkably not a single witness from Middle Georgia College came forth to report any sighting of the ominous storm, although the college was right in its path. James Finney, student then off campus recalled, “the tornado swooped down out of nowhere and we were all cut off guard. No one at the college saw it.”
At 2:50 p.m., Cochran Police Chief John Etheridge saw pieces of wood and brush flying by his office, but was helpless to stop the raging, cataclysmic storm.
“Lord the house is blowing away!” exclaimed Policeman John Burkhalter, who spent a well deserved off duty day at home. Officer Burkhalter came running into his house, grabbed his two-year-old daughter, and clinched his arms around her until the storm went by.
The first word of a tornado in the area came in at 3:05 p.m. from the Georgia State Patrol Post in Perry, Georgia.
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Pridgett were severely wounded. Mr. Pridgett suffered a broken arm and back injuries. His wife was cut across her scalp and chest by flying debris. Their seven-year-old daughter, Mary Sue, suffered bruises and a broken collar bone. The Pridgetts were taken to Taylor Memorial Hospital in serious condition.
Young Alton Roland suffered potentially severe wounds when he stepped on a rusty nail while valiantly searching to rescue his two lost puppies.
As soon as the winds subsided, one by one neighbors climbed out of the rubble and began helping one another. Georgia Power crews jumped into action almost immediately and by the end of the day had most of the power restored to 4000 of their customers despite the massive amount of fallen trees and power lines. The telephone company was on the spot as well restoring service to the beleaguered neighborhood.
A few minutes later, Cochran residents, who dodged the storm’s terror, began running and driving in to help in away they could.
By 4:oo p.m. city crews had cleared the main streets. Some of those who were not at home had to walk trough blinding rains to get back to their homes and families.
Although estimates of the width and the length varied, Sheriff Giddens estimated the damage to be limited to about one square mile, three city blocks wide, between the southern city limits and the college. Early damages were estimated at a tremendously expensive quarter of a million dollars. Had the storm shifted more to the northwest and struck the downtown business community or had hit Middle Georgia College head on, the damage would have naturally been worse, much, much worse.
“It is miracle that no one was killed,” Sheriff Gus Giddens sighed in exhausted relief.
Credit to: The Cochran Journal, The Macon Telegraph, The Dublin Courier Herald, The Augusta Chronicle.
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